PPP/C condemns vandalism
– urges supporters to ignore provocations
SUPPORTERS of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) are being urged not to engage in any confrontation and to ignore provocations by the Opposition.
PPP/C Executive Member and Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Robert Persaud issued the exhortation yesterday, during a media briefing at the Party’s Headquarters, Freedom House, where he condemned the recent acts of vandalism, in which billboards, posters and scrolls, relating to their 2011 election campaign, were defaced.
He said: “The party has received reports of a gang of about three to four persons who were in the Kitty area yesterday defacing billboards, removing posters and scrolls between the hours of 18:30 hrs and 19:00 hrs. They further proceeded to a certain part of the East Bank of Demerara, where similar acts were conducted.
“The group seems very organised, limited in number but centrally directed in terms of targeting PPP/C campaign materials.”
Persaud noted that their billboards and other materials have all been conveying positive messages and have also been emphasiing and portraying, to the Guyanese public, the qualities of the Party’s Presidential Candidate, Mr. Donald Ramotar.
In condemnation of these acts, Persaud said: “The party considers these acts of hooliganism not befitting the standards that Guyanese deserve and want during this elections period.”
He said, too, that, of concern is the fact that one incident which took place, particularly in Kitty, was perpetrated a short distance from the Kitty Police Station.
Persaud informed that, in the wake of the recent incidents, the party will be dispatching a formal letter to the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Dr. Steve Surujbally, informing of this development, after which a copy will be sent to the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Henry Greene.
The PPP/C will continue to bring this type of behaviour to the attention of GECOM, the Elections Observers and all others concerned, he emphasised.
Persaud pointed out that the PPP/C was the first party to indicate, to GECOM, its willingness to sign the Elections Code of Conduct and expressed disappointment that Opposition parties, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and Alliance For Change (AFC) are hesitant to endorse the document.
This, he said, suggests a lack of commitment, on their part, in helping to foster an environment of peaceful, free and fair elections.
As to the PPP/C’s continued efforts in this regard, Persaud said: “The PPP/C reaffirms that it will not condone or tolerate any of our supporters engaging in such behaviour…The party, at all times, has indicated that it intends to instill a level of discipline, civility and respect for other parties, especially during this period and we expect other parties will do the same. We urge our supporters not to react and to remain calm and to ignore these provocations by the opposition who, having failed to garner public support, is now resorting to dirty and uncivil electoral conduct.”
Testimony to this, he claimed, is that, despite the fact that there were known opposition executives who were present at the Albion rally, last Sunday, no one in the crowd sought to intimidate them as they went about distributing their anti PPP/C propaganda.
The Agriculture Minister informed that hundreds of new volunteers have been turning up at PPP offices countrywide to render support to the campaign and to ensure a climate of peace, civility and proper conduct is maintained and some have already begun restoring the damaged billboards.
He called on the Guyana Police Force to “step up” its vigilance to prevent these acts, which appeared to have been well organised and to act upon the evidence provided.
“It is very organised, persons were moved in vehicles and were told how to proceed. In addition, they were monitored by our supporters and we told our supporters not to confront because that is the job of law enforcement. We do not want to provoke any situation in this regard. The tPPP/C is very much committed to peaceful elections.”
Persaud reported that three billboards in the Kitty area (the venue of the next PPP/C rally) and more than a dozen scrolls in other parts of the town were damaged, resulting in a loss of close to $2M.