WPA
Press Release
Working People's Alliance
Rodney House
80 Croal Street
Georgetown, Guyana
Tel/Fax: 592-2-53679
WPA PRESS STATEMENT
WHAT WILL GUYANA'S CENTRAL INTELLIGENGE AGENCY DO FOR GUYANESE?
February 11th. 2010
The Working People's Alliance (WPA) notes with concern the decision of the Government of Guyana to establish a Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), which, according to Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon, will coordinate all of the Intelligence information gathered by intelligence officers of the several arms of the Joint Security Services. This development, when set alongside the reported, unchallenged statements which are attributed to President Jagdeo at the GDF's two day conference - "Re-engineering to Enhance National Defence and Security " has created considerable unease among citizens in Guyana.
President Jagdeo in his address at that forum said "The traditional focus of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) will have to be shifted to ensure the better use of the country's resources." He was also reported to have said that "traditionally the GDF has been structured to maintain peace at the borders and the territorial integrity of the country" and noted "the country does not anticipate going to war with any of its neighbours and it has not been to war for most of its history." "But you have this huge pool of talented people in the military and we can't have them wait on a war with our neighbours."
The question that must be asked is this - With the Jagdeo government de-emphasizing the traditional role of the GDF and the State's decision to force that institution in a new direction, will the soon to be established Guyana CIA be concentrating its efforts on spying on citizens of Guyana, including the political opponents of the government, under the guise of increasing its security efforts?
Jagdeo's statements while not the first of its kind made by him nor by the PPP since 1992, signal the need for increased vigilance by citizens against the known excessive behavior of members of the Joint Security Services who have unleashed unprecedented levels of violence and crime against Guyanese, notwithstanding their race, age, gender, religion and political affiliation; and the known efforts of the government to victimize those they dislike.
WPA reminds citizens that it is this same PPP government which dismantled the GDF's functioning intelligence service during the period of the upsurge in criminal activity. WPA also wish to make it very clear that while it appreciates the need for a coordinated approach to intelligence gathering and there certainly is a need for a more professional approach to this matter, it will not stand idly by when intelligence gathering is used to violate the fundamental rights of citizens. Neither the political directorate nor Guyana's security forces track record is inspiring in this regard.
Finally, WPA again warns Guyanese that the Constitutional role of the GDF is defined in the Laws of Guyana Chapter15:01. Any attempt to force the GDF in a new direction in violation of the Constitution is to be condemned.
There have been too many occasions when the GDF has gone beyond its traditional role at the behest of those who hold political power. This nonsense must stop.