The A New and United Guyana (ANUG), Liberty and Justice Party (LJP) and The New Movement (TNM), which contested the 2020 elections, utilized section 22 of the Representation of the People Act (ROPA) for the first time in Guyana’s history and wrote to the Chief Election Officer informing him that they have “joined” their lists. The section provides that two or more lists of candidates can be “joined” for the distribution of seats, but not votes. The lists so joined are called a “combination of lists.” The media baptized them as “the joinder parties.”
Continue reading “THE SPEAKER WAS NOT WRONG! BUT WHAT ABOUT ASHA KISSOON?”THE LAW IS A JEALOUS MISTRESS – A NEW DIMENSION
“The law is a jealous mistress and requires long and constant courtship. It is not won by trifling favours, but by lavish homage.” So said US Supreme Court Justice Joseph Story in 1929. Much has been written about this statement, including its origins. One suggestion is that it was first used by James Madison, the fourth President of the United States, in a letter to a friend in 1789. The phrase reflects the demanding nature of the law which requires constant attention and devotion. Recognition of the aphorism is among the first lessons urged upon newly qualified lawyers when they are admitted to practice. The admission ceremony takes place in court before a Judge who, in admitting the newly qualified lawyer to practice, and congratulating him or her, admonishes him or her to adhere closely to the message contained in the statement. To one degree or another, most lawyers observe the adage to one degree or another. Those who do, give “lavish homage,” and those who don’t, giving only “trifling favours.” These groups are easily identifiable.
Continue reading “THE LAW IS A JEALOUS MISTRESS – A NEW DIMENSION”THE ADVENTURES OF MELLY MEL
Melissa Ann Atwell, a Facebook personality, who goes by the call name of ‘Melly Mel,’ attracted the ire of the Attorney General (AG) who has filed a court action against her claiming $100 million in damages for libel. Over the past week Ms. Atwell, in a series of posts on Facebook, revealed in a diatribe ripe with abuse of Mr. Nandlall, that he is the source of a great deal of juicy, but explosive, information involving the actions and activities of his colleagues. It appears that the AG, noted for his verbosity laced with inflated prose, took umbrage at the disclosures, which he denies, and has instituted legal proceedings. Apart for the claim of the above sum as damages, the AG is asking the court to grant an injunction against Ms. Atwell from further publishing the material which he alleges to be defamatory and an order to remove the material from Facebook.
Continue reading “THE ADVENTURES OF MELLY MEL”BIOMETRICS IS NOT PERMITTED THE CONSTITUTION OR BY ANY OTHER LAW
The three members of the Elections Commission representing the Opposition, recently issued a joint letter calling for the implementation of biometrics by way of electronic fingerprint technology, to identify voters at elections. This is a long-standing demand by the Opposition that picked up speed after the 2020 elections when the Opposition, in a deflective maneouvre, incredulously accused the PPP of rigging. As an aside, we should understand that if and when fingerprint technology is implemented, reasons will then be found to continue to allege that the PPP is rigging the elections. Demands will then emerge for retina identification technology. These demands for additional measures, including applicable AI technology, will continue indefinitely into the future, as long as the PPP wins elections. With fading memories, it is difficult to believe that it was the PNC governments from 1968 to 1985 that applied the most unusual, open, measures to rig elections. Its attempt to do so in 2020, creating great trauma across Guyana, suggests that if it ever achieves office again, the appalling crudities witnessed in the Ashmin’s building and in Kingston in 2020 will be once again applied.
Continue reading “BIOMETRICS IS NOT PERMITTED THE CONSTITUTION OR BY ANY OTHER LAW”TRUMP’S DARK VISION PREVAILS
Donald Trump’s resounding victory has shattered the Democratic Party and the coalitions that sustained it since Franklyn Delano Rooseveldt and the New Deal. A Republican Party that has been having great difficulty in recent decades in sustaining an electoral majority captured enough of the white working class in 2016 to give it electoral victory. It has now expanded that support to include enough African-American men, Latinos and youth to give Trump an overwhelming victory.Trump is no longer an “outlier,” an “aberration” or a “fluke.” He is a transformative figure engaged in reshaping a new coalition for the Republican Party on a dark vision of an economically crumbling United States, beset by hordes of criminals illegally entering through an “open” border and a world exploiting the US.
Continue reading “TRUMP’S DARK VISION PREVAILS”