PPP/C will not stage protests now and place Guyanese at risk – Jagdeo

In face of APNU/AFC stoking tensions

Opposition Leader and People’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo said that while his party can produce even more protesters than A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC), it would not be taking such an irresponsible route.

Despite the fact that Guyana is in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, with 308 cases as of July 14, APNU/AFC supporters have been out in scattered protests in the city and other parts of the country, urging the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to use fraudulent numbers to swear in President David Granger.
In fact, a few days ago APNU/AFC protesters blocked the President’s convoy, which was leaving State House, with one laying on the ground in front of the President’s car. There were also scenes of APNU/AFC supporters displaying an effigy of GECOM Chair, Retired Justice Claudette Singh, in a wooden coffin.
“The tensions they talk about in society. They are stoking the tensions,” Jagdeo said, during a virtual press conference on Tuesday. “They have people who go before GECOM. Do you think we can’t put out numbers in the streets? We can put out fifty times the numbers they have on the street. But we know it’s not right. It is putting people at risk. And there’s another way of solving this.”

Jagdeo also noted that while there has been talk of power-sharing, the actions of APNU/AFC make it hard to embark on such a process. He questioned how the PPP/C would be expected to share power with persons it cannot trust.
“All of those talking about power-sharing, we made it clear before you move forward you have to do it on the basis of the will of the people being expressed by the President being sworn in, who won the majority of the vote. But how do you sit down with people who are so slimy in nature?” he asked.
“Look at (Prime Minister Moses) Nagamottoo or (APNU/AFC co-campaign manager Raphael) Trotman… Trotman disparaged people in the small countries of the Caribbean. Totally disparaging of them. And then says, even if Lowenfield’s report is wrong, fraudulent, GECOM must accept it as a rubberstamp. The constitutional body, he doesn’t have constitutional authority. They must now be subservient to the statutory officer. How can you be so perverse, to even suggest that?” Jagdeo added.

Protests have also been held despite the fact that the COVID-19 emergency order is in place. This order prohibits gatherings and protests. The PPP held a mini protest in front of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs back in May 2020, after the Government blocked the return of The Carter Center for the recount.
The protest was swiftly broken up by the police and PPP candidate Neil Kumar, who had cited the COVID order, was charged. Over the past few weeks, however, APNU/AFC supporters have held multiple protests and Police have stood by without arresting or charging anyone, with only one exception.
Many persons, from the PPP/C to the Private Sector Commission (PSC) have called upon Commissioner of Police Leslie James to ensure that the rule of law is respected and firmly applied and enforced without favour against any attempt to promote, incite, or participate in public disorder or violence of any kind.
It is approaching five months since Guyanese went to the polls and there has been no lawful result. The international community has overwhelmingly declared that the results from the recount, which show a PPP victory, should be used. (G3)