Government of Guyana statement
The Government of Guyana notes with grave concern the unashamed and unfounded attacks levelled against it by Leader of the Alliance for Change (AFC), Khemraj Ramjattan. The PPPC administration is not surprised that such wanton and misleading assault was given much prominence in the Kaieteur News, which over time has become an Opposition mouthpiece.
While the paper is free to align itself with the Opposition given the freedom of choice that now permeates in Guyana and restored to Guyana by the PPP/C, journalistic ethics would demand that fairness is paramount as against sensationalism and peddling of falsehood and political conspiracies.
The Government forthrightly condemns Mr. Ramjattan’s spurious and dangerous assertions as carried in the Kaieteur News of Sunday, August 12, 2012. We wish to remind Mr. Ramjattan that the issue regarding increased electricity tariffs for Linden is not new and was first mooted in the 1970s by former Prime Minister Forbes Burnham when the PNC was in government. Further, when the said proposed increase was tabled in the National Assembly in April this year, Leader of the Opposition, Mr. David Granger, publicly voiced his support given the need to have Linden integrated into the national grid.
Immediately following Mr. Granger’s concurrence, it was the AFC along with some members of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) that instigated the protest in Linden that has resulted in the loss of lives, looting, indiscriminate destruction of public and private property, the prevention of law abiding Lindeners to exercise their right to work and free access, the unconscionable increase in transportation costs and food and the loss of jobs. Throughout the protest it was common to see leading members of the AFC deliberately misleading the people of Linden.
In a protest that was held subsequently in Georgetown under the guise of supporting Linden, it was AFC//APNU members such as, David Hinds, who vociferously articulated that all cooperation with the government to resolve the situation in Linden cease forthwith! He was vehemently supported by another such Opposition personality, Desmond Trotman and others within the gathering including AFC leading voices. This is a clear indication that the AFC, which touts itself as a responsible Party, is not interested in having the situation amicably resolved so that normalcy can return to Linden.
From all its rhetoric since the protest began, the AFC has barefacedly demonstrated its proclivity to capitalize on such situation for political mileage. By such callous actions, they have once again confirmed their disregard for the hardships that have come to bear on the law abiding people of Linden following the protest which the Party instigated. Further, the actions taken by Mr. Ramjattan and the AFC over the last few weeks can only be viewed as explicit support for the disregard of law and order following the burning of several buildings in Linden and the support for extortion by criminal elements meted out against the citizens there.
Such blatant support of criminal activities by Mr. Ramjattan and the AFC must not be allowed to go unnoticed and all Guyanese and civil society must make their voices heard in condemnation of such irresponsible behaviour by a former Presidential Candidate and his Parliamentary Party. The strides made in the negotiations following the protest action must be supported for a swift implementation and the cries of those in Linden who have been made hostage as a result of the protest must not go unheard.
The position taken by Mr. Ramjattan is clearly counter-productive to peace and harmony and must be denounced. He must curtail his proclivity to mislead and the Kaieteur News must endeavour to adhere to the basic tenets of journalism and not allow its political allegiance to the Opposition to take precedence over responsible reporting.
August 12, 2012
