Latest update April 18th, 2024 12:59 AM
Mar 08, 2009 AFC Column, Features / Columnists
Our party reiterates its disgust at the totally false and reckless statements made by His Excellency, President Bharrat Jagdeo, last Sunday, at the Dr. Cheddi Jagan Cremation Site, Babu John, Port Mourant, Berbice. Mr. Jagdeo, as broadcast live on national radio and television, raised the issue of the financing of US-based political consultant Dick Morris for the AFC’s 2006 electoral campaign, by asking rhetorically, how the AFC was able to afford his services, and further stated that someone implicated in a “cocaine in pepper sauce” bust was a major financier of the party.
The AFC states unequivocally that Mr. Dick Morris, a US citizen, provided voluntary services to the Alliance For Change as a political consultant in its 2006 electoral campaign. This he stated publically in his press conference when he was introduced to the media back in 2006. Our party finds it strange that three years later the President, as he grapples with the horrendous economic challenges associated with his government, would use this as another diversionary tactic.
We wish to state that no one within the executive of the party, and/or those involved in the 2006 elections campaign, received any money through the proceeds of the illicit trade in narcotics, and have no knowledge of anyone involved in any “cocaine in pepper sauce” who is a financier of the party. Neither was Mr. Morris paid for his services through the proceeds of narcotics sales, or at all. The AFC has taken a strong position against drug trafficking in the past and will continue to do so.
The statements made by His Excellency were reckless, irresponsible, and without foundation, and any merit whatsoever, but because they were made by the highest office holder in the land, the AFC is formally requesting that Mr. Jagdeo immediately hand over to the Police and make public any information he purports to or resign.
The AFC has written to CANU as the primary anti-narcotic agency in Guyana, requesting that it immediately conduct an investigation into the President’s statement. The AFC has also made a request for a similar investigation, to the Head of the Western Hemisphere Division of the US Drug Enforcement Agency. The executive of the party, and all its members, will avail themselves to assist in the conduct of this investigation including undergoing a polygraph test. Is President Jagdeo willing to do this?
FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AGAIN ASSAILED
The Alliance For Change also condemns in the strongest possible terms the action on the part of a certain “High Government person” who threatened the proprietor of CNS Channel 6 not to rebroadcast the ‘Alliance on the Move’ scheduled programme 2nd March 2009 ‘FINANCIAL MELTDOWN” featuring an interview by its Chairman, Khemraj Ramjattan and Mr. Christopher Ram.
The contents which dealt with issues concerning the CLICO financial meltdown, the irresponsibility of State officials who failed in their oversight duties, the call for their resignations and even criminal charges, and the implications of a lack of confidence in our financial structure were intended to educate viewers, from two persons of some experience and expertise on these issues. This education of the public is not what this “High Government person” wants. Rather he prefers the ignorance and confusion he has been churning out since the bad news of CLICO broke.
The blackout of information from an AFC perspective, and with AFC credence, is the covert policy of this Government. The AFC message is undoubtedly pinching this Government where it hurts and so it has to respond in an authoritarian manner by blanking it out.
This development is in keeping with the PPP Government’s practice of not granting radio licences, nor the extensions of TV licences to cover the entirety of Guyana to private owners, nor even the passage of a Freedom of Information Bill, nor equal/proportionate coverage of opposition views in the State media. This is a huge backslide from the legacy of Dr. Jagan whose ghosts it seeks to invoke ever so often to divert attention from its misdemeanors and felonies.
AFC CONTINUES ITS WORK ON THE GROUND
The Alliance For Change continues to take up the cause of its constituents who have been adversely affected by the PPP Government policies. Recently, copies of a Petition were done for citizens at both East and West Coast Berbice so that they could sign on to their demand for a reduction of the tolls for minibuses and hire cars travelling across the Berbice River Bridge.
The citizens who met with leaders of the AFC argued that the high tolls have resulted in higher fares generally, with children, pensioners and the disabled being particularly affected. Hundreds have signed on and the copies will be taken to President Jagdeo.
In a similar vein, copies of a Petition were done for speedboat owners, captains and users of the Essequibo River area (Parika/Supenaam), so that they could sign on to demand that there be an economic and security impact assessment done before the possible revocation of boat owners’ and captains’ licences unless sheds are installed on the speed-boats.
Hundreds of persons have so signed on already and the copies will soon be handed in to the Transport Minister. Affected boat owners informed leaders of AFC at a recent meeting at the Transport and Harbours Building, Parika, that it was their opinion that installing sheds on speedboats are going to be an unsafe option, and additionally an extremely costly exercise requiring an investment of $4M minimum.
JAGDEO ADDING MORE DANGER TO GUYANA AND THE REGION
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