… Opposition Leader says explanation “nonsensical”
Responding to the claims made by the Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) about their alleged
Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo expressing his displeasure on Wednesday night at D’Urban Park
mistreatment at the recently held independence flag raising ceremony, Minister within the Education Ministry, Nicolette Henry, on Friday said the Party members left the D’Urban Park event while her officials were trying to have them seated together as requested.
On Wednesday evening, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo expressed disappointment that his Party was left embarrassed when members turned up at the D’Urban Park arena to be a part of the activities, but could not because most of the Members of Parliament (MPs) were left standing without any seats.
He said effort was made to correct the situation, but after some 30 minutes standing, nothing was done. They all dubbed the situation disrespectful, and the group, led by Jagdeo, walked out of the event.
But on Friday, Minister Nicolette Henry, who had responsibility for the staging of the event, said the parliamentary Opposition was invited to all state events and confirmed its attendance to the flag raising ceremony.
She said after accepting the invitation, the Opposition was briefed by her on Tuesday, May 24, on the time of arrival, entrance to be used and seating arrangements. Based on the arrangement, the Opposition Leader was expected to be seated in the Presidential Section with all other past Presidents and Prime Ministers. All other PPP members were to be seated in the other VIP section.
According to Henry, the Opposition Leader did arrive, but not at the time he was expected to. He also used an entrance that he was not supposed to use.
Explaining the details of what transpired on Wednesday evening, Minister Henry said Jagdeo arrived at 21:55h and used the South Western entrance (Hadfield Street).
She said had it not been for the Police insistence on using the North-western entrance, this would have resulted in the Opposition and President Granger arriving on the tarmac at the same time.
According to her, the other members remained standing in the passage and had indicated that they would only sit when they could be assigned seats together. However, according to her, this was not told to the usher.
“Upon my arriving in the Presidential Section, the Opposition Leader indicated there were concerns with the seating. I assured him I will address this immediately, so I proceeded by personally asking other invited persons to give up their seats to ensure the Opposition members were all seated together.”
She said as soon as the persons began to give up their seats, the Opposition walked out.
“In the circumstances, I wish to state that as the organiser of this event, I apologise for any inconvenience, embarrassment or distress this incident may have caused”, Henry said in a statement on Friday.
But Jagdeo, immediately told Guyana Times that the Minister’s response was “nonsensical.” In fact, most of the things she stated were untrue, the former Head of State said.
Meanwhile, the PPP/C in a statement issued on Friday afternoon said that Minister Henry’s statement on the incident is “a poor effort to extricate the Government from the disrespectful treatment of the parliamentary Opposition.”
According to the Party, the Minister seemed to have difficulty comprehending the issue at hand. “The Minister gave all assurances on May 24 to the Leader of the Opposition and a large group of PPP/C MPs and again on May 25, with the Chief Whip [Gail Teixeira] that seats for all PPP/C MPs and their spouses were reserved for the flag raising in the VIP section and that “we should not worry, everything was taken care of,” the statement said.
According to the Party, the Minister was advised that the PPP/C MPs were attending the event in one bus to reduce any logistical problems.
