Conversation Tree

THE FALL OF LIZ TRUSS AND THE COLLAPSE OF HER NEOLIBERAL AGENDA

The latest manifestation of neoliberalism, Trussonomics, reflecting a combination of the surname of the former British Prime Minister, Liz Truss, and her economic policies, has collapsed spectacularly in the United Kingdom. Ms. Truss, from the right wing of the Conservative Party, defeated Rishi Sunak, a moderate former Chancellor of the Exchequer (Finance Minister), in a bruising battle for support among approximately 170,000 Conservative Party members for Leader of the Party from which Boris Johnson, Prime Minister and Party Leader, had resigned after a series of scandals. Her defining policy proposal was to trigger growth of the British economy by reducing taxes on big business and the wealthy. Ms. Truss won and was sworn in as Prime Minister on 6 September. Her mandate was from the Conservative Party, not the electorate.

THE RIGGING OF ELECTIONS BY THE PPP – FACT AND FANTASY

In the 1961 elections 218,357 persons voted. The PPP obtained 93,085 votes (42.63%) and 20 seats, the PNC 89,501 (40.99%) and 11 seats and the UF 35,771 (16.38%) and 4 seats. As a result of a successful election petition against the results in the Houston constituency, in which 7,389 persons voted, the High Court found that fraud took place. Criminal charges heard later in the Magistrates’ Court arising from the allegations of fraud were dismissed. These two conflicting decisions in different courts faced the Governor who was responsible for the elections under Article 80 of the 1961 constitution. For whatever reason he did not exercise his authority to call a by-election for Houston. Had a by-election been held, whatever the results, it would not have affected the overall results of the PPP being the winner.

THE PRICE OF PROGRESS

I live in ‘Old Bel Air.’ It was previously known as ‘Plantation Bel Air.’ The prefix, ‘Plantation,’ fell into disuse after Old Bel Air became part of Greater Georgetown in the late 1960s or thereabouts.In order to distinguish it from Bel Air Gardens, Bel Air Park and Bel Air Springs, it began to be referred to as ‘Bel Air Village.’ Legal requirements must be complied with to create a ‘village’ which have not been implemented in relation to “Old Bel Air, so that its not a village. Thus my preference for ‘Old Bel Air.’ My great, great grandfather, Beny, came to British Guiana on 19^th January, 1875, with his wife, Birmee, and three children, indentured to Plantation Bel Air.

JAILING OR THREATENING TO JAIL LAWYERS

The news that a lawyer was “temporarily remanded…over his failure to submit promised evidence…[and] spent a few minutes in the holding area for prisoners on Wednesday” (SN September 30) is indeed disturbing. Police Legal Adviser Mandel Moore had failed on several occasions to provide a video to a Magistrates’ Court presided over by Magistrate Leron Daly who had taken the action against him, as reported by SN. This is a rare case of a lawyer being “remanded.” But threats to ‘jail’ lawyers by those who purport to dispense justice are not isolated occurrences. It occurs with frightening regularity for trivial reasons. Lawyers, especially young lawyers, are unlikely to confront legal rulings in the course of a trial or ask a magistrate or judge to recuse himself or herself for bias or the appearance of bias, for fear of a charge of contempt in the face of the court and imprisonment. This is based on living experiences.

THE PRESIDENT, NOT THE JUDICIAL SERVICE COMMISSION, HAS THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF THE CHANCELLOR AND CHIEF JUSTICE

Article 127(1) of the Constitution provides as follows: “The Chancellor and Chief Justice shall each be appointed by the President, acting after obtaining the agreement of the Leader of the Opposition.” Article 128(1) underlines the power of appointment given to the President. It provides: “The Judges, other than the Chancellor and Chief Justice, shall be appointed by the President who shall act in accordance with the advice of the Judicial Service Commission.”