Citizens happy with court ruling
─ urge government to continue its focus on Guyana’s development
DPI, Guyana, Saturday, March 23, 2019
Even before Friday’s Court of Appeal ruling, citizens have been vocal about the possible outcome of the court matter, so naturally when Chancellor of the Judiciary, Yonette Cummings-Edwards and Justice of Appeal, Dawn Gregory, ruled that 34 votes, which constituted an absolute majority, were required to pass the no-confidence motion, hence, overturning of the January 21 ruling of acting Chief Justice, Roxane George, that the December 21 vote brought against the government by the opposition was valid, the streets were again a buzz with heated but friendly conversations about the outcome.
In downtown Georgetown today, citizens did not hold back their opinions, when asked by the Department of Public Information (DPI) what they thought about the ruling.
Sean Hughes, a citizen on Regent street, said he felt that the ruling “was a perfect decision and he didn’t think they [Court of Appeal] could have made a better decision than that”
Leon Gardner, a vendor only steps away, said he too was pleased with the outcome of the court case. Adding “I happy, I feel is a fair and good decision, so I glad it happen like that”.
Garner praised the government’s work since coming into office.
“To be honest, everybody see things different but for me a lot of things happen, like how I speaking here I could not have said these kinds of thing…this government come in, everything, I see a change, a man could speak free to say what he wants to say, this is what we need, free speech, you must not be afraid to say what you want to say, that is what I love.”
As our media team walked further down Regent Street, nearing Wellington Street, a group of citizens were locked in a gripping conversation about the ruling.
Though they requested not to comment on camera, they wanted their voices heard.
James, a Public Servant, said she believed it was the right result and this should have been the outcome of the first court case.
A vendor, who requested anonymity, shouted out “why Jagdeo got to “deh fighting so”, he don’t own this country, he don’t own the people of this country, give people a chance”.
Her neighbour, who also requested anonymity, chimed in with “Jagdeo needs to relax and give the APNU+AFC a chance to run this country and let us develop the country”.
Another citizen from the Campbellville area, Wilmer Bernard, who lived overseas for over a decade, said she has decided to remain in Guyana for a longer period after seeing the country’s transformation since her return last year.
“I was living abroad for 17 years and since I came back, I saw that a lot of things has been done, the place has improved, its clean… as a matter of fact I was going back but because of how I see the place improving I decided to stay.”
As our DPI team walked around the capital city, there were persons who shied away from commenting on anything they considered political, however, they were all vocal about wanting to see the country return to normalcy and development to continue.
Felecia Valenzuela.
Image: Marciano Narine.