VETERAN Trade Unionist, Lincoln Lewis, said Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, should be held accountable for his actions, noting that instead of assisting with the governance of the country, he continues to act recklessly.

“Somehow, he thinks opting for the presidential package as against the Opposition Leader’s salary exonerates him from constitutional duty for the job he holds. He thinks living off our sweat means receiving benefits to “cuss and buze”. A check of the Constitution of Guyana for his job description shows it falls under the Executive, which means he has a responsibility for day-to-day governance, but he has opted to engage in reckless conduct,” Lewis explained in his column on Monday.

The column titled ‘Mr. Jagdeo, go to work and stop buzing’ was published in the Kaieteur Newspaper. “What we are seeing in Guyana is a similar demonstration to the Stockholm syndrome, where he who presided over a nation of fear, rampant corruption, death squads and those who were his likely victims, demonstrate a psychological alliance to this display of Hitlerite tendencies,” the Trade Unionist further stated.

According to him, Jagdeo is consumed by his hunger for power. He noted from the time the No-Confidence Motion was passed in the National Assembly last December, there has been bedlam. Instead of adopting a statesmanlike approach, Lewis contended that the Opposition Leader has resorted to ‘ghetto politics, cuss out, buze out, break down.’
“It is political immaturity that will not value the necessity of coming to this nation with a proposal of how together we can move forward, other than shouting ‘get out!’” Lewis posited.

Urging Guyanese to assess the conduct of other Opposition Leaders to that of Jagdeo, Lewis submitted whenever the nation faced crises, they delivered leadership by making proposals to resolve differences, arriving at agreement, in the quest to move the nation forward. “National interest was placed above partisan interest,” he emphasised.

“Dr. Henry Jeffrey, a few days ago in his Stabroek News’ column, reminded us what President Desmond Hoyte and Opposition Leader Cheddi Jagan together did in the 1990s to resolve electoral differences. In 2001, during a national crisis, Mr. Hoyte made a proposal and signed an agreement with Jagdeo as to how the nation could move forward together. In 2003, during another crisis, Mr. Robert Corbin put to the nation a proposal which resulted in a communiqué with Jagdeo. None he honoured,” he reasoned.

Lewis opined that Jagdeo is not a team player, contending further that he does not have the nation’s interest at heart.

“He’s a man without a plan, other than the constant media brawl, creating mischief and mayhem. When he is not engaging in such conduct, he has Anil, who is starting to look like a battered person, running to the court to ask of it to do what the voters elected him and President Granger to do,” Lewis opined.

He further contended that the Opposition Leader has little or no respect for the masses. At a time when the country is faced with early elections, Lewis said the Opposition Leader is failing to utilize the best available option, that is, to sit with President David Granger and agree on a plan that would allow for the country to proceed in a lawful and orderly manner.
“If he thinks telling the nation that the government is illegal and expects an illegal government and president to name a date for election, he is of a confused or wicked mind. An illegal president cannot make a legal decision. He is ashamed to let his supporters know he has to return to the National Assembly, instead ranting and raving like a big bravado that he will not. Jump high, jump low, he has to return, not because I say so, but because of the Constitution,” Lewis said.

He alluded to the fact that the three-month period for the holding of elections, as stipulated by the Constitution, has passed, resulting in the need for the proviso, within the very Constitution, to be enacted through an act of parliament.

Lewis opined that if President Granger sets a date for elections without an extension by the National Assembly can result in another round of litigation.
“Mark my words, Jagdeo will be among the first to turn around and challenge the election if he doesn’t like the results,” he posited.

Noting that political expediency must not trump the Rule of Law, the Trade Unionist said it is detrimental for a nation to have an Opposition Leader who is bitter, visionless and is without a plan.

“The similar conduct displayed as president he seeks today to employ, holding the nation to ransom. This PPP renegade is a destroyer, threat to humanity, governance and Guyana’s stability. I shall continue to hold him to account for his performance and in so doing, I speak not only for myself but for tens of thousands,” Lewis said.

Turning his attention to Jagdeo’s campaign promises, the Trade Unionist said after initiating the process of depriving university students their constitutional right to free education, saddling them with burdensome loans, Jagdeo is now promising free education.

“Sugar workers who he trampled on and threatened their union with de-recognition are now being promised a PPP government that will treat them with respect. Who is Mr. Jagdeo fooling? As president, he closed down Diamond, the estate that provided GuySuCo the greatest yield of canes. He closed down LBI estate. Thousands of sugar workers were put on the breadline. Some had to approach the court, using the legal service of Khemraj Ramjattan, before receiving severance pay,” Lewis further pointed out.

The Trade Unionist also lashed out at the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Presidential Candidate Irfaan Ali for his forced displayed of contentment to be used in fronting the political mania of Jagdeo. He said leaders in society who support or stay silent as Jagdeo continues to create a hurricane of confusion with no plan for the continuity of good governance in the interim, should be ashamed of themselves.
Photo of Veteran Trade Unionist Lincoln Lewis