Attorney-at-Law, Christopher Ram wrote the Commissioner of Police, Leslie James today, calling on him to launch an investigation into seven Members of Parliament, who in his opinion, have made false declarations about having a dual citizenship status.
In a missive to the media today, Ram reminded that in a constitutional action brought by a fellow citizen, Compton Reid, Chief Justice (ag.) Roxane George-Wiltshire (ag), ruled that “anyone who holds dual citizenship, that is citizenship of Guyana and of a foreign power or state, as envisaged by Article 155 (1) (a) and therefore falls in this category of disqualified person pursuant to Article 156 (1) (d) should not and cannot be a member of the National Assembly ….”
Considering the said ruling, Ram informed the Commissioner of Police that the persons who are likely to have taken a false oath and therefore violated Section Four of the Statutory Declarations Act are: PPP’s Adrian Anamayah; Business Minister, Dominic Gaskin; Foreign Affairs Minister, Carl Greenidge; Minister of State, Joseph Harmon; PPP’s Odinga Lumumba; Public Service Minister, Rupert Roopnarine; and the Opposition’s Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira.
Ram also asked the Commissioner of Police to expand this investigation to all Members of Parliament since reports from the media suggest that there may be other members who also hold a dual citizenship status.
The lawyer said, “…It is perhaps not without significance that taking a false oath constitutes a criminal act under the Criminal Law Offences Act. Despite calls made in the past for compliance, candidates appeared to have considered themselves above the very law which they swore to uphold. The consequences of such disdain and contempt for the law have now become pellucid and credit must go to the Attorney General Mr. Basil Williams S.C…”
He continued, “Despite the ruling by the Chief Justice, very senior members of the National Assembly continue to flout the law posing a threat to the effective convening of the National Assembly and any proceedings thereat…”
The Attorney-at-Law added, “Democracy is a wonderful but fragile concept and therefore any efforts or action to subvert it must be prevented at all cost. The Guyana Police Force, as the Country’s principal law enforcement body has a duty to ensure that that is done.”
In view of the grave nature of this matter, Ram said that he implored the Commissioner of Police to undertake the investigation with all convenient speed and diligence and to take such action as is necessary and appropriate to prevent the further subversion of the country’s key democratic institutions.
