Nandlall accuses AG of political interference

Attorney- at law and PPP Executive, Anil Nandlall is accusing Attorney General, (AG) Basil Williams of using his political position to influence the decision of an independent constitutional agency. Nandlall noted that in a statement in another section of the media, the AG admitted that it was representation through his office that prevented the private charges laid against Ministers of Government from continuing. According to an August, 5, 2018 edition of the Guyana Chronicle, Williams, in speaking of his accomplishments as AG, cited the case where attempts were made by the PPP to have private charges laid against Ministers Volda Lawerence, Dr. George Norton, David Patterson, Rupert Roopnarine and Winston Jordan. “He said it was representation through his office that prevented the private charges from continuing against them.” In April, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Shalimar Ali-Hack discontinued private criminal charges of misconduct in public office filed against Government Ministers citing her authority under Article 187 (1) (c) of Guyana’s Constitution. However, Nandlall believes that the AG ‘s public admission that his office played a role in the charges being dropped, represents crass disrespect for the constitution and the independent organs of the State, since the Office of the DPP is a constitutional creation, which enjoys institutional independence and functional autonomy. That autonomy is captured by the language of Article 187 (4), which provides “in the exercise of the powers conferred upon him or her by this article the Director shall not be subject to the direction or control of any other person or authority.”

Nandlall concludes that there is an unassailable admission by the AG of political interference with an independent constitutional agency. He noted therefore “in most democratic countries, this admission would be the basis of a resignation. Earlier this year, the DPP discontinued the private charges against the government ministers while noting that the charges were of grave issue of concern in relation to two serving Ministers. “In the interest of good governance in the State of Guyana such allegations ought first to have been reported to the Guyana Police Force for an investigation to be launched and the advice of the DPP sought.” The charges for “misconduct in public office contrary to the common law” were filed by PPP Parliamentarians Juan Edghill and Vickram Bharrat. In the first two court filings, Norton, in June 2016, while serving as Minister of Public Health, authorized the rental of a Sussex Street, Albouystown property for the purposes of a drug bond, from Linden Holdings Incorporated, for $12.5M per month. Norton had come under immense public pressure. He was part of a Cabinet reshuffle that saw him being reassigned to the post of Minister of Social Cohesion. He subsequently received the additional appointment as Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport.

(Kaieteur News)