HGP Nightly News – Attorney General Anil Nandlall says the constitutional right to protest does not give demonstrators the right to disrupt the lawful assembly of others.
Speaking on “Issues in the News”, Nandlall pointed to Article 147 of Guyana’s Constitution. He said the provision protects peaceful assembly, association and demonstration.
However, Nandlall said those rights must be balanced against the freedoms of others.”You have a right to protest and to do so peacefully,” he said.
But he argued that protesters cannot prevent people from attending a political meeting or interfere with that gathering. His comments follow a confrontation in Linden during a meeting attended by Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo.
Nandlall accused Opposition figures of crossing the line by allegedly breaking through a barrier in an attempt to disrupt the meeting. He said those protesting outside had a right to demonstrate.
Those attending the meeting had an equal right to assemble. Nandlall said the issue becomes different when protests turn disruptive, threatening or unlawful.
He pointed to laws covering disorderly behaviour, riotous conduct and unlawful assembly.
“When you interfere with people’s meetings,” he said, “those people’s right to associate” is also being affected.
Nandlall maintained that political leaders also have a responsibility to ensure their actions and those of their supporters remain peaceful.
He said the Constitution protects protest, but that protection is not without limits.
