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PPP/C shields Harper from debate with Nagamootoo
…claims it’s protecting its Prime Ministerial Candidate from disrespect
By Kiana Wilburg
Expressing fear of its Prime Ministerial Candidate Elisabeth Harper being subjected to ‘disrespect’, the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic has rejected the invitation for her to debate with Moses Nagamootoo, her counterpart in the Opposition.
The PPP/C noted yesterday that while it has accepted the invitation for a public Presidential debate from the Private Sector Commission, their decision to not entertain the Harper-Nagamootoo debate is final.
PPP/C’s Prime Ministerial Candidate, Elisabeth Harper
The reason for this, it posited, is that there has been an ongoing campaign of vile attacks against women candidates of the PPP/C, especially towards Harper through the daily newspaper letters and articles being managed by the Opposition.
While no mention was made of any particular article, the party said that it condemns the disrespect being meted out to women in the public service and said that such news items show disregard to mothers, wives, and daughters who want to serve the country.
The party noted that this “campaign of disrespect” started with the “most repugnant utterances” from Nagamootoo against Harper during the APNU+AFC’s rally in Whim, Berbice. The PPP/C said it strongly condemns Nagamootoo’s alleged statements at that election crusade. It also expressed disappointment that it has since been continued by the opposition’ campaign machinery.
“The women of the PPP/C, while not intimidated, will not allow themselves to be disrespected by the Opposition and their surrogates. It is for this reason that we view a public debate with Moses Nagamootoo as inappropriate, as he himself has been disrespectful and vile against Ms Harper and has shown no inclination to reverse or change this unacceptable course,” the Party added.
“The women of the PPP/C said that they demand respect and equal treatment from those who present themselves as an alternative.”
The PPP/C asserted that it has also observed that the APNU+AFC Coalition is attempting to include the proposed Prime Ministerial debate as conditionality for the execution of the Presidential Debate.
APNU+AFC’s Prime Ministerial Candidate, Moses Nagamootoo
While emphasizing that its Presidential Candidate, Donald Ramotar, stands ready for a debate, it refuses to open Harper further “to the bitter, rude and unbridled venom of disrespect from Nagamooto in a Prime Ministerial debate.” The party said that such a demand can only be viewed as reprehensible.
“We reject this demand and wish to state unambiguously, that our party will not attempt to dignify the callous contempt with which Moses Nagamootoo has sought to ridicule Mrs. Harper and the personal hurtful and painful experiences of domestic violence she has exposed to the populace; with her participation in a debate with him.”
As the PPP/C gears to face the electorate for the sixth consecutive time, it expressed that it has all confidence that it is the only one in the race holding “the high moral authority” to present a performance record for scrutiny, knowing well that it can defend this record at any time.
However, the APNU+AFC has made its position clear on the matter that it must have double or nothing , that being Harper versus Nagamootoo and Ramotar versus APNU+AFC’s Presidential Candidate, David Granger.
Further, Ramotar had said that Harper is quite capable of handling herself. The Head of State had even stated, “Nagamootoo is no match for Harper, I am sure Harper can account for herself.”
The PPP/C, while accepting the Private Sector’s Presidential debate invitation, said nothing in its statement to the media about possible participation in the highly anticipated civil society discussion. This event was said to be postponed after issues of air conditioning and space were placed in the spotlight by the PPP/C.
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