| The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has come out in strong condemnation of what it calls thePPP/C general secretary Clement Rohee“witch-hunting” and “political head-hunting” of several public servants with close ties to the PPP/C. The PPP described the condition as one reason why the party has rejected the government’s calls for inclusionary Government.The party said that the actions have also contributed to the current boycott of Parliament.This came out of the party’s weekly press conference at Freedom House. General Secretary of the PPP/C, Clement Rohee, was not only adamant that the party had every right to enter into Parliament at a time of their choosing, but that the party’s 202,694 voters wanted the stalemate to continue because of what the party has repeatedly called the “de facto APNU regime.”Rohee was also vociferous in declaring that public servants who resigned from the public service voluntarily to partake in the PPP/C election campaign should have been retained. According to him, he saw no reason why they should not. “Their summary dismissal is in my mind, whimsical and politically motivated.”In defending his party’s position on their current boycott of Parliament, Rohee made reference to the 1997 elections, when the People’s National Congress/Reform (PNC/R) boycotted Parliament for two years.According to Rohee, the boycotting of Parliament was something that the then PNC/R was the first to initiate.According to the General Secretary, the forensic audits and dismissals of public servants, some of whom openly campaigned on behalf of the PPP/C during the General and Regional Elections, were all being undertaken “without just cause, police investigation or the involvement of the Auditor General, but out of vindictiveness.”Former Press Liason Officer Kwame McCoy“How do you expect the PPP/C to respond to this invitation for talks on inclusive/shared governance in the Parliament when you (APNU+AFC administration) are witch hunting our members? How does the APNU+AFC coalition expect this to happen?”“Our supporters and our members are being treated in a manner that is totally unbecoming of a modern state where good governance is practiced. And at the same time you are telling us that we must sit and talk, about what?“If you want to talk about why these persons are being dismissed, that’s a different matter. But you cannot be behaving like this to the PPP/C and expect that we will go like sheep for talks or into Parliament.”Making reference to recent statements from former PPP/C stalwart Ralph Ramkarran and Canadian High Commissioner, Nicole Giles,Manchester United Jerseys, urging the PPP/C to take up their seats in Parliament, Rohee insisted that it was an internal matter for the PPP/C, and that the decision to avoid parliament was taken based upon feedback from the PPP/C constituents.“The 49.3% of people who voted for us have told us their views. We have gone around the country talking to them. And they have some very strong views. Sometimes we have to try and contain them, because many times they have extreme views,” Rohee said, alluding to the PPP/C’s support’s base.The issue of public servants who were closely affiliated to the previous administration has been a contentiousFormer GUYSUCO CEO. Dr. Raj Singhone, with the new administration cleaning house of numerous public servants deemed to have compromised their professional integrity. However, similar proceedings were initiated under the newly arrived Dr.Cheddi Jagan administration back in 1992.The highly controversial former acting Town Clerk Carol Sooba, who was foisted on the Town Council by then Minister of Local Government Norman Whittaker in a move that was subsequently ruled to be unconstitutional, was one of the early heads to roll under the new administration. Sooba had been cited for past instances of conflict and disruption on the town council.Permanent Secretary (PS) of the Ministry of Communities Collin Croal and PS of the Ministry of Indigenous People Affairs Nigel Dharamlall were sent packing from May 29, among the most prominent heads to roll. Both men had been openly campaigning on behalf of the PPP/C during the election’s campaign and had submitted their resignations at one point in order to campaign.Citing increasing losses and mismanagement of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO) over the preceding years, the APNU+AFC administration dismissed Chief Executive Officer Dr. Raj Singh and the entire Board of Directors on June 02. This move met with much displeasure from the PPP/C, with whom Dr. Singh had close ties.Singh had even appeared on the PPP/C’s list of electoral candidates. Reminded at the time of GUYSUCO’s increasing troubles under Singh’s tenure, Rohee had declared that “there was never an issue of non- performance”Former PS Collin Croalby the favored CEO under the PPP/C administration.Controversial Press Liason Officer with the then Office of the President, Kwame McCoy’s dismissal followed on the heels of 20-plus “phantom staffers” who were said to have been working under him. According to reports, the staffers were being paid through National Communications Network (NCN) to monitor Facebook and other media, in order to perpetrate propaganda on behalf of the PPP/C. On this matter, too, the General Secretary claimed not to find anything wrong.Parliament opened with 36 Members of Parliament’s being sworn in for APNU+AFC. The opposition benches meant for the PPP/C was conspicuously empty. The PPP/C has yet to even name a list of MPs for Parliament, despite repeated calls from various sections of society for them to join in the Parliamentary process. |
