Jagdeo condemns Lawrence’s “discriminatory” Congress Place comments

…could file complaint with ERC
…Lawrence defends utterances

Opposition Leader and General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Bharrat Jagdeo says all Guyanese along with human rights groups should join in condemning the “discriminatory” comments attributed to People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Chairperson Volda Lawrence who spoke at Congress Place during a District Convention on Wednesday night.
The former President told reporters on Thursday that Minister Lawrence’s comments and that of other A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) leaders have undertones of racism.
“What it also reveals is the visceral racism in many of the leaders of APNU… she goes on to say twenty-eight candidates looking like you running in Georgetown and two looking like Jagdeo… this is laced with racism. Our people are not who look like whom; she should have the decency to at least call people by name; afro-Guyanese or Indo-Guyanese…” Jagdeo outlined.
Lawrence, who is the Public Health Minister, was quoted in the media as saying,

among other things, that her party should place more focus on providing jobs for friends and party supporters. “The only friends I got is PNC so the only people I gon give wuk to is PNC and right now I looking for a doctor who can talk Spanish or Portuguese and ah want one that is PNC,” the PNCR Chairwoman was quoted as saying.
In this regard, Jagdeo explained that she can be charged for violating labour regulations which speak to non-discrimination in hiring practices. He added that he is hopeful that she will be privately charged for her comments as he hinted the PPP could file another complaint with the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC).
“We have been filing quite a few complaints but I think maybe we will – I have to discuss it but it seems as though only the PPP has to fight for everything here. I haven’t seen the human rights bodies and traditional groups who have been on their case all the time,” Jagdeo noted.
He added that her comments run counter to the party’s unity rally that was held only days prior and claimed that there is “deep internal division” within the ranks on

the APNU, of which the PNCR is the major partner.
“The betrayal of the people will cause them to lose the 2020 elections,” Jagdeo assured.

Lawrence responds to growing controversy
Meanwhile, with criticisms pouring in across various social media outlets, Lawrence announced later on Thursday, through her party, that she is standing by her words which include comments about her only providing employment to supporters of her party.
In the PNCR statement, she affirmed that she stands by her views that were made in regards to jobs and opportunities. A section of the document stated that “The People’s National Congress Reform stands by her views on the issue of jobs and unemployment that measures are being put in place for the young and industrious to be afforded the opportunity of becoming self-employed or gaining meaningful employment.”
However, the Public Health Minister did not address the controversial remarks that

she allegedly made. However, in her defence, Lawrence said she was only defending that Guyanese must be bilingual.
The Public Health Minister in essence made these statements to ensure that the government remains in power after the 2020 elections.
When contacted for a comment on the alleged statements and to ascertain if the remarks were reflective of the party’s position, Social Protection Minister Amna Ally questioned whether this news entity heard Lawrence make the said remarks.
Lawrence’s alleged remarks saw her criticising members of her party for inside bickering, which according to her, if not rectified, will cost the coalition Government the 2020 General Elections.