–Dr. Jagdeo says opposition has long history of subverting institutions
–affirms that no illegal activities will be swept under the rug

PEOPLE’S Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, on Wednesday, drew attention to the People’s National Congress/Reform (PNC/R)’s/A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (ANPU+AFC)’s age-old practice of subverting institutions.

During a press conference at Freedom House, Dr. Jagdeo related that there is a stark difference between the PPP and the Opposition regarding accountability, transparency and professionalism, especially given the large number of allegations of malpractice against the PNC/R/APNU+AFC.

In response to the Opposition’s heavy criticism of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), the PPP General Secretary said that the agency will do a professional job in its investigation.
Dr. Jagdeo had previously told reporters that the allegation of corruption levelled against Deputy Commissioner of Police (ag) Calvin Brutus is being investigated by the SOCU.
The PPP General Secretary, who also serves as Guyana’s Vice-President said: “The PNC and AFC, particularly the PNC… they’ve had this habit, in fact, a whole long history of interfering with constitutional bodies, subverting their professionalism, subverting the professionalism of the institutions of state, throughout its entire history, from its formation.

“So it has become a habit to them and they can’t believe that the institutions can act professionally. Because when people have a habit of subverting institutions, they think that their opponents will want to do the same thing.”
In further highlighting how the PNC/R has a long history of subverting the professionalism of institutions, the Vice-President pointed to the electoral rigging that was done by the party.
It has been widely reported that former President and PNCR Leader, Forbes Burnham, in coalition with the small opposition United Force, snatched political power from the PPP in the 1964 elections and the PNC/R remained in office through rigged elections until 1992.
Dr. Jagdeo then highlighted the various ways in which the party used state institutions to manipulate the voting process. He also spoke of the role of the military and judiciary during this dark period for Guyana.
However, this sort of control over state bodies did not change even when the APNU+AFC governed from 2015-2020, as the Vice-President said that despite the fact that the PPP established SOCU, the coalition administration used the body to carry out a political witch hunt on its opponents.

It is for this reason that Dr. Jagdeo explained why the Opposition believes SOCU cannot carry out an impartial investigation.
He said: “So let me just say that SOCU will do a professional job regardless of who has committed any illegal act, and they’re already demonstrating that they have the full authority to do so.”
Dr. Jagdeo went on to say: “Anyone implicated in any financial impropriety or any illegal act could be questioned by SOCU regardless of how far up the power chain it goes…”
He also said that there are a series of intelligence-led operations being rolled out and this shows a “serious attempt by this government not to sweep anything under the carpet.”
Dr. Jagdeo also recalled the incident in 2019, where the former Crime Chief, Lyndon Alves, was placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation into the exposure of a network of alleged corruption in the Guyana Police Force’s ‘B’ Division (Berbice).
Alves was suspended a few days after the Force announced that the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) was conducting an internal inquiry in response to media claims of corruption inside the division.