The Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has come out swinging at President David Granger and his Government for their silence on a number of matters of national importance, calling on the President to toughen up and face the entire local media corps.
Jagdeo made this call during a press conference on Monday, stating that since the Government had accused the Opposition PPP of being “doom-peddling people”, the President could bring hope to the country by providing clarification on a number of topical issues.
President of Guyana, David Granger
“I hope the President holds a press conference, so a lot of these matters could give clarity…But he is not going to bring hope to Guyana by saying we must sell pepper sauce, salt fish and cook-up rice. Or saying he didn’t promise jobs to young people or the rice industry is a private industry,” Jagdeo opined.
The Guyana Press Association (GPA) had also called on the President to host press conferences to answer questions about his Government’s policies and programmes.
The GPA had acknowledged that the President was not averse to speaking with the media on the sidelines of public events or during his “Public Interest” televised programme; however, the Association believes that accountability to the Guyanese people would be best served through press conferences.
Meanwhile, the PPP General Secretary said that many things were being done to sidetrack people from the truth. He pointed to the recent video that went viral on social media in which Minister within the Natural Resources Ministry, Simona Broomes behaved in an unseemly manner.
“This pappyshow with Simona (Broomes) in Parliament, Trotman ranting is all to sidetrack people,” he said, pointing out that the Government was not dealing with critical issues like job creation for people, circulation of money, more income for businesses, and better prospects for Guyana.
“When have you heard the Government speak about those things… all of these issues? And the President hides from the media, so you can’t get to explore these matters,” he lamented.
Jagdeo also said that Members of Parliament (MPs) from the Government side continued to show grave disrespect for the National Assembly, which often times would go unnoticed by the Speaker.
“One MP is constantly drunk in Parliament and a few asleep all the time. And others try to curtail debates in Parliament. Now, we have Simone Broomes, the new star of Guyana,” he added.
