FACED with questions last Friday about the possibility of violence erupting from protests called by A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Leader of the Opposition Brigadier (ret’d)David Granger told the media,“We can’t be sure of anything.”

Granger, who made the observation during his Party’s weekly press conference, tried to make light of the matter saying, “We may go on the street and get hit down by a car or by a stray bullet,” hinting that there is no guarantee that the protests will be non-violent.
The Opposition Leader had disclosed earlier last week that APNU will embark on a campaign of protests over the failure of the government to hold Local Government Elections, after he had issued an ultimatum for President Donald Ramotar to announce a date for those elections by August 15.
The President’s refusal to ‘play ball’ has resulted in the Opposition Leader issuing another statement last week saying he was promoting protest over the holding of Local Government Elections. Granger had also appeared on television during the week, encouraging citizens to take to the streets in support of the holding of these elections.
According to Granger at his press conference, APNU has appealed to the general public to ensure that their protests are peaceful; that they are executed in accordance with the law; and are orderly.
He noted that his Party has made a call for protests all across the country, which encompasses all municipalities and neighbourhoods.

“We have given instructions to our members in APNU, and we had a meeting of the Executive Council of APNU which endorsed this decision to call on the members to behave in an orderly manner,” Granger said, adding:
“We are not going to achieve the constitutional objective of Local Government Elections by sitting on our hands; and the Government must understand that.”
He further asserted that “The people are angry; the neighbourhoods, the towns, the councils are angry, and they want to have Local Government Elections without further delay.”
After the results of the 2011 General Elections, Guyana was faced with scores of APNU protesters in front of Public Buildings repeatedly chanting, “We want Granger.” The crowd, which appeared to some onlookers as harmless, were of the belief that the elections had been rigged, and threatened no school or work the following day.
Although the protesters appeared to be harmless and unarmed, there were reports of barriers being pushed down. Although there were no reports of arrests, the situation was described as one which could have easily triggered nationwide unrest.

(By Ravin Singh)