Hello dear audience! This is Jacqui, writer and researcher of “Under the Sycamore Tree.” Here are our show notes for our Episode 2: “Setting Precedent: Positive Rights?” 

Possible triggers in this episode include transphobia, police brutality, rape, unfair arrest, trans-youth abuse, misgendering, and possible deadnaming. The organization and organizer featured is Candacy McEwan, Founder and Executive Director of Guyana Trans United. Founded in 2012, Guyana Trans United is an organization that aims to improve the quality of life for the trans Guyanese community and to ensure that their rights are recognized in all domains through human rights advocacy, promoting respect and acceptance within the larger society, and empowering transgender individuals through creating and sustaining an environment free from all violence, prejudice, discrimination, and other negative and adverse conduct. 

The precedent-setting Caribbean Court of Justice case that frames this episode is McEwan, et. al. vs. The Attorney General of Guyana (2018). You can find a video of Judge Saunders’ judgment on the Caribbean Court of Justice’s YouTube channel, and the written judgment here. Our context on the UK Privy Council comes from Radio 90 FM (Jamaica), and according to the journal, International Legal Matters, “the savings clause of the Constitution of Guyana is to be found at Article 152; it states that nothing contained in or done under the authority of any pre-independence written law shall be held in contravention of the human rights protected by the Constitution.” Visit Guyana Trans United online via their Equality Fund webpage, their Twitter @GuyanaTrans, and their Facebook page.

Our Producer, Dave-Ann, first interviewed Candacy in late 2021, and Carla’s conversation with Candacy happened in March 2022. 

I hope you connect with these texts and enjoy the episode even further! Sincerely, 

Jacks.