After reading Mr. Emile Mervin’s letter in Kaieteur News, dated January 17, 2008, I was struck by his erroneous statement when he said that “President Bharrat Jagdeo and the PPP/C are not ashamed or afraid to show it has designs or becoming a dictatorship.” What poppycock! Mervin seems to be living in Michael Jackson’s heavily mortgaged ‘Neverland’. Mervin needs to visit Guyana to see the great strides toward inclusivity in governance.

Today, political rights and civil liberties are restored. There are freedom of expression, free and transparent elections, and political and parliamentary inclusivity. The PPP/C reinstated human rights laws and endorsed protocol on the UN convention on civil political rights to which the PNC was not a signatory.

For 24 years, Guyana was ruled by a dictatorship. A transition from authoritarianism to democracy came in 1992 after free and fair elections. Burnham’s leadership was one of no accountability to Guyanese, but his regime was marked with, dominance, rigged elections, and social and political marginalisation.

Also, Mr. Mervin should do some home work and read article 180 of Guyana’s constitution, which clearly states that the President can be removed during his tenure on the grounds of constitutional violations and gross misconduct. These are serious sanctions that would overwhelm any President after he/she has left office.
KIMBERLY JAMES