Dear Editor,
The President of Guyana abdicated his responsibility when he said he would take no administrative or executive action against Ministers Edghill and Indar unless and until the Commission of Inquiry reports.
By saying that Edghill and Indar’s fate depends on the CoI, the President is attempting to transfer his executive and political responsibility to a commission that he has appointed. The Commission cannot decide who serves in his Cabinet. That decision belongs to the President alone, or ought to, anyway.
The CoI must determine facts and make recommendations. The President must exercise judgement and ensure accountability. Relieving the ministers of their duties pending the inquiry would not be a determination of guilt but would certainly protect the integrity of the process.
The glaring contradiction in the President’s posture should not be missed. He has said that he cannot take temporary administrative action against Edghill and Indar until the CoI’s report because he does not want to prejudice the inquiry. Yet three operational officers were arrested, charged with murder and placed before the courts even before the CoI had begun its work.
While strictly speaking the President does not initiate criminal charges, politically, his position is difficult to defend. The State was prepared to act immediately and coercively against the captain, chief mate and the T&HD officer, while the President claims that he must await the CoI before taking the far less severe step of suspending the responsible Ministers.
If sufficient preliminary evidence existed to initiate proceedings against operational employees, then there is more than enough justification for the precautionary suspension of a minister whose agencies and responsibilities fall within the inquiry.
The CoI did not prevent the State from acting against operational officers; it cannot be used as an excuse to refuse to act against Ministers.
Sincerely,
Hon. Amanza O.R. Walton, MP