Vice President unshaken, unmoved by Opposition protest

Dear Editor,
As I travelled to Linden on Tuesday, August 4, I found myself wondering what the day would be like amid the Opposition’s planned protest. I asked myself, how would Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo respond? Would he meet with the protesters before his outreach began, or would he do what he has always done – smile, greet people, and continue with the work he came to do?
Before the Vice President arrived at Watooka Guest House that morning, hundreds of Region 10 residents had already gathered at the venue, patiently waiting to have their concerns addressed by staff and Ministers from various Government Ministries and agencies, as well as to meet personally with the Vice President.
Outside the entrance, Opposition supporters had assembled and appeared to be positioning themselves in an attempt to disrupt the Vice President’s arrival and, by extension, the day’s proceedings. However, when the Vice President and his entourage entered the compound, the shouting from the protesters was limited and did little to affect the atmosphere inside.
At this point, Vice President Jagdeo took the time to greet Ministers, public servants, and staff from the various Ministries and agencies. He then interacted with the hundreds of residents before proceeding with one-on-one engagements with those who had come seeking assistance.
I must commend the people of Region 10 for their turnout. Hundreds endured the hot sun because they wanted their concerns heard and addressed. Their presence demonstrated a genuine desire for engagement and solutions, despite the protests taking place outside the venue.
As the outreach progressed smoothly, the protesters eventually made their way through the barriers and into the compound, chanting and demanding that the Vice President meet with them to hear the reasons for their protest.
To me, that was unnecessary. The Vice President and everyone present were already aware of the issues being raised. It appeared that the protest had shifted from expressing grievances to seeking publicity and attention.
However, to my surprise, the leader of PNC turned up with about 10 persons surrounding him; I don’t know for what. As always, in his serious face, talking to the media left those protesting and even his MPs to wonder. I believe Mr Norton left because he realised that the entire protest is a fake and is not warranted, but just showed up for face’s sake so that the little support he has in Linden would say he is there.
Norton had to face turning up at the protest, but didn’t have the face to show up during the MV Barima tragedy to assist in finding our brothers and sisters and consoling the grieving families and relatives, and that alone shows that he and the Opposition don’t care for the people of Guyana, but just care for political power.
Despite the continued chanting and noise from the protesters, residents remained focused on having their matters addressed. Vice President Jagdeo remained completely unshaken and unmoved. He continued meeting with residents throughout the day, giving his full attention to the people who had come seeking assistance.
That, in my view, deserves recognition. Leadership is tested not only in moments of calm, but also in moments of confrontation. The Vice President did not abandon the people of Linden, nor did he allow political theatre to derail the purpose of the outreach.
I was particularly impressed by the conduct of Minister Zulfikar Mustapha. Although there appeared to be efforts by some protesters to target his booth, he remained seated in the open-air setting and continued serving members of the public without displaying fear or hesitation.
I must also commend Ministers Waldron and Ramson Jr for standing their ground and physically facing the protesters without any form of intimidation or throwing of slang, although the protesters were shouting out their names and throwing slang. This shows political maturity.
Perhaps the most revealing aspect of the day was that several individuals who had been protesting eventually entered the outreach and sought assistance from the Vice President, Ministers, and Government agencies. They were not turned away. Instead, they were heard, their concerns were addressed, and they were treated with respect.
That, to me, was one of the strongest statements made that day.
I was also surprised by the presence of former APNU+AFC Minister Ms Valerie Patterson, who visited the Vice President during the outreach and publicly acknowledged the development taking place across Region 10 and Guyana as a whole. She commended the Government for its efforts and for the positive changes she has observed.
The outreach was undeniably productive. Hundreds of residents had their concerns addressed, with many matters resolved immediately and others referred for further action. The appreciation expressed by residents was evident throughout the day.
As the Vice President concluded the outreach and prepared to leave, the protesters mounted another demonstration. In a moment that reflected both humour and composure, he waved to them and remarked, “Y’all had a hard day in the sun, right?” before departing.
So, yes, what they were waiting for all day did happen, and the Vice President did acknowledge their presence by saying that.
The events in Linden demonstrated that Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo is not easily intimidated by protests or political pressure. He did not retreat, he did not panic, and he did not allow disruption to prevent him from engaging with the people of Region 10.
Whether one agrees with his politics or not, his conduct on that day reflected confidence, composure, and a willingness to remain focused on the task at hand.
Guyana’s democracy allows for protest, and that right must always be respected. But public protests should not become an obstacle to citizens receiving Government services and having their concerns addressed.
As I always say, there is one Bharrat Jagdeo, never two.
Keep up the good work, VP. Let Guyana continue to progress positively under your strong and committed leadership.

Kind regards,
Abel Seetaram