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The governing party also issued a statement blaming the Alliance For Change (AFC) and A Partnership For National Unity (APNU) for organising the protest in the vicinity of Agricola in Greater Georgetown, and on the East Bank Demerara. The statement said: “Thousands of Guyanese from all walks of life had their freedom to travel impinged last evening by the ruthless action of the Opposition who now seem bent on a campaign of creating instability and to undermine economic and social progress in our country.”
The PPP said it wishes to reaffirm that it has always and will always continue to support and encourage peaceful demonstrations by citizens who feel the need to utilise this medium to bring public attention to their issues. However, it will not condone the trend of lawless demonstrations as has characterised certain activities associated with the AFC and APNU and their extremist allies.
According to the statement, justification given by the AFC and APNU for the violence and mayhem which was carefully orchestrated against citizens making their way home during the peak traffic period, is outrageous.
“What is also sad is the sickening attempt, by the APNU/AFC to blame the government or the Head of the Presidential Secretariat for the protest. It would be recalled that days before Dr. Roger Luncheon would have restated Government’s position on the Minister of Home Affairs the AFC Chairman, Nigel Hughes had issued threats and those sentiments were echoed by APNU,” it stated further.
The PPP called on the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to resist all efforts by the Opposition to draw them into a violent confrontation and commends the ranks for remaining calm in the face of such provocative actions and attacks which were captured and broadcast on national television.
Receive justice
However, the PPP, urging the security forces to ensure that law and order is maintained, said it would also support efforts to document and even bring to the public light, victims of another AFC/APNU protest, so that they can receive justice.
Meanwhile, the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG), which represents thousands of Guyanese-registered workers, was condemnatory, as well, of the acts of violence that resulted from the protest actions in Agricola.
FITUG said it condemns the “personal physical assaults, robberies and other acts of outright thuggery committed by persons claiming to be protestors and residents of Agricola, on the outskirts of Georgetown, during Thursday afternoon and evening.
The grouping said, although it accepts and recognises the right of citizens to protest peacefully and lawfully, it cannot accept that the ingress and egress of peaceful citizens to and from their workplaces and homes should be blocked by groups of masked youths, non-resident protestors and politically-motivated activists.
“Thursday evening’s fiery and incendiary acts, beatings and thefts from passengers and attacks upon unarmed police ranks must be condemned as they mask criminality, under the guise of protest, over seemingly just causes,” FITUG said.
In addition, FITUG noted that the homes, relatives and babies of the leaders and architects of that urban chaos were all safe.
“Ultimately, it is the poor, working class citizens who are made to suffer, innocent workers and schoolchildren,” the organisation observed, adding, it hopes that non-violent means be employed by those who fashion and lead protests.
“No long term economic good is ever derived from destruction and utter lawlessness. FITUG, again, reminds the politicians with agendas – just see how your own supporters, members and the working class, generally, are set back by your misguided inspiration,” it stated.
FITUG called, too, for an end to the lawlessness and dastardly acts which endanger public safety.
The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry has also condemned the protest in Agricola.
President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry Clinton Urling in an invited comment said a number of businesses along the east bank corridor were forced to close because of the protest.
Urling says government and the opposition must explore all avenues to bring about an amicable solution to the problem.
The GCCI President is also sympathizing with the family of Shaquille Grant and stated that persons must understand the context in which the protest occurred.
He is however adamant that the protest should not have included the blocking of roadways and robbing of innocent passersby.
