–Dr. Jagdeo rejects GHRA’s comparison of PPP to ‘dictatorial’ Burnham regime

THE People’s Progressive Party’s (PPP) General Secretary, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo has strongly rejected the Guyana Human Rights Association’s (GHRA) comparison of the PPP government to the authoritarian regime of former President Forbes Burnham.

The attempt by the GHRA to equate the PPP’s democratic leadership with Burnham’s era of dictatorship was addressed by Dr. Jagdeo during a press conference on Thursday at Freedom House, Georgetown.

He said: “The GHRA in those periods were probably complicit with the government. If you look at it, the people, the current leadership of the GHRA, they were complicit with Burnham in taking away our freedom, rigging elections, controlling the judiciary and using the police force and the army as coercive arms of the PNC.”

The PPP’s track record on democracy was outlined by the General Secretary who said that even in 2015 when the PPP lost the General and Regional Elections by a narrow margin, the party peacefully transferred power.

“We’re a party that has fought for democracy all of our lives and throughout our entire history. We never sought to rig elections or steal people’s votes. In 2015, when the difference that separated the two parties was like 4,600 votes, we walked away peacefully,” he said.

He also noted that under his presidency Guyana joined the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), paving the way for external judicial oversight.

This reversed Burnham’s decision to shield his administration from scrutiny by isolating Guyana from appeals to the Privy Council.

Dr. Jagdeo rejected the accusations that the PPP meddles in the affairs of the police and judiciary.

“You think you could have ruled against Burnham? The judges would’ve been in trouble already,” he said.
The GHRA in its press release focused heavily on the recent ruling handed down by the Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George in relation to a matter regarding Rickford Burke.

Taking note of what was outlined by the Chief Justice, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) issued a subsequent statement, informing the public: “The ruling of the Chief Justice in the legal challenge filed by Rickford Burke notwithstanding, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) maintains resolutely that it is in possession of cogent, compelling, and irrefutable evidence that Rickford Burke has engaged in the conduct of extorting money from a local businessman.

“The matter is under review and the Police is awaiting further legal advice in relation to the institution of fresh charges.

“Since Mr. Burke remains outside of the jurisdiction of Guyana, extradition proceedings will be pursued under the Fugitive Offenders Act in keeping with the ruling of the Chief Justice.”