This question that forms the headline of this article is before the Chief Justice in the case of Christopher Ram v The Attorney General and the decision is due to be given on June 26. Ram is asking the Court for an order that an individual can stand for elections to the National Assembly as an independent candidate in a geographical constituency, and several related orders. The popular notion is that a candidate for elections for a geographical constituency, or otherwise, is only eligible if he or she is on a list of candidates.
Continue reading “CAN INDIVIDUALS STAND FOR ELECTIONS AS INDEPENDENT CANDIDATES IN GEOGRAPHICAL CONSTITUENCIES?”THE SANCTITY OF CONTRACT
The phrase that headlines this article, “The Sanctity of Contract,” has been widely used for the last few years by the Government in defence against calls for the renegotiation on the contract between ExxonMobil and the Government of Guyana. The Government relies on the phrase to advance the proposition that one party to a contract that seeks to renegotiate it violates its sanctity. The public would, however, consider that the phrase’s real meaning is that the terms of a contract ought not to be unilaterally violated by one party to it. Some contracts carry a moral dimension so that their willful violation leaves a stain of dishonour and disrepute on the character of the violator. Yes, I’m talking about the shameless Dr. Asha Kissoon.
Continue reading “THE SANCTITY OF CONTRACT”ISRAEL’S GENOCIDAL WAR IN GAZA
Israel’s genocide against the Palestinians of Gaza, undertaken to create a dystopian apocalypse of a wasteland devoid of human life, is becoming a reality with the support of Western arms and ammunition. At every stage of what B’Tselem, an Israeli NGO, describes as Israeli “war crimes,” Western countries blamed Hamas for its terrorism on October 7 and promoted Israel’s right to self-defence. With winks, nods and arms from Western countries, Israel has blocked the supply of food, fuel, water and medicines and rained bombs on Gazans. Most of Gaza’s buildings have been destroyed. To date 54,381 Palestinians, mostly women and children, are known to have been slaughtered.
Continue reading “ISRAEL’S GENOCIDAL WAR IN GAZA”INDEPENDENCE AND NATIONAL UNITY
As Guyana celebrates its 59th Anniversary as an Independent Nation, it faces many challenges, just as it did in earlier years. Converting a dependence syndrome into a sense of independence, creating the institutional structures of an independent nation, embarking on economic transformation, confronting the challenges of a deeply divided nation, negotiating a way between the raindrops of the Cold War, securing political power and dealing with the fallout, finding a way out of a colonial economy, and failing, unsuccessfully fending off the slow imposition of dictatorial rule, were some of the early challenges. Guyana’s earlier decades saw only modest economic growth, not sufficient to change reality on the ground, until oil prices went up in the mid-1970s. To cope, the seizure of high profits from the sugar industry, deprived it of capital, the effects of which are being felt today. The destruction of the rice industry took place by the early abandonment of the Cuban market and the nationalization of sale and marketing. The damage caused to these two vital areas of the economy, coupled with the loss of the vote of a section of the population, thereby depriving them of a voice, the later banning of food, affected one section of the population. The fears generated by the final restoration of democracy in 1992, affected the other. The ease with which Guyana can revert to the past by post-election violence, other mass activity sprinkled with sudden upsurges of unrest, and a pre-1992 electoral past, have all shaped the political attitudes and discourses which we experience today. The Opposition walkout from Parliament on Friday last, sad having regard to the Venezuelan threat, has its roots in this past history. Can it be changed?
Continue reading “INDEPENDENCE AND NATIONAL UNITY”VENEZUELAN BOMBAST AND CHINESE EVASION
The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) has unanimously affirmed its decision of 1 December 4 whereby it ruled as follows: “Pending a final decision…Venezuela shall refrain for taking any action which would modify the situation that currently prevails…whereby…Guyana exercises control over that area,” meaning Essequibo. On 1 May, 2025, on application by Guyana, the Court ruled that: “Pending a final decision… Venezuela shall refrain from conducting elections, or preparing to conduct elections in the territory… [over which] Guyana currently exercises control,” again referring to Essequibo. The three judges who opposed the latter order merely argued that it was not necessary because the order of 1 December, 2023, “in our view… fully and clearly addresses the concerns raised by Guyana…” It should be emphasized that, by the above finding, that China, India and Germany, the three dissenting countries, did not rule against Guyana. They merely argued that the Order of 1 December 2023 sufficiently constrains Venezuela in relation to Guyana’s complaints against Venezuela in relation to the latter’s proposed elections.
Continue reading “VENEZUELAN BOMBAST AND CHINESE EVASION”