David Hinds criticises President for taking “partisan stance” on Rodney report

The Working People’s Alliance (WPA)  Executive Member, Dr David Hinds, has reacted with great disappointment over President David Granger’s comments on the explosive findings of the report into the death of Dr Walter Rodney, which implicated the PNC and other agencies acting on behalf of the State at the time.

On February 24, Granger finally broke his silence on the report’s findings and declared that it was “badly flawed” and “was based on hearsay evidence”. He consequently expressed his intentions to challenge it.

Commenting on this new development, Hinds opined that the Head of State ought not to be making partisan pronouncements on matters of such national importance.

“The President, in his capacity of Head of State and Government of Guyana, has taken a clear partisan stance on a matter of high national importance and one that has continually divided the country,” he wrote in his weekly online blog, noting that he disagreed with the President’s interpretation.

He further articulated that the President must maintain a balance between speaking on behalf of the Government and speaking on behalf of the PNC.

“Had the President told the reporters that he was speaking as leader of the PNC, I would not have been disappointed. The PNC has a right to be aggrieved by the findings of the Commission; after all, the PNC Government of that time and its leaders are indicted by the report,” the political commentator penned.

In fact, Hinds expressed that the President should refrain from making any statements on matters that were highly charged.

“He could have commented on the matter without taking a partisan stance,” he stated.

Moreover, Hinds pondered whether the President was speaking on behalf of the entire coalition, inclusive of the WPA, when he rubbished the report.

Additionally, he questioned how exactly the President planned on challenging the report.

“By whom — the Office of the President, the Government or the PNC?”

Hinds conceded that it was a difficult task of balancing party leadership and national leadership, but as the Head of State, he should try harder.