…will write GECOM on the matter
THE more than 700 persons in attendance at the PPP/C Rally in village of Buxton, on the East Coast of Demerara on Thursday, is reflective of the community’s desire to listen to what the People’s Progressive Party (PPP/C) has to offer in the process of transforming the county .
Minister of Agriculture and PPP/C Executive member, Robert Persaud, made this declaration during a press briefing at Freedom House, yesterday.
According to Persaud, the meeting has been one of the better attended ones, where community members came out in support of the incumbent party, despite the attempted disruption by a small group of persons.
He explained,“ The meeting started well, persons came out, but there was a group assembled at the market square, comprising persons from as far as Beterverwagting, who, upon instructions, proceeded to the site and attempted to assault and abuse residents and tried, unsuccessfully, to disrupt the meeting. It was commendable that persons there stood their ground.”
He noted with concern that the attempted disruption was clearly and centrally orchestrated and organized, as a former PNC “presidential aspirant” was identified in the crowd.
“We have photographs of that individual. We consider that an act of desperation. I know both A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance for Change (AFC) would have been grossly disturbed by the positive response and certainly would have activated this effort to disturb the meeting. The political opposition was shocked by the turn out last night, but that is no excuse for anyone to engage in such violent behaviour,” he said.
Several PPP/C supporters were also beaten as they exited the meeting site, he informed.
In light of this, Persaud expressed the hope that all political parties would desist from such behaviour, which, according to him, is in no way helpful to the “peaceful and civil elections climate”.
In addition, he emphasised that every single Guyanese has the right to listen and to participate in the political process without any impediment, which is a fundamental right the PPP/C has always advocated for.
He said, “To see the intimidation aimed at supporters and the disruption, it is not only an assault on the PPP/C, but an assault on the democratic spirit and on our people’s willingness to participate in the process freely and fairly. I want to see the AFC, APNU, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), the international community and civil society condemn such behaviour.”
The PPP/C will be writing to GECOM on this matter and will also be enclosing copies of the tapes of the Buxton Rally, Persaud disclosed.