THE Women’s Progressive Organisation (WPO) has condemned the storming of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) meeting in Warlock, East Ruimveldt on Wednesday, April 29, when rocks and bottles were tossed at the speakers, and a woman urinated on the PPP/C flag.In a statement to the press, the WPO besides condemning the burning of the PPP/C flag and the abuse of children, is also calling for immediate dismissal of the perpetrator of such a distasteful act. The organisation says that a flag is the identity and pride of a nation and a country or an organisation. Similarly, the flag of the People’s Progressive Party is a representation of the vast majority of people, especially the members of the party, its youth and women’s sections.
According to the WPO statement, the “PNC (People’s National Congress) and APNU+AFC (A Partnership of National Unity and the Alliance for Change) have a history of disrespecting and abusing the national flag, the Golden Arrowhead, over the years, and it was draped over the coffins of known criminals. This pattern of disrespect by leaders of PNC in APNU+AFC created the avenues for its members to disrespect the PPP/C flags.”
The organisation also related that since the commencement of the elections campaign, members and supporters of APNU+AFC have been destroying the flags, posters and banners of the PPP/C across Guyana, something the PPP has openly condemned.
Additional the WPO noted that in response to the burning of the flag of the PPP/C on the evening of Wednesday 29th April, 2015 in Warlock, Ruimveldt, Georgetown, “APNU+AFC claimed that Abigail Beveghems, daughter of APNU former Member of Parliament, Joan Bhavegems was not related to them, but that she is a member of the PPP/C and that the PPP/C paid her to bring bad name to them.”
The organisation would like to point out that Joan Bhavegems is a candidate member on the APNU/AFC list contesting the May 11, 2015 elections.
The WPO in its statement called on the Minister of Education, the Teaching Service Commission, the Public Service Commission and the Public Service Ministry to review the conduct of Abigail Beveghems who is employed in the Child Welfare Department of the Ministry of Education.
“She deliberately endangered a child with disability who was clearly frightened and in distress and was begging to be removed from the location. She is unfit to be a mother and unfit to work with children,” the WPO noted.
The WPO also called on all women to condemn this act and to join them in the call for her immediate dismissal from the Ministry of Education as a Child Welfare Officer. The organisation also calls on the Guyana Police Force to complete its investigation and institute charges immediately.