.jpg)
The recent attempt by AFC Vice-Chairman Moses Nagamootoo to deny his party’s responsibility for the Agricola violence must be described as pathetic and is another ruse to fool their supporters. The obvious fabrication of e-mail conversations recently published in the press is a clear indication of this party’s desperation to redeem itself in the eyes of its supporters. But the party has already shown its true colours to the nation and Guyanese must vow never to fall for their manipulative machinations any more. Following the July 18 events at Linden, the AFC and APNU were vehement in their protests at the deaths of three persons, contending that these were caused by the Police. Both parties not only demanded a Commission of Inquiry, but one with an international presence, with the AFC insisting on the services of a United Kingdom ballistics expert. The government, in the interest of justice, fairplay and transparency, agreed to these requests, thereby setting the stage for the inquiry to begin.
.
However, quite contrary to the high expectations of the political opposition, the evidence exposed a plethora of stark contradictions and lies, which confounded their attorneys, occasioning one high- – profile attorney to descend to a level of shocking, unprofessional conduct. It was a dark day indeed for the local Bar!
Undoubtedly, a significant observation at the Commission’s hearing was the definite nervousness of the Linden leaders as they blatantly lied in their accounts as to events, and as the Commission pressed for answers – they lied even more. These were the leaders and architects of the Linden unrest, panicking under intense scrutiny, as their numerous lies and devious machinations were exposed, much to the disgust of the nation, and undoubtedly to the distinguished members of the panel. No doubt, their lawyers were in a quandary.
The cruel reality would have stepped in, not only at that moment, but ever since, that their political leaders whom they had blindly supported and followed, had betrayed them, misrepresenting their cause, manipulating their emotions, finally leading them into a battle of their own political agenda, with false expectations of victory. The bitter realisation for many of these residents is that at the height of the confrontation – they were leaderless! Lives were lost; persons were injured; social services buildings that rendered priceless service to the community were destroyed; jobs were lost; fathers and brothers were lost, friendships were betrayed, and a town was torn apart. This is the reality of the Linden protest aftermath.
Unashamedly, and sadly, their leaders have now admitted that they had fooled the people of Linden and instigated them to commit unlawful acts. The evidence has been unambiguous and clearly established beyond doubt, via the mouths of their own leaders. Staunch supporters of the opposition are also admitting a sinister campaign by persons they believed in and were supportive of. For example, APNU Member of Parliament Vanessa Kissoon, said that Lindeners did not have permission to assemble on the Wismar bridge, and their occupation of the bridge was completely unlawful.
The tape produced by the videographer called to give evidence by the opposition, illustrated residents obstructing free passage of the bridge with logs; tents, cooking on the bridge; throwing bottles and other missiles and behaving in a violent manner. The baffling aspect of these quite open and public acts is that Vanessa Kissoon, during her testimony, claimed not to have witnessed any of these things! So much for being deliberately blinkered!
Also Sharma Solomon, in his testimony, echoed the same thing as Vanessa Kissoon – that he did not see the protestors engaging in such behaviour even though he was with them, but he in turn was exposed and could not deny the contents of the videotape.
Sharma admitted that he addressed the protestors and encouraged them to occupy the bridge. He admitted that he never asked them to remove from the bridge and did not inform the protestors that it was illegal to be there. He also admitted that even though he was with the protestors, he never saw the police shooting at the crowd.
Inevitably, the amazing and untowardly expectations of the evidence at the Inquiry have led to great dissension and suspicion in the opposition support areas as to who really shot the protestors. Their leaders had inspired supporters to assemble in an unlawful manner on the bridge, counselled them to behave violently and then, at a certain period, all of the former vanished from the scene, and then mysteriously bullets were fired into the crowd, which did not come from the police.
So certain thar it was police action that caused those deaths, that AFC Chairman Nigel Hughes and Vice Chairman Moses Nagamootoo nevertheless issued an ultimatum to the President of Guyana: Remove Rohee or else there will be consequences! The ultimatum expired. Mayhem erupted in Agricola.
Barefacedly, and in an attempt to cover their exposed tracks, in a sustained drama of lies and misinformation, the AFC leadership fabricated a list of e-mails of their supposed conversations that day and vehemently denies any hand in the unrest. These same vile falsehoods indicated , that the AFC had been cruelly saddling a grieving mother with the dangerous and unlawful responsibility of leading a protest of fire, robbery, and blocking a public pathway
.
The AFC’s statements subsequent to the protests continue unabated in their insane drive to use Agricola as a massive diversion from their widespread strategy to insinuate growing distrust of the Government of Guyana.
Decent Guyanese must never allow this insult to their intelligence to pass!
.
However, quite contrary to the high expectations of the political opposition, the evidence exposed a plethora of stark contradictions and lies, which confounded their attorneys, occasioning one high- – profile attorney to descend to a level of shocking, unprofessional conduct. It was a dark day indeed for the local Bar!
Undoubtedly, a significant observation at the Commission’s hearing was the definite nervousness of the Linden leaders as they blatantly lied in their accounts as to events, and as the Commission pressed for answers – they lied even more. These were the leaders and architects of the Linden unrest, panicking under intense scrutiny, as their numerous lies and devious machinations were exposed, much to the disgust of the nation, and undoubtedly to the distinguished members of the panel. No doubt, their lawyers were in a quandary.
The cruel reality would have stepped in, not only at that moment, but ever since, that their political leaders whom they had blindly supported and followed, had betrayed them, misrepresenting their cause, manipulating their emotions, finally leading them into a battle of their own political agenda, with false expectations of victory. The bitter realisation for many of these residents is that at the height of the confrontation – they were leaderless! Lives were lost; persons were injured; social services buildings that rendered priceless service to the community were destroyed; jobs were lost; fathers and brothers were lost, friendships were betrayed, and a town was torn apart. This is the reality of the Linden protest aftermath.
Unashamedly, and sadly, their leaders have now admitted that they had fooled the people of Linden and instigated them to commit unlawful acts. The evidence has been unambiguous and clearly established beyond doubt, via the mouths of their own leaders. Staunch supporters of the opposition are also admitting a sinister campaign by persons they believed in and were supportive of. For example, APNU Member of Parliament Vanessa Kissoon, said that Lindeners did not have permission to assemble on the Wismar bridge, and their occupation of the bridge was completely unlawful.
The tape produced by the videographer called to give evidence by the opposition, illustrated residents obstructing free passage of the bridge with logs; tents, cooking on the bridge; throwing bottles and other missiles and behaving in a violent manner. The baffling aspect of these quite open and public acts is that Vanessa Kissoon, during her testimony, claimed not to have witnessed any of these things! So much for being deliberately blinkered!
Also Sharma Solomon, in his testimony, echoed the same thing as Vanessa Kissoon – that he did not see the protestors engaging in such behaviour even though he was with them, but he in turn was exposed and could not deny the contents of the videotape.
Sharma admitted that he addressed the protestors and encouraged them to occupy the bridge. He admitted that he never asked them to remove from the bridge and did not inform the protestors that it was illegal to be there. He also admitted that even though he was with the protestors, he never saw the police shooting at the crowd.
Inevitably, the amazing and untowardly expectations of the evidence at the Inquiry have led to great dissension and suspicion in the opposition support areas as to who really shot the protestors. Their leaders had inspired supporters to assemble in an unlawful manner on the bridge, counselled them to behave violently and then, at a certain period, all of the former vanished from the scene, and then mysteriously bullets were fired into the crowd, which did not come from the police.
So certain thar it was police action that caused those deaths, that AFC Chairman Nigel Hughes and Vice Chairman Moses Nagamootoo nevertheless issued an ultimatum to the President of Guyana: Remove Rohee or else there will be consequences! The ultimatum expired. Mayhem erupted in Agricola.
Barefacedly, and in an attempt to cover their exposed tracks, in a sustained drama of lies and misinformation, the AFC leadership fabricated a list of e-mails of their supposed conversations that day and vehemently denies any hand in the unrest. These same vile falsehoods indicated , that the AFC had been cruelly saddling a grieving mother with the dangerous and unlawful responsibility of leading a protest of fire, robbery, and blocking a public pathway
.
The AFC’s statements subsequent to the protests continue unabated in their insane drive to use Agricola as a massive diversion from their widespread strategy to insinuate growing distrust of the Government of Guyana.
Decent Guyanese must never allow this insult to their intelligence to pass!
