There’s evidence linking political operatives and crime PDF Print E-mail
Written by Chevon Singh
Tuesday, 01 November 2011 02:17
…and the Buxton nightmare is certainly an example
THERE is irrefutable evidence of the linkage of certain political operatives and crime in our society and the Buxton nightmare was certainly an example.
People’s Progressive Party (PPP/C) Executive member and Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud made this pronouncement, during a press briefing on Sunday, at the party’s headquarters on Robb Street.
Minister Persaud was at the time defending statements made by party representatives during the PPP/C rally in Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni/Mazaruni ), on Saturday, when Barticians were warned not to trust the opposition coalition, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), because if they come to power, they would take government guns and give them to criminals.
In his address, President Bharrat Jagdeo noted that Peoples National Congress Reform (PNCR) leader, Robert Corbin, and many others cannot account for many of the weapons that were taken from the Guyana Defence Force during the 1970s and 1980s, at a time when A Partnership for National Unity’s (APNU) presidential candidate, David Granger, was a member of the army.
“You have had some theft of weapons from the army in the past, but if they were to get into power, they don’t have to steal weapons anymore, they will get the weapons to give to the bandits,” President Jagdeo said.
The PPP also warned Barticians against voting for the opposition, saying that that could lead to greater insecurity, worse than the Bartica massacre.
Alluding to this and others such pronouncements, Persaud refuted claims that the statements made to the thousands gathered at Ramnauth Square were in any way irresponsible, in the wake of residents’ experiences during the Bartica massacre in 2008.
He said, “A statement of fact cannot be in any way inflammatory; it is a statement of fact and what was said on Sunday represents a statement of fact. What the President said about Mr. Nigel Hughes of the AFC is a statement of fact. I don’t want us in any way to try to obscure or deny facts or deny the reality under the guise of being inflammatory.”
He emphasised also that there is a consistent message being spread throughout Guyana, as it is the obligation of the PPP/C administration to alert the nation to the dangers that can beset the society if certain individuals and certain parties are allowed in government.
“We can go back to that point; our history is filled with those experiences and those episodes and it is our obligation to remind, to recall these statements of facts. That is what election campaigns are all about, you make your case, you present information so that people can make informed choices. That is what was done on Sunday,” Minister Persaud maintained.
Persaud said that there are still more than 100 weapons that were issued under the PNC government still unaccounted for, and that there are records showing who uplifted the weapons, many of which are turning up at crime scenes across the country.
He acknowledged that though there are many drivers of crime in society, the PPP/C has been working diligently at strengthening the Guyana Police Force, a task which will have to continue engaging the attention of future governments.
He explained, “Looking at our entire law and order and justice security mechanism, certainly there is room for improvement; if you check the PPP/Civic manifesto, there is a lot of emphasis in terms of law and order, justice and security, whereby the reformation of the system will continue both with local and foreign help. If you look at our manifesto, it does address some of the weaknesses.”
Continuing, the PPP/C Executive member recognised that security is something that people value and it is something that the electorate is very concerned about; therefore, the party will continue to address the issue.
He said, “You will continue to hear more about what has been done, what are the dangers that are out there in terms of jeopardizing security, and what we intend to do about it. As we go along the campaign there will be amplification of some of those positions.”
Written by Chevon Singh
Tuesday, 01 November 2011 02:17
…and the Buxton nightmare is certainly an example
THERE is irrefutable evidence of the linkage of certain political operatives and crime in our society and the Buxton nightmare was certainly an example.
People’s Progressive Party (PPP/C) Executive member and Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud made this pronouncement, during a press briefing on Sunday, at the party’s headquarters on Robb Street.
Minister Persaud was at the time defending statements made by party representatives during the PPP/C rally in Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni/Mazaruni ), on Saturday, when Barticians were warned not to trust the opposition coalition, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), because if they come to power, they would take government guns and give them to criminals.
In his address, President Bharrat Jagdeo noted that Peoples National Congress Reform (PNCR) leader, Robert Corbin, and many others cannot account for many of the weapons that were taken from the Guyana Defence Force during the 1970s and 1980s, at a time when A Partnership for National Unity’s (APNU) presidential candidate, David Granger, was a member of the army.
“You have had some theft of weapons from the army in the past, but if they were to get into power, they don’t have to steal weapons anymore, they will get the weapons to give to the bandits,” President Jagdeo said.
The PPP also warned Barticians against voting for the opposition, saying that that could lead to greater insecurity, worse than the Bartica massacre.
Alluding to this and others such pronouncements, Persaud refuted claims that the statements made to the thousands gathered at Ramnauth Square were in any way irresponsible, in the wake of residents’ experiences during the Bartica massacre in 2008.
He said, “A statement of fact cannot be in any way inflammatory; it is a statement of fact and what was said on Sunday represents a statement of fact. What the President said about Mr. Nigel Hughes of the AFC is a statement of fact. I don’t want us in any way to try to obscure or deny facts or deny the reality under the guise of being inflammatory.”
He emphasised also that there is a consistent message being spread throughout Guyana, as it is the obligation of the PPP/C administration to alert the nation to the dangers that can beset the society if certain individuals and certain parties are allowed in government.
“We can go back to that point; our history is filled with those experiences and those episodes and it is our obligation to remind, to recall these statements of facts. That is what election campaigns are all about, you make your case, you present information so that people can make informed choices. That is what was done on Sunday,” Minister Persaud maintained.
Persaud said that there are still more than 100 weapons that were issued under the PNC government still unaccounted for, and that there are records showing who uplifted the weapons, many of which are turning up at crime scenes across the country.
He acknowledged that though there are many drivers of crime in society, the PPP/C has been working diligently at strengthening the Guyana Police Force, a task which will have to continue engaging the attention of future governments.
He explained, “Looking at our entire law and order and justice security mechanism, certainly there is room for improvement; if you check the PPP/Civic manifesto, there is a lot of emphasis in terms of law and order, justice and security, whereby the reformation of the system will continue both with local and foreign help. If you look at our manifesto, it does address some of the weaknesses.”
Continuing, the PPP/C Executive member recognised that security is something that people value and it is something that the electorate is very concerned about; therefore, the party will continue to address the issue.
He said, “You will continue to hear more about what has been done, what are the dangers that are out there in terms of jeopardizing security, and what we intend to do about it. As we go along the campaign there will be amplification of some of those positions.”
