Latest update November 9th, 2024 1:00 AM
Aug 08, 2009 News
The Working People’s Alliance (WPA), the National Front Alliance, (NFA) the Alliance For Change (AFC) and the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) yesterday announced that they have formed an alliance to seek to force an investigation as it relates to startling allegations coming out of the Robert Simels trial in a United States Court.
Speaking on behalf of the grouping, WPA member Desmond Trotman, told media operatives yesterday that the parties are committed to meetings with civil society organisations, including trade unions, professional associations, religious bodies, private sector organisations, among others, in furtherance of the campaign.
He reported that at a meeting of the Opposition Parties on Monday last to discuss the unfolding revelations in the Robert Simels trial in the Brooklyn Federal Court in the US and the grave implications that such revelations have for national security and good governance in Guyana, it was agreed that a unified approach must be activated to realize greater accountability, justice, respect for and observance of the rule of law and, generally, the establishment of good governance practices.
According to the WPA member, they have agreed to compile a comprehensive dossier cataloguing the government’s human rights abuses, including extra-judicial killings, torture and complicity with known organised crime gangs and narco-traffickers and the resulting corruption in high office.
This dossier, he said, upon completion, will be submitted to local, regional and international bodies, including the courts with the appropriate jurisdiction, and released to the media and the public.
He said also that arrangements are also being put in place for a robust public education campaign to alert the populace of the lawlessness of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic Government. “Since that is considered the single major obstacle to national cohesion, development, peace and security in Guyana.”
He assured that the campaign will at all times be conducted on the basis of consensus and in accordance with the laws and the Constitution of Guyana.
“The Parties are committed to meetings with civil society organisations, including trade unions, professional associations, religious bodies, private sector organisations, among others, in furtherance of the campaign.”
Member of the WPA, Dr Rupert Roopnarine, said that he was optimistic that notwithstanding the individual attempts by parties to secure such an investigation, a united drive would be a lot more effective.
“We believe that a campaign that represents the combined energies of the opposition will have more impact…there will more traction coming from the joint approach.”
Corbin said that he believed that there will be a greater national response that will be initiated by the symbolic alliance of opposition parties and the resources, namely the constituents of each of the parties, will come into play.
Leader of the AFC, Raphael Trotman, said that there was already information available, in and out of Guyana, for the Director of Public Prosecutions to have initiated an investigation already.
He cited as one example, the fact that Shaheed ‘Roger’ Khan has already pleaded guilty to importing cocaine into the United States of America and, according to Trotman, who is also a prominent lawyer, that admission meant that Khan exported the cocaine from local shores and as such the laws of Guyana were broken as such an investigation should have already been initiated.
As it relates to the other evidence being unearthed, Trotman said that while not prejudging the case of Robert Simels, ‘evidence is evidence’. “What is important is that the Government of the United States is leading evidence in one of its federal courts against a leading attorney and that gives it a level of credibility.”
He said that on the AFC’s behalf he did not want to seem to be begging, but rather to be alerting the international bodies. “It is we who have to solve the problem ourselves.”
Also speaking to the evidence being led to the US court by the prosecution, AFC Chairman Khemraj Ramjattan pointed out that it was the prosecution that was presenting this evidence, but what must also be noted is the fact that the defence is saying the same thing in connection to the matter.
Corbin echoed those sentiments in explaining that it was the people of the country that had to stand up against the atrocities that are being perpetrated in the country.
Corbin said that it was not the first time that evidence has been presented to the Guyana Police, pointing to the fact that he had taken to the then Commissioner of Police, a video and a sworn affidavit of George Bacchus, who was speaking about the operations of the ‘Phantom Gang’ in Guyana.
He posited that had there been the will to pursue investigations other witnesses would have presented themselves, but because of the lack of action all who spoke out were murdered
Among the revelations that have emanated from the US Court is the allegation that it was the Minister of Health Dr Leslie Ramsammy who facilitated the purchase of spy equipment and also arranged for the training in the use of the equipment for Roger Khan.
There was also the alleged motive for and the identification of the alleged killers of political activist and talk show host Ronald Waddell and Donald Allison.
The US Court also heard of how a self-confessed phantom squad member Selwyn Vaughn, provided a haven for Guyana’s most wanted criminal Rondell ‘Fineman’ Rawlins, as well as how functionaries in the Guyana Defence Force provided ammunition for the Buxton Gang and dumped decapitated bodies for the gang, among several other allegations.
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