-responds to 10-point demands with demands of its own

LAST month, the Alliance For Change (AFC) issued a release with ten demands which it said must be met by the Government and the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) in order to avoid a no-confidence motion it has spoken of bringing against the Government in the National Assembly.

According to the release, the AFC said if the 10 demands were not met, it would take steps to table the motion of a no-confidence against the Government, which may garner the support of the main Opposition coalition A Partnership for National Unity (APNU).

The ruling Peoples Progressive Party (PPP) Monday acknowledged receipt of the ten-point demand made on President Donald Ramotar and the Government by the Alliance For Change (AFC), and has stated that it is now meeting those demands with a ‘ten-point demand’ of its own.

Calling on the AFC to stop playing games with the welfare of the people and nation of Guyana, the PPP urged the AFC to put the nation first over its politics of self-interest, if it indeed has Guyana and Guyanese at heart.

In a statement, the PPP noted that the AFC is developing a proclivity for making brazen demands on the Executive of Guyana under the guise of having the interest of Guyana and its people at heart.

The PPP, expressing its concern about the outcome of the new set of demands that were made by the AFC, said, “Our Party remains cognisant of the terror that was unleashed on innocent Guyanese along part of the East Bank Corridor following a previous demand/ultimatum (made) by the AFC.

“During that fateful afternoon, many were beaten and robbed, and denied their constitutional right to freedom of movement. Law enforcement officers were also subjected to the wanton abuse that ensued.”

UNCONDITIONAL SUPPORT
The actions of the AFC in the National Assembly are demonstrative of the scant regard the AFC has shown for the welfare of Guyanese, the ruling party has said.
The PPP is now demanding that, instead of making demands, this Opposition party should endeavour to unconditionally support the Government’s policy and programme, and show that it is indeed genuinely concerned about improving the lives of Guyanese.

The statement said, “It is in this context that the PPP demand of the AFC, if it is indeed genuinely concerned about improving the lives of Guyanese, then it must forthrightly put national interest over its own blatant partisan self-interest in which (its members) wallow.

“This self-interest was very evident with regard to the construction of the Marriot Hotel and the Specialty Hospital. It is no secret that the owner of a major hotel in Guyana is a lead financier of the AFC.”
According to the ruling party, this fact was made public by the financer himself; therefore there is no doubt that the AFC demonised the Marriott in order to save the interest of its financer.

The party also noted that the AFC has been vehement in its support for competition in other areas, but is conveniently opposed to the same in the hospitality sector, which is not unsurprising.

Evidence of the proclivity of the AFC’s self-interest was seen in regard to the Specialty Hospital, of which the Leader of AFC, Khemraj Ramjattan, was part of the team of a bidding company which was not awarded the contract, the ruling party has said.

The PPP ten-point demand includes support for the Specialty Hospital, the Amaila Falls Hydro Project, the CJIA Expansion Project, the passage of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Amendment Bill, the Customs Amendment Bill, Restoration of the budget cuts, the Amerindian Development Fund, Support for reforms in the Security Sector, support for Cabinet to retain its no-objection role even with establishment of the PPC, and Support for Government’s developmental policies.

The PPP calls on the AFC to meaningfully use its Parliamentary position to ensure that the demands made are realised, if it wants to remain truthful to the development of Guyana and its people.

“Our Party calls on the AFC to meet these demands in the interest of our country and its people, since the benefits that would be derived are known to all. The AFC cannot escape being responsible for denying Guyanese such benefits,” the statement said.

AFC 10-POINT DEMAND
Included on the list of demands by the AFC are that the Government should set a date for the holding of Local Government Elections this year, and there must be “immediate” establishment of the Public Procurement Commission (PPC), and appointment of all members of the Integrity Commission.

The AFC is also demanding that the Government performs a forensic audit of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Ltd (NICIL), and the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo). Moreover, the toll at the Berbice River Bridge must be reduced, and a new bridge must be constructed across the Demerara River.

The AFC party further demanded that Government appoints broad-based boards for state media, and for all Opposition parties to have access to those media houses.

There must also be a halt to illegal spending of funds without approval of the National Assembly, and job opportunities must be created, even as a tax reform plan must be introduced and implemented.

(By Sandy Agasen)