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Gov’t dealt a severe blow by losing majority in Parliament
….Rohee tells Ballot Box Martyrs memorial
The government was dealt a severe blow when the combined opposition parties gained a majority in the National Assembly. This has caused “blows” on the People’s Progressive Party (PPP/C) and has crippled the party’s policies somewhat, said Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee.
Rohee as he was addressing a meeting held in memory of the Ballot Box Martyrs recently.
He recalled that for the first time in the history, “the PPP was dealt a very severe blow, when it was returned to the Parliament as a minority.”
Minister Rohee places a wreath on the memorial of the Ballot Box Martyrs on the Corentyne
Rohee added that the PPP has always stated that it has never lost free and fair elections, “but in 2011, we lost our majority in the parliament— the first ruling party—Never in the history of Guyana, did you ever have a ruling party with a president and a minority in the parliament”.
“And you are seeing the blows that is raining down on us”. If people really want to honour the ballot box martyrs, Rohee said that the PPP has to recapture its majority in the National Assembly.
“In the same way they gave their lives, we must give our strength, energy, dedication, commitment to ensure the PPP remains as solid as a rock and remains in government and remains a majority in Parliament”.
He said that the party has to have majority, because there are programmes and policies that are for the majority of the people. “We are already seeing signs that if we were to lose the elections completely—to lose the presidency completely— what the new government would do when they get into office”.
Rohee said that “they coming with a vengeance and revenge”. He noted that the enemies “are still at the door” after so many years and that they are coming in different colours, shapes and forms.
“PNC yesterday; APNU today— don’t let us believe that is a difference— it’s the same enemy, but dressed in wolf’s clothing and we must always be vigilant, whenever we are participating in a PPP, PYO, WPO, GAWU, RPA Activity— we must always remember these two young men”.
The party honoured the memories of the ‘Ballot Box Martrys’ at Number 63 Village on the Corentyne last Monday where two youths were shot and killed nearly 40 years ago, while trying to stop armed agents from removing the ballot boxes from the voting centre at New Market Primary School on July 16, 1973.
The public meeting was attended by hundreds of people from various parts of Guyana with people coming from Essequibo and Linden.
Jagan Ramessar and Parmanad Bholanauth were gunned down; while others were injured as they tried to prevent the removal of the ballots. The People’s Progressive Party has since erected a monument in honour of their sacrifice.
Several party members and executives attended the event, including Members of Parliament, Faizal M. Jaffarally and Dr. Vishwa Mahadeo; former Region Six Chairman, Zulfikar Mustapha; and Region Six Chairman, David Armogan.
Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee recalled that the two young men who were honoured were part of the party’s hall of heroes. He said that the young men “walked the walk, when the fight for free and fair elections was at its height. 1973 was a very critical year for all those who were fighting to ensure that their votes were counted.
Mr. Forbes Burnham, who was the PNC leader, decided that he was not going to take chance with the ballot boxes”. The ballot boxes were brought to one central counting place in Georgetown, “at Queen’s College, where they would count the votes…mix the votes…change the votes to suit them and in 1973 Dr. Jagan called on all of his supporters, to defend the ballot boxes” and ensure they have the boxes under watchful eyes all the time.
The history of the PPP, Michael Forde and many others therefore, must never be removed from the history books of the country, he said.
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