…GTUC says CCJ’s orders must demand citizens hold politicians to higher standard

THE Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) is calling on Guyanese to hold politicians accountable to a higher political order and love of country amid the pending Consequential Orders that would be handed down by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) on Monday, if the country’s leaders do not arrive at a consensus on the way forward.

The CCJ, Guyana’s final appellate court, has ruled that the no-confidence motion against the government was validly passed – triggering early elections, but with the court also ruling that Justice (Ret’d) James Patterson’s appointment as Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission was a breach of the Constitution, a clear direction on the way forward is needed.

On Wednesday, one day after the landmark decisions, GTUC said the people of Guyana must unite and hold the country’s leaders feet to the fire. “We must go there with a plan as to how the country will proceed, in the interim and after the elections, consistent with Article 13 of the Guyana Constitution. It would be unfortunate to have the CCJ imposing on us what we are capable of determining. It would be an insult to our forebears who came together to fight common enemies and build Guyana. It would cast a dark cloud on our ability to unite for the common good and leave us vulnerable to internal and external destabilising influences,” GTUC said.

It emphasised that political leaders must be held accountable to a higher order of politics and love of country, not just power. “In a democracy granting the power is ours to give, ours to influence and ours to deny,” the trade union said.

Regardless of which side of the aisle the political leaders are on, they must move the process forward in an environment of mutual respect, GTUC urged. It is calling on the government and the opposition to meet and chart a way forward on how government will function consistent with Article 106(7) of the Constitution.

That article states: “Notwithstanding its defeat, the government shall remain in office and shall hold an election within three months, or such longer period as the National Assembly shall by resolution supported by not less than two-thirds of the votes of all the elected members of the National Assembly determine, and shall resign after the President takes the oath of Office following the election.”

GTUC noted that management of the state is a day-to-day activity, and failure to do such, could result in anarchy.

“We call on the media and all Guyanese to rise to the challenge of building a better Guyana. One with more tolerance and respect for the rights and rule of law; for all to be held accountable to these fundamental and universal principles of good governance; respect for the separation of powers, the independence of the judiciary and the rights of each to pursue legal justice which distinguishes us on the continuum of civilisation and   political maturity,” it said.

It emphasised that this is the time for political leaders, with the backing of all stakeholders, to come together and determine the way forward.

“We are reminded that there remains no convention or written guidelines how the society ought to function in a post “confidence” (no-confidence) environment. This, the political parties must equally turn their attention to as matter of urgency,” GTUC said while calling on all Guyanese to put Guyana first.

It noted too that the fundamentals of Guyana’s democracy and regional integration stand strong in the decisions handed down by the CCJ. The judgment, the trade union said, is a signal that the integrity of the judicial system in Guyana and the Caribbean can be relied on to adjudicate disputes in any environment of partisanship and polarisation.

RULINGS MUST BE RESPECTED
The Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) said the landmark rulings provided much-needed answers and ought to be respect.

“We were heartened that the CCJ has provided, what we felt were, clear and unambiguous answers to the questions that were posed. The FITUG, recognising that we have the answers we sought at hand, sees that we need to now put in place the necessary arrangements to address the consequences of the rulings to ensure that there is full compliance with the Constitution of Guyana,” FITUG said on Wednesday.

Acceptance of the rulings is critical as the country moves to decide on a way forward, the trade union said while noting that the political leaders should seize the opportunity granted by the court and arrive at a consensus. “The FITUG certainly looks forward to this opportunity being fully grasped and maturity, at this time, be displayed as we seek to put Guyana and its people first,” it said.