Council unanimously condemns coalition’s interference

Corriverton flag raising sabotage

…agrees to write Caribbean Local Authorities, diplomats

The Corriverton Town Council on Wednesday unanimously condemned the move by the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change coalition Government which saw them allegedly passing instructions to the Guyana Police Force to sabotage and stop the Council’s programme which was organised to mark Guyana’s 48th Republic anniversary on February 23, 2018.
The Council registered its disgust and dissatisfaction with the conduct of Social Protection Minister Amna Ally who is also the General Secretary of the People’s National Congress and her involvement in the entire controversy.
It has continued to allege that the Minister may have been the one who passed operational instructions to the Police Commander who was posted to B Division (Berbice) to ensure that the event did not take place, even though she has since admitted responsibility for the sabotage but denied that she passed any instructions.
The controversy saw the Police seizing the public address system, drummers were instructed not to perform, children who had prepared their cultural presentations for weeks prior to the event were prevented from stepping on to the stage and the town’s Mayor, Krishnand Jaichand, was denied the right to address those gathered.
“I can’t instruct the Police. My understanding from the Police is that they [Town Council] haven’t sought permission. They didn’t do that. And they only acted based on what was presented to them,” Minister Ally had said.
But Councillors said they were going ahead with a proposal to inform the ABC countries about the saga with a view of ensuring that they are made of aware of the threats being made to local democratic organs and local democracy.
Corriverton Town Council is also considering the idea of shifting the venue to the compound of the Council where they perceived there will be less interference by the Police or others.
It also plans to inform the Caribbean Association of Local Government Authorities (CALGA) and the diplomatic community locally about the Police’s interference at the event last Thursday evening.
One of the Councillors abstained on approaching the diplomatic community even though he did condemn the Government’s and Police’s interference in the manner.