PPP Govt respects separation of powers, cannot be blamed for missteps of GPF – Jagdeo

Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo has emphasised that the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) administration respects the separation of powers doctrine and therefore cannot be blamed for the missteps of the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

Jagdeo made this point on Thursday last during his press conference in response to criticisms against the government over certain actions taken by the GPF.

“We don’t direct the police,” Jagdeo made it clear.

He referenced the recent controversy over the prosecution of Daniel Wharton also known as “Baby Skello”, saying that “we get blamed now because the Police Force dug up some old law that we didn’t even know existed, blasphemous libel and charge an entertainer with it.”

There was widespread condemnation after Wharton was remanded to prison after being charged with blasphemous libel over a song he released on social media, containing several vulgar lyrics about the Hindu deity Maha Lakshmi.

Wharton eventually secured bail in the High Court.

Jagdeo also referenced the case with Rickford Burke wherein the GPF has now signalled its intention to initiate extradition proceedings against the political activist, who is currently residing in the United States, as it seeks to bring him before the court on new allegations of extortion. The announcement by the Police came one day after acting Chief Justice Roxane George declared that the initial charge of criminal defamation libel against him to be unconstitutional.

The acting Chief Justice had further clarified that the proper legal route for returning individuals facing criminal charges lies within the Fugitive Offenders Act, which includes adherence to all required legislative procedures.

“We get blamed because the Police again, instituted the wrong charged against Rickford Burke when they should have gone for extortion, not libel because they have evidence of extortion,” Jagdeo pointed out.

However, he noted that in both cases, the police and judiciary acted independently.

“In both cases, for the blasphemous libel, it was the magistrate that sent the entertainer to prison and then he went back to the same judiciary and he got bail without interference from the State and in the Rickford Burke case, it was the Chief Justice of Guyana who pointed out that you can’t get Rickford Burke on that, you have to charge him on another/use another law if you’re trying to get him to Guyana to face the criminal action…,” Jagdeo explained.

In this regard, the Vice President emphasised that the GPF needs to do more to keep the public informed.

“Because we get blamed for any incompetence…,” Jagdeo said.

He further highlighted that whenever these missteps occur, they are elevated by “opponents” of the government – which is a disservice to all the strides being made by the GPF.

“And then you miss all the achievements of the Police Force… hardworking policemen and policewomen solving crime across our country, keeping order within the country, ensuring that people are safe in their communities, going after criminals in our country, charging them, getting convictions for them. This is important,” Jagdeo said.