Gov John S. Duncan lashes back! 'I am not above the law'
And he added that bloggers are "probably" more accurate than some of the talk show hosts based on the comments he hears from them.
The Governor was responding to queries following an event last week during which he offered clarification on statements by Maduro.
"I think the bloggers are probably more accurate more than some of the statements I've seen published by some of the commentators," he said.
Governor Duncan said the Constitution is available for anyone to read and assured that Maduro is wrong in his interpretation of the territory's supreme law.
"We are going to be doing in the context of the celebration of Her Majesty's 90th birthday an education programme for particularly young people. It will explain how the Monarchy works, how the Constitution works, how the Governor works, so that people can have a better understanding [of these issues]," he said.
He staunchly disagreed that the office of Governor is not subject to prosecution, according to the Constitution.
"That’s not what it says...his interpretation is not accurate. It does not suggest that the Governor is above the law," said the Governor.
Maduro cries discrimination
Speaking on his EGM Show on February 18, 2016, Maduro said he believes it is discriminatory that the Governor cannot be prosecuted before the courts in the same way other government officials can be.
He read out Article 35 of the Constitution under Governor and lamented the powers which are conferred on that person where they seemingly evade prosecution.
“Subject to the provisions of this Constitution or by any other law by which powers or duty are conferred upon the governor, the governor shall do and execute all things that belong to his or her office including the exercise of any power to which the governor is empowered by this Constitution to act in his or her discretion…” he read.
“But to question whether or not the Governor has complied with any such instructions shall not be inquired into any court," he read.
Maduro said this is discriminatory and argued that this section of the Constitution needed to be amended.
Talk show hosts and members of the public have heavily criticised Governor Duncan for refusing to launch a Commission of Inquiry into the Ports Development Project, which has since seen millions of dollars in over-runs. This was even after the then Auditor General Sonia M. Webster and the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), headed by the then Opposition Leader Ralph T. O'Neal OBE, had recommened an investigation into the project.
Further, Governor Duncan has been blasted for failing to hold the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) to its campaign promise of 'Government in the sunshine'.
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17 Responses to “Gov John S. Duncan lashes back! 'I am not above the law'”
Take that Edmund!