PPP/C concedes defeat, begin clearing out offices
Officials of a number of Government agencies and Ministries seem to be packing up and leaving, ahead of the official announcement of the winner of Monday’s General and Regional elections.
Persons packing items and boxes into the SUV.
Yesterday, amidst reports of movements of files and other official documents, Kaieteur News managed to determine that this was indeed the case. This was a clear indication that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic was conceding that it had lost the elections. At the Ministry of Labour, next door to the Guyana Fire Service headquarters in Stabroek Market area, two staffers were seen packing items into a dark colored Toyota SUV with license plate number PPP 4200. The secretive movements reportedly attracted the attention of members of the public and even staffers yesterday with photographs taken. At the Ministry of Housing, Brickdam, a black Toyota SUV, tinted and bearing PTT number plates, was reportedly seen fetching boxes and heading to an East Bank Demerara location. There were reportedly similar movements at several other ministries and key Government agencies. A Partnership For National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition has indicated that it will be examining a number of contracts and other transactions by the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic. Yesterday, top official of the coalition, Joe Harmon, urged for Guyana to stay alert and report any suspicious activities. He said: “Government and officers are acting like bandits.” Meanwhile, Presidential Candidate, Brigadier (Ret’d) David Granger, said that indeed reports have been received of boxes and other items being moved. However, no complaints have been made. “We are aware that some movements are taking place and it is our view that the PPP is using this period to delay the declarations so that they can get on with whatever they were planning to do.” The 10th Parliament was suspended and fresh elections called in January after the PPP/C faced a major crisis in the National Assembly – a no-confidence vote. Monday’s elections were closely watched and the toughest for the incumbent (PPP/C) since gaining power in 1992. Yesterday, the coalition said in a statement, that it has received reliable reports that PPP Ministers and agents under their direction, are in the process of removing materials and documents from Government ministries around the city. “There are also reports of widespread shredding of documents in Ministries and government offices. APNU+AFC calls on the law enforcement agencies to protect all government property from these illegal acts of sabotage and vandalism.”