As the ‘racial jumbie’ shows its face again…
FOLLOWING the recent explosion at Stabroek Market Square, which killed one and injured 19, President Bharrat Jagdeo has said the “racial jumbie” is showing its face again. But he made it clear that the current administration will leave no stone unturned in seeking out the perpetrators.
The Head of State, at a press conference at his office yesterday, described the incident as a criminal act and stressed that all leads will be followed, even if it leads to politicians. In this context, Jagdeo said the people of Guyana should not be exploited by politicians, who seek to enhance their political standing.
He noted that any such act will see “fierce resistance” from the Government of Guyana
“We are yet to determine what happened, but it bothers me…it is an attack that we must abhor collectively,” he said.
He stressed that both the Guyana Police Force and Guyana Defence Force have been mandated by his command to deal with any acts of violence which seek to promote divisions among Guyanese.

ELECTIONS LINK
The President acknowledged that this is an elections year and there is some fear among the people because of the recent grenade incident, as well as the attempted arson at the Enterprise Primary and Annandale Secondary Schools, and the attack on the home of Mrs. Philomena Sahoye-Shury.
He did not say these incidents are related to elections; rather he suggested the possibility that there could be different factors at play.
However, the Head of State did reiterate his New Year appeal, calling for Guyanese to consolidate “our democracy”.
“As we consolidate our democracy, we must equally promote internal cohesion. Hate and prejudice should have no place in our body politic. Our people have lived well together, and we have made greater strides under a democratic system,” he said on January 1 in his message to the Guyanese people.
He said too, “We can create the new Guyana, while solidifying our democratic traditions and processes. In this New Year, we can use the electoral process to demonstrate the primacy of the Guyanese people in deciding who should govern them. I am confident that, as was the case in 2006, that we will ensure elections that meet international standards, and which will exemplify our maturity as a member of the democratic fold of nations.”
Yesterday the President pointed out that after elections, Guyanese still have to build on their hopes to realise their dreams, and he called for any elements, political or civil, to be condemned for any act that stirs up hate among the people.
He also called for Commissions, such as the Ethnic Relations Commission, to step up and be more aggressive to combat any such efforts.

Vendors’ support
The Head of State also assured of his support for vendors, pointing out that his administration was criticized for clearing the Stabroek Market Square and removing the vendors, and then again when the administration subsequently allowed vending, but under set conditions.
Initially, vendors had agreed to operate from 06:00hrs to 18:00hrs, but this was not enforced.
Jagdeo stressed that the City Council should have been more stringent in its enforcement activities.
According to him the City Council, which is largely controlled by the People’s National Congress Reform, collected rates and taxes from vendors functioning outside of what was agreed on.
The President said there were also reports of monies being passed “under the table”.
“The PNCR, through the City Council, abdicated its responsibility to the people…now they are concerned about the vendors’ plight,” Jagdeo said.
He acknowledged that the grenade incident was the “breaking point” which saw authorities, led by his Cabinet Ministers, working with him, abandoning the softer approach, which was taken for granted, for a tougher one.
He made it clear that his administration has always indicated its support for vendors and pointed to the acquisition of land for over $300M to facilitate vending, which is now the Vendors’ Mall on Water Street, opened in October 2009.
The facility, constructed at a cost of approximately $100M, holds some 184 stalls. Under the former PNC regime, the land was sold to Toolsie Persaud for $2M, who later sold it to the current administration. The cost for the land was determined by the courts.
The President said if his administration was not committed to vendors, grassroots people who work hard for their living, such an investment would not have been made.

He stated that government’s position that there be no fixed structures for vending will not be compromised.

Jagdeo noted that this position was made public more than a year ago and he pointed out that two stall owners are dealing with injunctions in court – a process started long before tougher actions were taken to ensure vendors operate as they had agreed to.
The President noted that vendors will be allowed to ply their trade, providing they operate from collapsible or removable structures, between 06:00hrs to 18:00hrs and do not encroach on the Square’s tarmac.
Prior to the explosion in the Stabroek Square, the vendors had set up shop on the tarmac, selling alcohol and other items, and the area became a haven for petty thieves who would rob pedestrians as they passed by.
The President stressed that vendors have to earn a living and while his administration is not saying do not vend, the position is for it to be done  differently.
“Guyana needs to provide opportunities for our people,” he said.
He contends that the new arrangement will allow vending to be better regulated, and at the same time, advance plans to develop the Stabroek Market Square.
The President observed that the City needs more open spaces, and the clearing-up at Stabroek is in line with a developmental plan for Georgetown.