| “…the harassment by this Government has been a constant and relentless feature of my life since 1992”“In light of what has taken place over the last few weeks, it is rather ironic that in my tribute to Winston Murray, I mentioned the difficulties he and I faced as politicians, especially as regards being misunderstood and misrepresented,” said former Finance Minister Carl Greenidge.He was seeking to clarify what he called some erroneous reports. “I am,Cheap Jerseys China, therefore, disappointed and really sad that the tragedy of his death should have been the occasion for the kind of controversy over freedom and the abuse of power inflicted on the region over the last two to three weeks.”He said that by now he trusts that most interested Guyanese would have had an opportunity to see the relevant portion of his tribute to Murray.“I read that tribute with no idea that anyone could seriously consider a single sentence of the statement as partisan…I had been invited to pay a personal tribute reflecting our friendship and professional association.”He reiterated that he closed his presentation with a dream Guyanese share every time they meet and have an opportunity to chat for more than five minutes.“That dream is that in spite of the fact that the politics of the post 1939 and 1945 War epoch has prevented us from enjoying the economic and social lifestyles that we believe are possible, we still could lift our country out of the difficult circumstances in which the country finds itself.”He said that no reference was to the economy or to President Bharrat Jagdeo; “nor was there anything in the wording that could be interpreted as criticizing any one Party or leader at the expense of another…In revisiting the text of my tribute and having had my lawyers look at the wording, I am satisfied that I am right.”According to Greenidge he is sorry that it has been taken negatively by some commentators, “That was not the intent.”What is especially unacceptable is the claim that,holesale Soccer Jerseys, “not mentioning Mr. Jagdeo as a visionary leader constitutes a political or personal attack on him or his office…This is absurd and I will not apologise for an omission of this kind.”He said that posterity will pronounce on Jagdeo’s tenure as Guyana’s President,Cheap Jerseys Online, “so the jury is out on this matter…. CARICOM Staff are not required to say as a matter of routine that any President is a genius or visionary…I was not aware that Guyanese citizens are obliged to do so.”According to Greenidge, when a society arrives at a stage where speakers have to endow leaders with characteristics for which those leaders crave or do not enjoy, “our society is in deep trouble.”He pointed out that the CARICOM Secretariat is an intergovernmental body and its employees are expected to refrain from political activities…They are not, however, required to give up their rights as citizens of the region…Such rights include the right to association and to be free from discrimination on the basis of perceived political affiliation.”According to Greenidge it was a funeral that he was attending in his personal capacity. “The idea that there should not be mention of the problems documented in every history and political commentary of Guyana is odd.” He said,Wholesale Authentic Jerseys, “Not surprisingly, the fact that we have had difficult circumstances of all kinds in the 1970s and in this century was mentioned by at least three other speakers at the funeral service…So why the concern about ‘the last few decades?”He reiterated that the 1970s fall within that span of 30 to 40 years.“Many people feel that that period was really traumatic…Which Guyanese does not also regard the Lusignan massacre and the events of the post 2002 prison break as nightmares?”He said that whilst he has been honoured to serve the region,Wholesale Jerseys Online, after some 14 years of serving it abroad without a single blemish on his performance, “the recent experience I have had in the regional level has been most troubling.”He pointed out that within a year and a half of his assignment, the CARICOM Regional Negotiating Machinery (CRNM) was accused of a variety of misdemeanors laid at its door at a closed meeting of the Heads of Government and which the Director General and management of the entity never had an opportunity to answer in either that session or prior to it.That absence of due process certainly troubled the CRNM and other regional staff who are aware that some of those Heads are distinguished lawyers according to Greenidge who also said it should be of concern to both the Heads of Government themselves and the public as well.“Today, little over a year later, I stand accused by representatives of the Government of Guyana, of the political and nebulous crime of disparaging or insulting the President…This is a device that has gained some notoriety in Stalinist Russia and latterly Saddam’s Iraq.”He said that the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Manzoor Nadir’s assurance that the Government was not seeking his sacking is quite disingenuous, “since everything CARICOM does stands to have a potential effect on Guyana and its policies.”“Its complaint about the CRNM was similarly worded around the pretext of ‘loss of confidence’ and intended to leave CARICOM with no choice but to bow to the Government of Guyana’s whim…But CARICOM is not Guyana.”He said what is true is that the Secretariat is supposed to be governed by established and clear rules and regulations and internationally accepted principles.“The Secretariat is not obliged to act on this flimsy pretext, and, if it acts, it certainly should not do so without invoking established disciplinary procedures…In other words,Cheap Jerseys From China, (it) should respect due process in arriving at a decision as to the validity of the complaint.” |
