APNU+AFC protestors outside the boardroom of the RDC

THE deadlock with respect to the holding of statutory meetings of the Regional Democratic Council of Region Five (Mahaica/Berbice) took a new turn with activists of A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) and the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) staging picketing and counter-picketing demonstrations outside the meeting place at Fort Wellington yesterday.The RDC’s statutory monthly meeting had to be cancelled for the fourth time this year.

Counter-picketers outside the boardroom of the RDC

The APNU+AFC protestors including their Councillors of the RDC, bore placards demanding that Regional Chairman of the PPP/C-controlled Region Vickchand Ramphal apologise to President David Granger for absenting himself from a function attended by the President in the region in January last.

President Granger had officiated at the handing over of two school buses to the region on January 15 to facilitate free transportation of children to and from school.

Ramphal it was alleged had deliberately boycotted that ceremony.

The APNU+AFC Councillors of the region said that his absence was an act of disrespect to the President and he needed to apologise for this act, failing which they would not allow him to chair any meetings of the RDC.

Some of the protestors yesterday demanded that he resign from his position.

The PPP/C picketers bore placards demanding that the APNU+AFC Councillors respect the Chairman and allow him to hold the statutory meetings of the RDC .

They echoed the view put forward by Ramchand that although he knew of the President’s visit to Region Five, he had not attended because he was not properly invited.

He therefore saw no need to apologise and would not apologise.

The picketing and counter-picketing exercise outside the boardroom of the RDC lasted for about two hours under the watchful eyes of officers and ranks of the Fort Wellington Police Station. The groups dispersed after it was obvious that the meeting scheduled for yesterday had been cancelled.

The monthly statutory meeting of the RDC is held on the third Thursday of every month and the impasse is likely to continue again next month, unless there is some resolution that would allow the APNU+AFC Councillors to attend and participate.