Accusing Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo of violating the Racial Hostility Act and the Cybercrime Act, well-known businessman and Opposition nominated member of the Investment Committee of the Natural Resource Fund, Terrence Campbell has filed an official complaint with the Ethnic Relations Commission against Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo.

In his complaint, Mr. Campbell indicated that on Thursday 12th December, the Vice President wilfully made statements to excite hostility and ill-will against him in violation of the law.

The Vice President’s statement against Campbell at his press conference appeared in response to a statement Campbell made in a letter to the press.

In that letter, Campbell said “The VP has a genetic predisposition to eating his cake and having it. As President he was “Champion” of the Earth, today he is a Champion of Fossil Fuels. As Opposition Leader he was Champion of Renegotiation, today he is Champion of Contract Sanctity.”

Mr. Campbell complained to the ERC that at his last press conference, the Vice President turned his attention to the statement in the letter, and accused him of broadly “talking about Indo-Guyanese”.

Campbell said his statement was based on his observation of Mr. Jagdeo for decades, and it was a statement made about him personally.

He said he finds it “shocking and reprehensible” that the Vice President extended the criticism to all Guyanese of Indian descent.

“If I say that John has a genetic predisposition to being fat, that cannot be extended to all members of John’s ethnic group. Obesity is found amongst all of the different ethnic groups in Guyana. The same is true about duplicity”, the businessman stated.

Campbell said the Vice President’s statement at his press conference has led to him facing abuse and economic threats, adding that some of his family members of Indian descent, and friends, were inundated with screenshots of public commentary on the racism claims leveled against him.

He said the ERC must address the issue since he fears if left unrestrained, the Vice President will continue on this path of “race baiting”.

Campbell recently raised a number of questions about Government spending from the Natural Resource Fund. He sits on the Investment Committee of the fund as the Opposition’s representative, but has indicated that many of his requests for information on withdrawals from the fund and spending by the Government have been blanked. He said he will continue to express his concerns about the operation of the fund.

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