GENERAL Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Clement Rohee has pleaded ignorance to a running rift between himself and Leader of the party Former President Bharrat Jagdeo, choosing to say “I don’t know” when repeatedly grilled by reporters on Thursday. In the past weeks, reports have surfaced that the two PPP leaders are at odds with Rohee being asked to stop hosting his weekly Monday press conference. Reports also indicate that Rohee may have been asked to give up the post of General Secretary of the PPP.
Rohee when questioned by media operatives at a protest on Thursday did not deny friction, but instead chose to plead ignorance on the issue. “No, I don’t [know] anything about that. I don’t know anything about that. I don’t know anything about that,” Rohee repeatedly stated when questioned.
The issue of renewed friction between the two came to light after Rohee at a press conference on Monday made it explicitly clear that the PPP has not yet made a decision on whether it will accept the salary increases announced by the government. Just about an hour after Rohee made the statement, Jagdeo was on record stating that the PPP will not be accepting the salary increases.
Meanwhile, despite the alleged rift Rohee led PPP supporters during a picketing exercise in front of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) saying “It is time for [Dr] Steve [Surujbally] to leave.”
Rohee told reporters that while the PPP is calling for Dr Surujbally to resign, it would be willing to contest local government elections with Surujbally remaining as GECOM’s Chairman. “Well if you look at the placards, it is not only focusing on Surujbally, but it is focusing on the elections in general. Whenever elections are held we are going to contest whether Surujbally is there or not. We would be contesting under protest,” Rohee stated.
The protests were initiated shortly after the May 11 General and Regional polls with the party claiming that the elections were rigged and demanding a recount by GECOM. After a few weeks the protests subsided, but according to Rohee this was not the case. He said that the party will continue to protest until its demands are met by the government and GECOM. “We will continue until our demands are met. This is in keeping with a declared policy by the People’s Progressive Party and we will continue to mount the pressure on Surujbally and GECOM,” said Rohee.