…Ramjattan calls out PPP/C on disturbance rumours
…assures all security arrangements in place for Friday’s debate

WHILE assuring that all security arrangements will be in place on Friday when the controversial no-confidence motion comes up for discussion in the National Assembly, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan said the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) should desist from being malicious and provide details of its claim that there “will be” public disturbance.

In what the government said is another bid to create tension, the PPP/C on Wednesday claimed that there will be public disturbance in and around the Public Buildings on Friday when the National Assembly is expected to debate the no-confidence motion against the A Partnership for National + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) government.

In a letter to the Commissioner of Police Leslie James, parliamentary opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira- a former home affairs (public security) minister claimed that there are serious security concerns ahead of the debate.

PPP FANTASY
“We have received information that there will be an attempt to prevent the members of the parliamentary opposition from entering the compound of the Parliament Buildings on December 21st, 2018 for the sitting of the National Assembly, the day that the government has identified for the debate on the parliamentary opposition’s motion of No-Confidence. A senior government official has poured cold water on Teixeira’s claim, deeming it a fantasy and that there were no threats to the opposition MPs.

“Our information points to some very ominous plans to physically disrupt the sitting by either invading the chambers, and, or, creating disruption within the chambers. The intention is to interrupt the debate and the vote on the No- Confidence Motion,” Teixeira said in the letter. She called on the police commissioner to ensure that necessary interventions are made to ensure that the rule of law prevails.

PROVIDE DETAILS
However, when contacted, the public security minister told the Guyana Chronicle that all arrangements will be in place; however, he underscored the importance of having the PPP/C provide more details to its claims.

“Whatever the PPP is fearful of they must express it very explicitly to the police, so that we too can up [our measures] in the prevention of the activities they fear may happen on that day. “I am certain that [they] can provide the police commissioner with those, rather than being mischievous again by saying that there will be major public insecurities on that the day,” Ramjattan said.

He assured that as in the case of previous sittings of the National Assembly, the Guyana Police Force will ensure that the law is upheld and peace prevails, even with protesters on the ground. “So whatever it is, people must enjoy that freedom. This is a democratic country, and once the people want to enjoy their right to protest and demonstrate outside, they are going to do that,” he emphasised.

Hours after the PPP/C made public their letter to the police commissioner, the Alliance For Change (AFC) said it is also concerned about security but has received the assurance of the public security minister that security arrangements for the Public Buildings, the Members of Parliament and those who are likely to congregate outside to support either side are in place.

“We have been assured that the security forces are fully mobilised and prepared to ensure that there is no breach of the peace,” Leader of the AFC Raphael Trotman said.

PPP/C PLOTTING

Trotman said that the AFC has also heard rumours that the PPP/C is plotting. “We have heard our share of rumours of diabolical plots by the PPP, and of moves to disrupt the House when the vote on the Motion fails. We have cautioned our MPs to be vigilant even before and during the debate and ask our supporters to be on the lookout for agent provocateurs who we understand will try to infiltrate their numbers and cause confusion,” Trotman explained.

Nonetheless, he is calling for democracy to prevail and the outcome of the No-Confidence Motion be respected by both sides. With government having a one-seat majority in the House, it is highly likely that the opposition-sponsored motion would be defeated.

“It is bad enough that this Motion was introduced immediately when His Excellency President David Granger announced that he was seeking medical attention and needed the nation’s support. The PPP has to understand that thousands see this as a cowardly attack on the President and are rightly outraged,” the AFC Leader said.

He, like Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, believes that the budget presented the best opportunity for a debate on the policies and programmes of the current administration.

SUPERFLUOUS
Earlier on Wednesday, the prime minister told reporters that while the opposition openly criticised the $300.7B 2019 Budget, it did not vote against it, but rather opted not to vote. It is believed that the Motion is at best superfluous and vexatious and at worst, a cowardly manoeuvre against the President and should be withdrawn. Prime Minister Nagamootoo told reporters that it is not too late for the opposition leader to withdraw the motion; however, he warned that once it is debated, it will be defeated, reminding that the opposition has the minority in the House.