Georgetown : The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has noted the recent ten-point demand on the President and the government by the Alliance For Change (AFC). It appears as if the AFC is developing a penchant for such brazen demands on the Executive under the guise of having the interest of Guyana and Guyanese at heart.
A PPP statement says “Our Party remains cognisant of the terror that was unleashed on innocent Guyanese along part of the East Bank corridor following a previous demand/ultimatum by the AFC. During that fateful afternoon, many were beaten and robbed and denied their constitutional right to freedom of movement. Law enforcement officers were also subjected to the wanton abuse that ensued.
Such actions, and those that continue to be taken in the National Assembly, are demonstrative of the scant regard the AFC has shown for the welfare of Guyanese. Our Party must therefore remain concerned over what this new set of demands by the AFC may precipitate. If the AFC’s utterances were to be believed as having the interest of Guyanese at heart as it claims, then it must endeavour to unconditionally support Government’s policy and programme.”
It is this context that the PPP demand of the AFC that if it is indeed genuinely concerned about improving the lives of Guyanese then it must forthrightly put national interest over its own blatant partisan self-interest in which they wallow. This self-interest was very evident with regards to the construction of the Marriot Hotel and the Speciality Hospital. It is no secret that the owner of a major hotel in Guyana is a lead financier of the AFC.
This was made public by the financier himself. There is therefore no ambiguity in comprehending the resulting natural propensity of the AFC to demonise the Marriot to save the interest of its financier. Their continuous opposition to this project remains unsurprising. Ironically, the AFC has been vehement in its support for competition in other areas but is conveniently opposed to the same in the hospitality sector.
This engrained proclivity for self-interest by the AFC and use of its Parliamentary position to protect its self-interest was demonstrated with regards to the Speciality Hospital. Again, it is no secret that the Leader of the AFC was part of the team of a bidding company which was not awarded the contract.
The PPP therefore demands of the AFC that if it wants to remain truthful to the development of Guyana and Guyanese, then it must meaningfully use its Parliamentary position to ensure the following are realised:-
1. The Speciality Hospital
2. The Amila Falls Hydro Project
3. The CJIA Expansion Project
4. The passage of the Anti-Money Laundering and the Countering
of Financing of Terrorism Bill
5. The Custom Amendment Bill
6. The Restoration of the Budgets Cuts
7. The Amerindian Development Fund
8. Support for reforms in the Security Sector
9. Cabinet no-objection to the PPC
10. Support for Government’s Developmental policies
The PPP calls on the AFC to meet these demands in the interest ofthe country and its people since the benefits that would be derived are known to all.
