-Dr. Jagdeo says, flags APNU-dominated town council’s attempts to fabricate issues, suspend opposing voices
THE People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration will not allow its local government councillors to be stifled or bullied as they execute their mandate in serving their respective constituents, the Party’s General Secretary, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo told a news conference on Thursday, October 3, 2024.
The PPP leader’s comments stemmed from an issue at the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU)-led Mayor and Town Council in New Amsterdam, Berbice, where PPP/C Councillor, Carol Trim-Bagot was suspended from the council.
“These councillors have been doing extraordinary work and it frightens APNU and AFC… This will not stand; we will not allow it to happen but in doing so, they have revealed true natures of APNU+AFC.”
Jagdeo believes that directives were given to the APNU councillors by their top brass to stymie the work of the PPP/C councillors. This he said comes as no surprise.
“At the national level we have experienced the same with APNU+ AFC, the refusal to abide by laws, the constitution. We saw even in the parliament they refuse to respect a clear provision of the constitution which dealt with no-confidence motions and therefore what I saw in New Amsterdam was bound to happen at some point in time.”
Following the local government elections held back in 2023, the PPP/C had garnered strong support at the polls in several constituencies that were said APNU+ AFC strongholds.
Prior to the 2023 polls, the APNU+ AFC had 12 councillors while the PPP/C had two. At the last elections the PPP/C secured six seats, while the APNU secured eight.
“We came near to wining another constituency by a few votes. Had we done that, the town council would have tied. New Amsterdam is seen as a traditional strong hold of the PNC and the AFC and to have those results shocked them and since then, our councilors have been working very hard to ensure that people’s voices reach the meetings of the town council,” the PPP General Secretary said.
He highlighted that the PPP/C councillors have been working diligently and engaging constituents on several programmes being implemented in the region.
“Their (APNU) whole approach is to stifle dissenting voices and to bully people into submission and we will not allow this to continue.”
This he noted has also been flagged at other municipalities across the country.
“Every section of the RDC experienced vile disruptive behaviour on the part of APNU+AFC, so much so that they could fulfil their mandate.”
Earlier this week it was reported that Trim-Bagot was suspended from the council for allegedly being disruptive and disrespectful to Mayor Wainwright McIntosh.
The PPP/C councilor in an invited comment to this newspaper on Wednesday said that she is concerned that this move by the APNU-led council is one that is aimed at silencing her for being one of the councillors who continuously calls for transparency and accountability in relation to managing the town’s affairs.
According to the councillor, the APNU side of the council used the claim of disorderly behaviour to move their motion to have her suspended from the council.
The PPP/C councillor also revealed her intentions to seek legal advice regarding her suspension.