Jagdeo condemns AG over attack on Deputy Solicitor-General

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has condemned Attorney General Basil Williams’ attack on Deputy Solicitor-General Prithima Kissoon, while saying that persons should not be targeted based on their perceived political affiliation.

Speaking at a press conference at his Church Street office, Jagdeo yesterday said Kissoon has never been a member of the PPP/C. He said even if she were, she should not be targeted because of this.

“I have been in the PPP a long time. This young lady is not a member of the People’s Progressive Party nor do I know her to be a supporter, at least openly, but even if she were or any other person that’s no reason for them to be hounded out of offices,” Jagdeo said.

On Sunday, Williams issued a statement attacking Kissoon, who had complained to the Public Service Commission (PSC) over the manner in which she had been treated by him during his tenure.

Williams had previously suggested in a report published in the Guyana Chronicle that Kissoon was responsible for the Court of Appeal throwing out an appeal brought by the state against a decision by the High Court that the magistrate had no jurisdiction.

In his statement on Sunday, Williams said, “Our government can no longer continue to sustain the Deputy Solicitor General Ms. Prithima Kissoon’s unrelenting undermining of its cases. Having been employed by former Attorney General Mr. Anil Nandlall under the PPP/C regime, as Deputy Solicitor General, and paid over one million dollars ($1,000,000) and other benefits per month, Ms. Kissoon has been openly supportive of

Kissoon has denied Williams’ version of the trajectory of the case before the Guyana Court of Appeal. In correspondence to the PSC, Kissoon accused the AG of failing to give instructions or examining documents prepared by her prior to being filed or presented to the court.

In relation to the Jagdeo case and referring to the report in the Guyana Chronicle, Kissoon said that the AG wrongly and unlawfully stated that she and the Chancellor of the Judiciary Justice Carl Singh conspired to have the case thrown out.

“If we start doing ethnic testing of our people or political testing then where will we end up in this country? If we ask people what your politics is before you get hired?” Jagdeo yesterday questioned, while adding that it seems as if young professionals can’t find a place under the current government.

He disclosed that the former deputy head of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), Marcia Nadir-Sharma, who was sent on leave in 2015 following an audit of the entity, has since been dismissed.

The audit by former Auditor-General Anand Goolsarran, among other things, recommended criminal and/or disciplinary action against all those responsible for the interception of state revenues totalling $26.858 billion in violation of the constitution. He had said that several laws were broken.

Jagdeo also cited the government’s decision to put the Cuban trained doctors on the pensionable establishment without discussion as another example. Previously, the doctors were hired on contracts and were entitled to gratuity payments.

Meanwhile, Jagdeo questioned the decision of President David Granger to send home the Chairman of the Police Complaints Authority, Justice Cecil Kennard due to his age and pointed out that head of the State Assets Recovery Unit Dr Clive Thomas is older than Kennard.

“What about Clive Thomas? Clive Thomas, I believe, is older than Kennard but he chairs the Guy Su Co board, a critical board. Now Kennard had a tiny agency and he deals with a few cases per a month. But here it is Clive Thomas, I gather he is 81…and he chairs the board of Guy Su Co …,” the opposition leader said.

He said there are other persons who are in government at that age while stating that he has nothing against persons of that age once they are competent but President Granger “gives these inconsistent answers.”

The government has since said that the move against Kennard is a part of government’s plan to establish an age limit for persons who sit on state boards, agencies and commissions.