Guyanese are tired of the “Opposition’s politics of protest and the destruction” it brings, General Secretary of the ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Clement Rohee said yesterday. He was speaking at the party’s weekly press conference at Freedom House, Robb Street. According to PPP General Secretary Rohee, the Guyanese people’s refusal to support the ongoing weekly protests by A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) outside the Office of the President is a clear indication of their desire for stability and their rejection of the Opposition.

PEACE, PROGRESS, PROSPERITY

“They want peace, progress and prosperity and the continuation of the efforts to create a brighter future for all. They are aware that the Opposition’s protest actions will not put bread on their table nor will it improve their daily livelihood,” Rohee said. He added, “Their refusal to support destructive protest is an indication that they would not be easily hoodwinked and are much smarter than the Opposition thinks.” The PPP General Secretary assured that the party, and by extension the current Administration, remains committed to ensuring stability in the country. Additionally, Rohee, in responding to comments from the APNU Leader that the pressure will be kept on the PPP, made it clear that the party will respond accordingly. Granger has publicly said that the important area of focus for APNU is to keep pressure on the PPP and not the Guyanese people.

Rohee, in turn, stressed that responding to political pressures is not a new phenomenon for the ruling party. “I could understand that (Granger’s statements) from a political perspective because he will not want to pressure his supporters to come out and protest in the middle of Christmas season, they are not likely to come out,” he said.

TWO MONTHS OF PROTESTS

For more than two months now, APNU’s leaders and supporters have been engaged in protest actions, which initially started in different parts of the country, demanding that the Government set a date for Local Government Elections (LGE). The protests followed the expiration of an ultimatum given to President Donald Ramotar by APNU Leader, Brigadier (rtd), David Granger. He had called on the Head of State to set a date for local government elections before September 15 or face the “mobilisation of national and international” support by the party to ensure the elections are hosted. The deadline passed but President Donald Ramotar subsequently announced that local government elections will be held by the second quarter of 2015. However, since Mr. Ramotar’s decision to prorogue Parliament on November 10, APNU’s protests have taken on a new dimension, now including a call for early general elections. The President contends that paving the way for greater dialogue among political parties would have kept the 10th Parliament alive to address the critically important issues currently before the National Assembly. Since the President’s move to prorogue Parliament there have been varying sentiments from different sections of society, many being in support of the prorogation, which would facilitate dialogue in face of the current political impasse.

Both APNU and the Alliance For Change (AFC) have made it clear that they will not engage the President in talks unless the prorogation is lifted and parliamentary work resumes. Notably, Leader of the Opposition David Granger has not officially responded to a letter from President Donald Ramotar, dated November 18, inviting him for talks, following the prorogation of Parliament(Guyana Chronicle).