–blame opposition, ‘other extremist elements’ for Linden unrest
THE Peoples Progressive Party/Civic yesterday declared that it solidly backs Home Affairs Minister, Clement Rohee, and is in full support of his remaining in office. The party, of which Rohee is a central executive member, said it denounces the recent “no confidence” motion which was improperly tabled and passed in the National Assembly against the minister last week.
The party said that last week’s passage of the no-confidence motion by the one-seat combined opposition is an even further testimony to the sad deterioration that has taken place in the National Assembly since the speakership changed hands.
The PPP said it is contending that the motion should not have been entertained in the first place, and that the passage creates a further brazen unconstitutional occurrence in the National Assembly.
It also serves as further testimony to the unreasonableness with which national issues are being considered in Parliament, the PPP added in its release.
The recent action proves that the present Speaker of the National Assembly, Raphael Trotman, has displayed incompetence in the office of the Speaker of the National Assembly, the party noted.
The PPP reminded that political parties, stakeholders, and civic groups alike have often mentioned that the power structure in Guyana, clearly demarcated by the Constitution of this country, runs in the order of “The Executive presidency, The National Assembly and the Judiciary.” While the three are totally independent, their roles are clearly spelt out in the constitution.
Despite that pillar, recent events in Parliament by the combined opposition, which controls the House with one seat, have proven that they continue to misuse the institution, and constantly collide with  democratic norms and practices. The party made reference to the move by the opposition to slash the national budget, effectively divesting it of essential development projects. It reminded that because of the slashing of the budget, hundreds are now jobless.
The violent turmoil at Linden was organised and orchestrated by the opposition AFC, APNU and other extremist elements centred on the opposition’s insistence that Lindeners should not pay any increase in electricity charges, the PPP stated in its release.
The release also stated that there continues to be this absurd stance, while the same opposition had slashed the subsidy for the Guyana Power and Light by over $1 billion. That subsidy was designed to cushion increased generation costs, and to prevent tariffs being increased for customers on GPL’s system.
It was because the opposition parties hijacked the protests that the peaceful demonstrators turned unruly, threatening a breakdown of law and order in the township. Three persons lost their lives as a result of this act. The Home Affairs Minister is being blamed for that shooting, and rather than wait for the agreed Commission of Inquiry to go into the matter, the opposition moved a motion of no confidence in the House, demanding that President Donald Ramotar relieve Mr. Clement Rohee of his duties.
This demand pre-empts the Commission’s decision, the Peoples Progressive Party/ Civic added in its statement.
The PPP has declared that the opposition cannot have it both ways. The People’s Progressive Party places the unfortunate deaths of the three Lindeners squarely at the door of the opposition AFC and APNU parties.  They are responsible.
The PPP therefore reiterates its full support for Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee, and condemns the attacks by the opposition to tarnish his good name.