THE Progressive Youth Organisation (PYO), an arm of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), said the obsession of the combined Opposition in Parliament, with bargaining on projects of national importance, is a move to turn the House into a royal casino. The charge was made yesterday against A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) at a Robb Street, Georgetown Freedom House press conference, accusing the two parties of stalling the Amaila Falls Hydro Project.
In a prepared statement, the PYO said it has joined the call for condemnation of the Opposition for its callous acts with respect to that project and described the actions of the AFC and APNU as anti-development with their attitudes of boycotting, undermining and sabotaging critical developmental initiatives and projects which are geared to make the lives of all Guyanese much easier.
The statement said, while the Opposition parties in Parliament are known for their stance, the latest position on the Amaila Falls was most distasteful and a sign of lack of patriotism on the part of the AFC and APNU, as well as one which deprives Guyanese of clean energy.
“It, therefore, means that the combined opposition parties in Parliament need to immediately cease gambling with the development of Guyana, especially the Hydro Project.”
The PYO also used the opportunity to call on President Donald Ramotar and his Cabinet ministers  to do everything possible, legally, to ensure that the project is brought to fruition.
The statement claimed that the way the Opposition has been conducting business, since the 2011 elections, gives one the impression that they are out to settle scores and punish persons.

DOOR OPEN
Meanwhile, in addressing questions from members of the media, PYO executive member Romel Roopnarine said the movement is leaving the door open, with respect to having their voices heard on the Amaila Falls Hydro Project.
Asked if the group will be seeking an audience with the combined Opposition, he said they, currently, have several options open to them and, at the moment, they are in the process of developing a plan that will see the issue of Amaila Falls being addressed by the PYO.
Roopnarine said the Opposition has now found itself in a corner and it will be a shame if its parties fail to understand that the entire nation needs the Hydro Power Project, testimony of which is the many releases and calls by various bodies for it to rethink its decision.
The PYO said what it found strange is that both the AFC and APNU had indicated that they were pleased with progress of works and the fact that the project saw several young people being given the opportunity for employment but to now, suddenly, decide that the scheme is not worth receiving their support in the House.
The PYO noted that, first, the Opposition decided they were going to attack the venture as the front of corruption and lack of transparency but, when they realised that argument was not holding, they swung into the mode of questioning whether it was even viable at all.

BOTH BACKPEDALLED
Roopnarine said what seems clear is that the opposition parties, which, in campaigning for the 2011 elections, had called for the creation of more jobs for young people and the provision of cheap and clean energy, have both backpedalled.
He said the Amaila Falls Project makes both of those things a reality and what the Opposition has proven is that they have moved away from the promises of their respective manifestos which, strangely, called for the same things.
In closing, Roopnarine declared that, with the present mode of the combined Opposition parties in the National Assembly, they are effectively embarrassing themselves left, right and centre. (Leroy Smith)