PNCR accuses GMSA of plotting protest against President

…AFC disagrees

The People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) has accused the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) of orchestrating the protest against President David Granger during his feature address on Thursday.

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) staged a massive protest in front of the Pegasus Hotel during the GMSA business luncheon at which President David Granger was scheduled to address the gathering.
As he was about to deliver his speech, several members of the PPP/C held placards and reiterated calls for elections to be held soon.
During a press conference on Friday, Executive Member Gary Best accused the private sector body of playing an integral role in a ploy to ‘embarrass’ the President.

“The party’s position is that the President was invited to the GMSA’s event and the outcomes suggest to us in the clearest of terms that this was something orchestrated by the GMSA to embarrass the President. The proof is in the evidence of what occurred. If the GMSA is holding an event where the President will be attending, one would think that the GMSA would also contact the security services and security forces…In our opinion, the GMSA foisted this event upon the President so that he can be embarrassed,” Best claimed.
On the other hand, the Alliance for Change (AFC) differed in their reasoning of the GMSA’s involvement. During its press conference, Executive Member and Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson said he was present at the event.
As such, he asserted, “I don’t think the GMSA was involved…It wasn’t unexpected but it is a democracy. I indicated to the GMSA early that these guys are going to do that”.

Protest
During the protest–led by Presidential candidate Irfaan Ali – citizens flocked outside the Kingston hotel.
The protest came after the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chairperson, (retired) Justice Claudette Singh, advised the Head of State that the Commission will be ready for elections by the end of February 2020 – more than a year after the Government was defeated by a No-Confidence Motion.
Although the protest was peaceful, scores of Police officers and members of the Tactical Service Unit (TSU) were deployed to the scene with protective shields, placing barricades at strategic points to block off and guard the entrance of the hotel, where several high-profile officials and Government ministers were in attendance.
This, however, did not deter the protesters, who used microphones to highlight the fact that the Government is illegal and in breach of the Constitution of Guyana.
Nevertheless, the protesters were adamant that they will continue these protest actions to highlight the transgressions of the coalition administration.
Also braving the weather to stand strong with his party, General Secretary of the PPP/C Bharrat Jagdeo informed that his party and supporters intend to protest President Granger at every public forum he attends until he complies with the Constitution as is mandated.
Inside the event, invitees greeted the President with protest actions and the situation was later brought under control when senior ranks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) escorted the group of persons from the room.
Moments after the incident, GMSA Executive Ramesh Dookhoo told media operatives that they were unaware that such an incident would occur.