APNU/AFC Govt responsible for tarnishing Guyana’s image internationally – Jagdeo

…says motion to honour convicted terrorist should never have been passed

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo on Thursday lashed out at the decision by the A Partnership for National Unuty/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government to honour convicted terrorist, Abdul Kadir, which has tarnished Guyana’s image internationally.
Speaking at his weekly press conference, Jagdeo said that instead of apologising to the world at large for such an action, the Government continues to make excuses at the expense of Guyana’s image.
He stated that although the APNU/AFC Administration claims it never intended to convey the impression that it was supporting terrorism, the world is looking at Guyana in a negative light.
“I have noticed that the Government rather than just admit that it was ill-conceived, admit that the motion was insensitive, and that it should have never reached the floor of the Assembly, or being debated in the National Assembly much less passed, and apologise to Guyanese and all the people and countries of the world who have been the victims of international terrorism, they have chosen instead of doing that, they have chosen to make excuses,” Jagdeo told the media.

Excuses
According to Jagdeo, the General Secretary of the People’s National Congress (PNC) Amna Ally, tried to equate the Government’s action of honouring Kadir, by pointing out that the National Assembly also paid tribute to controversial former Minister and ambassador of the People’s Progressive Party Administration, Ronald Gajraj. But the Opposition Leader noted that there can be no comparison between Kadir and Gajraj.
“There has been no motion passed, sympathy motion, for Ronald Gajraj, that’s one, secondly, she has even in his death disparaged a patriot. She spoke about Gajraj being fingered in so many things, now, fingered by whom? Gajraj was never charged or convicted for any of these things that he was fingered for as described by this General Secretary of the PNC, Amna Ally, so trying to equate Gajraj with someone who had been convicted, charged and convicted for international terrorism and someone by his own admission said he was presenting reports to a foreign power on our security forces, our Army… you are equating that with Ronald Gajraj? This is the excuse that they sought to make rather than admit that they were wrong.”
Jagdeo noted that while some persons are of the view that the coalition Government honoured Kadir in order to “appease” persons, the family and children of Kadir should not have to worry that the State would treat them any differently than any other citizen.
“People must pay for their own misdeeds not their parents’ misdeeds or their brothers’ misdeeds, or their sisters’ or their siblings’ and therefore the family should not be treated any differently than we treat other Guyanese. However, this motion should have never made the order paper. It should have never been debated by the PNC and supported by the PNC and it should have never passed the National Assembly. This is a stain on Guyana globally,” the Opposition Leader added.
Former PNC parliamentarian Abdul Kadir was sentenced to life in prison in the United States after being found guilty of plotting a 2007 terrorist attack at John F Kennedy International Airport in New York.
On Wednesday, the Canadian High Commission was the latest in a number of diplomatic delegations to criticise the APNU/AFC Government for honouring the convicted terrorist.
The Government of Canada made its position known through its High Commissioner to Guyana, Lilian Chatterjeet, who in a statement said that Canada was “disappointed” in the fact that members of the National Assembly would pay tribute to Kadir.
The statement comes days after the Government passed a motion, in the absence of the Opposition, in the National Assembly paying tribute to the convicted terrorist and former parliamentarian. Canada has joined the United States, Britain and European Union delegations, which have condemned the Guyana Administration’s actions.

Motion
The motion – Sympathy on the Death of Mr Abdul Kadir, former Member of Parliament – was tabled by Junior Agriculture Minister Valerie Adams-Yearwood in Parliament on April 26, 2019.
The motion states: “Be it resolved that this National Assembly records its deep regret on the death of Mr Abdul Kadir on 28th June, 2018, and pays tribute to his dedicated service to the Parliament of Guyana as a Member of Parliament, where he served in the Eighth Parliament, from 17th April, 2001, to 2nd May, 2006, and to the people of Guyana.
“The people of Linden and Guyana have lost a great man, a stalwart, a bold and courageous man. So I ask this National Assembly that we direct an expression of sympathy (to) be conveyed to his sorrowing widow, children, grandchildren, and relatives,” Minister Adams-Yearwood said as she tabled the motion, which was eventually carried in the absence of the PPP/C Opposition.
Kadir, a former PNC MP and Mayor of Linden, died back in June 2018 in a penitentiary in the United States of America, where he had been serving a life sentence for plotting a 2007 terror attack at the John F Kennedy International Airport, New York.

The Government of Canada made its position known through its High Commissioner to Guyana, Lilian Chatterjeet, who in a statement said that Canada was “disappointed” in the fact that members of the National Assembly would pay tribute to Kadir.
The statement comes days after the Government passed a motion, in the absence of the Opposition, in the National Assembly paying tribute to the convicted terrorist and former parliamentarian. Canada has joined the United States, Britain and European Union delegations, which have condemned the Guyana Administration’s actions.

Motion
The motion – Sympathy on the Death of Mr Abdul Kadir, former Member of Parliament – was tabled by Junior Agriculture Minister Valerie Adams-Yearwood in Parliament on April 26, 2019.
The motion states: “Be it resolved that this National Assembly records its deep regret on the death of Mr Abdul Kadir on 28th June, 2018, and pays tribute to his dedicated service to the Parliament of Guyana as a Member of Parliament, where he served in the Eighth Parliament, from 17th April, 2001, to 2nd May, 2006, and to the people of Guyana.
“The people of Linden and Guyana have lost a great man, a stalwart, a bold and courageous man. So I ask this National Assembly that we direct an expression of sympathy (to) be conveyed to his sorrowing widow, children, grandchildren, and relatives,” Minister Adams-Yearwood said as she tabled the motion, which was eventually carried in the absence of the PPP/C Opposition.
Kadir, a former PNC MP and Mayor of Linden, died back in June 2018 in a penitentiary in the United States of America, where he had been serving a life sentence for plotting a 2007 terror attack at the John F Kennedy International Airport, New York.