The private criminal charge against former President Bharrat Jagdeo for allegedly making racially divisive remarks during the 2015 elections campaign, has been thrown out by Justice Navendra Singh.

Jagdeo had moved to the High Court for the charge to be thrown out after he was dragged before the Whim Magistrates’ Court and charged for the offense. He had argued that he was innocent of the charge and the Magistrate did not have the jurisdiction to hear the matter.

The private criminal charge was filed against Jagdeo by Attorney-at-Law, Christopher Ram.

Ram had contended that Jagdeo’s statements at Babu John during a political meeting, about the beating of drums to drive one race out of office by another race, could result in ethnic violence or hatred as cited in the Representation of the People Act.

However, the Judge ruled that the Magistrate had no jurisdiction to hear the case and there was no supporting evidence put forward by Ram to support a criminal charge.

Mr. Jagdeo had always declared his innocence, although a report of the Media Monitoring Unit of the Guyana Elections Commission had cited the same speech as one with racial overtones and one that could be racially divisive.

Now that the case has been thrown out, Attorney General Basil Williams has indicated that it will be up to the Attorney Christopher Ram whether he wants to file a new criminal charge against the former President who now sits as the Leader of the Opposition.

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