CHAIRMAN of the Enmore/Hope Interim Management Committee, Mr. Jainath Bhikhari yesterday took representatives from several media houses on an observation tour of the sprawling and history-rich East Coast Demerara village, as he sought to dispel certain grossly distorted statements by a few villagers affiliated to the Alliance For Change (AFC) political party, and which appeared recently in some sections of the media.
Amid a sometimes confrontational exchange with a few villagers who were by Jaibharat Persaud, a district representative of the AFC, the IMC chairman sought to explain the inner workings of the body to the media and to a few concerned residents.
The Chairman expressed concerns that operatives of the AFC may be trying to send the wrong message to the public and, by extension, may be instigating residents to act contrary to the norms of law.
Bhikhari accused Persaud (who was present at yesterdayβs meeting) of being the mastermind behind the whole debacle via another media house, while challenging the AFC representative to provide proof of discontentment with the current IMCβs management of the Enmore/Hope IMC.
Bhikhari added that Persuad wants the IMC to be dissolved even without providing any tangible reason why the current management should go. He stressed that some political cronies are bent on having the committee removed even if it has to be done undemocratically.
During the sometimes stormy exchange of words amongst attendees, the AFC representative told media operatives that if the IMC Chairman does not resign, there would be βa bloodbath in Enmoreβ.