-Dr Jagdeo says Burke, Benschop actions are manifestations of PNC-R ‘core philosophy’

THE “vile” attacks meted out by Opposition operatives, Rickford Burke and Mark Benschop have come as no surprise to the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, who stated that their actions are a manifestation of the “core philosophy” of the People’s National Congress-Reform (PNC-R).

Dr Jagdeo, during his weekly press conference at the party’s headquarters, addressed the calls by Benschop and Burke’s organisation, Caribbean Guyana Institute for Democracy (CGID), that called for the boycott of Guyanese-owned businesses in the diaspora that embraced the President during his visit to New York last week.

“We had this vile but not unpredictable call by Burke and Benschop and the likes of them to boycott these premises and most people will think that this may be an outlier event [and] that it’s unusual, but there is nothing unusual about what they did; it’s part of a pattern and it’s part of the PNC’s core philosophy.

“These calls were just the latest manifestation of that philosophy,” he stated.

Furthermore, he highlighted that during his previous press conferences, he had outlined the major disparities in campaign approaches between the ruling PPP/C and PNC-R.
According to him, the PNC-R’s campaign is rooted in instilling fear in the people because of their lack of achievements while they were in office for 28 years.
He said: “So with very little to show achievement wise, they tend to campaign on a philosophy of fear.”

Furthermore, he pointed out that the PPP/C campaigns highlight their accomplishments, such as revitalising a failing economy, improving healthcare, creating more employment opportunities, and providing scholarships.

Earlier this week, President Dr Irfaan Ali has condemned the verbal assault meted out to “innocent” Guyanese within the diaspora, who recently engaged him on how their home country can prosper.

In his statement, Dr. Ali urged people to share the press statement issued by CGID with US officials and question why there would be any issue with striving for the betterment of their homeland.
“When I was in Brooklyn and Queens, I felt the love of what Guyana offers. I felt the collective strength of our people wanting only what is best for our country,” Dr Ali said.
Additionally, he expressed his pride in Guyanese individuals who have made significant contributions in various fields, including healthcare, in the United States.

The engagement according to him, boosted his strength in achieving the ‘One Guyana’ agenda.
Tackling the assault that the Guyanese community faced, the Head of State said: “Make no mistake, no detractors, no haters, no racists, no-one who seeks selfishly to derail this agenda, no-one with a separatist agenda, no-one with a hidden agenda would be allowed to shake my strong belief in the Guyanese people and in our ability to achieve one Guyana and to achieve prosperity for every single family.”

He added: “I found myself compelled to respond tonight [Sunday], not because I want to respond to any individual, for I have no time on my agenda to waste behind racist, separatist propagandist. I have no time in my agenda to lose energy behind those who cannot see anything from a different window [other] than the window of racism.”
While the statement by CGID breathed fear into those within the diaspora as their businesses were the subject of the attack, President Ali assured those persons that they are not guilty of anything. He said that onslaught reflects the hurt that the detractors of development are trying to instill in them.

The Head of State then said that those who have a dislike for him can target him but not innocent people.
“If you have something against me, come after me with all that you have, point all your guns and weapons at me, but leave the people out of this. Do not seek to destroy the lives of ordinary people,” he stated.

He added: “Don’t point the gun of hate, don’t point the poison of hate from your arrows to the ordinary people. Do not do this to them, they are guilty of nothing,” while explaining that those persons just wanted to share their ideas and ensure the well-being of their home country.
President Ali then said that “no right thinking” person could support CGID’s statement and he even called on US officials such as Hakeem Jeffries to examine the actions of the Burke organisation. President Ali then stated that those who were a part of the engagement were not paid but instead they offered food and water to everyone.

“This is just an exposure of who they are. This is an awakening for all the persons in our diaspora to see through the shallow window that they operate from,” Dr Ali said.
He also stated that this government’s message is founded on national unity and the collective desire to see Guyana prosper.