The Private Sector Commission (PSC) has registered concerns that protest actions can have implications on the matter currently engaging the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), regarding the March General and Regional Elections.
PPP/C’s Presidential Candidate Irfaan Ali, and the party’s General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo, have mounted an appeal at the CCJ to ascertain if the Court of Appeal had jurisdiction to hear a case filed by government supporter, Eslyn David, which intended to block the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) from declaring the results of the March 02, 2020 General and Regional election.
See PSC’s full statement below:
The Private Sector Commission (PSC) in the strongest possible terms reaffirms it demand for all political stakeholders and indeed all citizens to continue to respect the rule of law and the basic fundamentals of the democratic process.
The Private Sector Commission has observed that supporters of the governing coalition, APNU/AFC, have mounted active street protest in select areas of the country specifically seeking to influence the matter before the Caribbean Court of Justine (CCJ) with regards to the General & Regional Elections held on March 2, 2020.
We believe it is unfortunate that any one of the political parties currently represented in the case before the CCJ should attempt to prejudice the ruling of our Apex Court in the matter before it. We however recognize the rights and freedom of peaceful and orderly protest but we wish to emphasize that political street protest at this particularly sensitive time by one political party can rapidly invite counter protest from their opponents with real potential for these protest to descend into disorderly and possibly violent behavior.
The PSC is pleased therefore to note and wishes to strongly endorse the statement issued by the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) urging “responsible behavior as the nation awaits the final declaration of the March 2 general and regional elections”.
The PSC further wishes to add its voice to the call by the ERC “for all Leaders and Stakeholder Groups to act in a much needed responsible manner and to ensure those whom they influence do likewise”.
The PSC also calls upon the Commissioner of Police to ensure that the rule of law is respected and firmly applied and enforced without favor against any attempt to promote, incite, or participate in public disorder or violence of any kind.
