Jagdeo rubbishes APNU criticisms of PPP holding Congress at ACCC

…says it’s a convention centre, not Govt building

People’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo, on Sunday rubbished criticisms emanating from the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), over the ruling party’s use of the Arthur Chung Convention Center (ACCC) to host its 32nd Conference.
In a lengthy statement, APNU had criticised the PPP for practicing party paramountcy. But while APNU compared ACCC to government buildings, Jagdeo set the record straight that the building was actually a convention center, available to anyone for rental.
“The PNC had to say something about our congress. So now (its) about the party flag flying here. It was the national convention center, built by the People’s Progressive Party, in the time when I was President. They changed the name, to the Arthur Chung Conference Center. They did lots of name changes, put names on buses, etc.”
“It’s a convention center! It is a convention center. We rented the convention center. You know what convention centers are rented for? They’re rented for people to hold activities. Weddings. How many weddings we’ve had here? So next thing they’re gonna say is don’t let the pastor come in here. You’re desecrating the building. Its only because we’re a secular state. And the pastor can’t perform a ceremony in the foyer of the building, because it’s a secular building. Pure nonsense.”
Jagdeo explained that the party took a decision to rent the center. He also hit back at criticisms over the party’s proud display of its flags, noting the important symbolism behind the tri-color flag.
“So, we rented this building and we decorated it with our beautiful party flags that have a meaning. (They said) we’re putting up German flags. The black signifies our strength and the fight for freedom. The red spoke about our struggles. And the gold was for the bright future. From the beginning we set it up. Now suddenly it became German flags? They have nothing of substance to speak of.”
He pointed out the illogical nature of APNU’s arguments that the building could not be used for party functions due to parliament being held there. According to Jagdeo, parliament only meets in the dome once every two months.
“So, we must stop using the dome, for everything else, because parliament meets in the dome once every maybe two months, three months? It is nonsense, pure pettiness. For a major political party to reduce itself to this sort of pettiness.”
“It’s shocking. They couldn’t find anything of substance to talk about. Sent out this long statement. How we can’t fly our flags at a government building. It’s a convention center,” Jagdeo added.
In the face of the Opposition’s letter, which was critical of the fanfare accompanying the PPP’s 32nd Congress, the party’s Executive Member Gail Teixeira had said on Saturday that her party would continue to display its colours and flags across the country at any time of the year.
She was at the time responding to a statement from Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton, who was condemning the PPP for hoisting its party flags at the ACCC and on utility poles across the country. The flags were on display as the ruling party hosted its 32nd Congress last weekend.
In their statement, APNU had accused the PPP of sending a message of party paramountcy, and of “weakening the fabric of society”. They further noted that outside of elections, the PPP cannot prominently display its flags, though it quoted no law against this.
However, Teixeira argued that the Opposition’s own practices were worse during their time in office, from 2015 to 2020.
“The Leader of the Opposition has brought out a statement, an official statement, saying that the PPP is violating the constitutional law and democracy by putting up our party flags on the Convention Center and outside and across the country. What nonsense! They got short memories!” she said.
“When the PNC flag hung over the Judiciary and the Guyana Defense Force and every ministry in this country, and you had to wear the party colours under Granger, you did not dare go with red to any public office between 2015 and 2020! How dare they?! We will fly our flags, we will fly our Guyana flags inside and outside of elections, because we are the true party of the people,” Teixeira said, adding that she wished the PNC luck and that the Opposition party has “real problems”.
Teixeira’s reference to APNU’s “real problems” are likely a reference to the infighting that has beset the main Opposition party in recent weeks. (G3)