PUP Proceeds With Constitutional Challenge to Controversial SI

The People’s United Party is moving full steam ahead with a constitutional challenge of the Sarstoon Law even though the temporary instrument expires on May twenty-ninth 2016 by the time the matter is brought before the Supreme Court.  The P.U.P.’s legal team is proceeding with the suit in an effort to thwart a possible lengthening of the restriction which prohibits movement in the Sarstoon.  According to Party Leader John Briceño, logistics are also being worked out for membership of the organization to travel to the Sarstoon River before the expiration of the statutory instrument.

John Briceño, Leader, People’s United Party

John Briceno

“As you know, we have filed a suit against the government challenging the SI.  We believe that it is unconstitutional and that is why we felt that it is important to put it on record that we are challenging that SI.  Now I know some people are saying well, or people that understand the court system, that it could be that by the time this case goes in front of the courts that the thirty day limit that the prime minister has put in would have been up.  Well whilst we recognize that that could be true, for us it is important to put forward the case for two reasons.  One, to put it on record that we are against it; but secondly, should the government decide that they want to extend another thirty days, our case is already working its way through the system and hopefully we can get it listened to in front of one of the learned justices.  As to the Sarstoon, we have made it abundantly clear that we are going to visit the Sarstoon.  We’re working at setting a date, it’s going to be before the thirty days is up.  I am happy to hear that the government has decided to open up the Sarstoon somewhat, that if you go to the forward operating base and report then you can be allowed to go to the Sarstoon and then if that is the case then we are going to see if that is so because we are going and we are going to stop at the forward operating base of the BDF before we go on to the mouth of the Sarstoon.”

Isani Cayetano

“Isn’t there a clause within the SI that prevents the movement of political groups or those wanting to create political mischief, if I may, from traversing that area?  And yours is the PUP.”

John Briceño

“We are not creating any political mischief.  Our party is the party of independence.  We fought for this country, our party led the nationalist movement and we have every single right to go anywhere in this country.  We are not creating mischief, we are creating awareness of the challenges that we are facing at the Sarstoon River and that is why we are planning on visiting the Sarstoon.”