APNU’s shadow Home Affairs Minister and security expert, Winston Felix, says that there should be a limit to the number of “guards†assigned to former President Bharrat Jagdeo.
This newspaper on Tuesday had reported that the former President still had his full complement of security personnel, consisting of fulltime members of the Guyana Police Force. According to Felix, Carl Greenidge’s Bill which he tabled to amend the President’s Benefits and Other Facilities Act of 2009, has proposed to slice away chunks of benefits that Jagdeo is presently entitled to and limit them to a maximum of 10 years.
Felix said that the wisdom of Greenidge’s Bill is obvious. He said that there needs to be a “cap†on the benefits because there is no limit. Felix further noted that whatever he receives should be “sensible†and not run into excess or waste.
But Government Members of Parliament say that the Bill will in no way affect former President Jagdeo since Bills cannot be applied retroactively. At a recent press briefing Presidential Adviser Gail Teixeira said that the amendment could affect future Presidents.
However, given his earlier pronouncements, President Donald Ramotar may not assent to the amendment.