PRIME Minister Moses Nagamootoo believes that although darts have been thrown at Guyana as in independent nation, the country’s sovereignty remains and must be respected by all.

In his Sunday column, ‘My Turn,’ the prime minister reflected on the upcoming observance of Independence Day and the struggles of Guyana to get where it is today. He said that Independence Day allows for reflection on the value of Guyanese citizenship and duty to defend the State.

However, he said that such value and duty have been exchanged by some for political gain at the expense of the people of Guyana. The prime minister pointed to the calls for sanctions on Guyana by the opposition and a number of small parties which were either displeased with actions leading up to or the conduct of the elections.

He stated: “…at least four persons with foreign citizenship presented themselves as leaders of hitherto non-existent mini-parties that contested the March 2020 elections. They have all ganged up to present a phony image of opposition to the incumbent government as part of the sinister ploy at regime change. Adding injury to the insult to our sovereignty, those so-called mis-leaders have been the most vocal, calling for sanctions against Guyanese patriots, and for foreign intervention in and invasion of a sovereign state.”

As opinions continue to circulate about a perceived foreign interference in Guyana’s elections and a preference over the agreed upon involvement of CARICOM, the prime minister said that such “strikes mortally at the heart of our independence, and that of other Caribbean states.”

He gave the reminder that the Caribbean Region shares a history of colonial bondage, blood kinship and cultural affinity and CARICOM is highly competent to provide oversight for the national recount exercise.

He stated: “There has been consensus among government, opposition and the Elections Commission that the Caribbean Community is best suited, if needs be, to ably navigate the controversy; hence, the presence of CARICOM at the recount exercise…I am confident that its advice would be compellable after full revelation of all the circumstances that might have tainted the credibility of those elections.”

Meanwhile, Nagamootoo said that darts were also thrown at Guyana’s sovereignty when former Member of Parliament (MP) and dual citizen, Charandass Persaud crossed the floor to overthrow the government.

He said that such actions have led Guyana to an “unprecedented situation of constitutional difficulties and political uncertainty.”

Even so, the prime minister pointed out that many countries still recognise the undebatable importance of respecting Guyana’s sovereignty. It is his view that May 26 presents the opportunity for Guyanese to reflect on their love for country and duty to work in the interest of all.

The prime minister said: “[Independence Day] should rather be an occasion to repel the foreign venom of interference in our internal affairs, and to reassert mutual respect and non-interference as the settled policies of our state in international relations.”