Threats are tantamount to Mafia behavior – GTUC

Nov 02, 2014 News

The GTUC condemns in the strongest possible term the content of Attorney General (AG) Anil Nandlall’s recorded conversation with a media reporter.
In a press release, the GTUC said that the abuse of privilege vested in our elected officials must not be tolerated and every citizen, regardless of political persuasion, ethnicity or creed, has a responsibility to protect our laws and avoid the transgressing of rights and privileges.
A clear message ought to be sent to those in the Government who seek to justify or defend the AG’s despicable conduct, it said.
The question before us is not whether the conversation was illegally taped as the government seems pre-occupied with. This is fake concern and diversionary tactic coming from a government who used similar act- as conducted by Roger Khan- to condemn and call on former Commissioner of Police, Winston Felix to resign because of the content of a taped conversation involving him.
What we are witnessing here is not only double standards, but downright wickedness, contempt for others and abuse of public office.
When the Attorney General can flaunt his caste status with contempt for others he clearly perceived as lesser than, in a society whose Constitution says all are equal, but moreso his access to the corridors of power and the abuse of such power in furtherance of a chokehold on society, it says we are living in dangerous times.
The AG’s threats as heard in the recording are tantamount to Mafia behaviour. The claimed knowledge/threat to the use of weapons in the building of Kaieteur News would obviously bring destruction to lives and property.
We condemn it and call on all Guyana to be vigilant in the face of this provocation.
Threat to freedom of the press
What is driving the defilement of our public offices is the intent of the office holders to silence the independent press.
The never-ending assault on press freedom has become characteristic of the Jagdeo/Ramotar administrations, which seem hell bent on silencing some sections in the media fraternity, in their desire to control the nation’s narrative and determine how the citizenry interpret reality.
Freedom of the press is integral to maintaining this openness in the fight for an equitable and just society. This freedom must not be stifled or silenced. A free press must be allowed to bloom because it is a critical pillar for good and accountable government.