APNU signs off on NCN ‘corruption’ debates

Aug 28, 2012 News

– Challenges Irfaan Ali statement on CJIA expansion

The country’s main opposition, the coalition A Partnership National Unity (APNU), yesterday said it would no longer participate in the so-called ‘“corruption” debates by the state-owned TV NCN, calling it an exercise to suit the fancies of the government, with officials misleading the public on key issues.
Joseph Harmon, a Member of Parliament for APNU, has sought to challenge Minister Irfaan Ali, who on Sunday’s programme stated that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had advised that there is need for an Environmental Impact Assessment for the expansion project for the Cheddi Jagan International Airport.
Harmon has since written the EPA and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) for clarification.
Further, Harmon said residents have refuted claims by Ministers Ali and Robeson Benn that they were consulted. An estimated 2,500 residents of North Timehri have been told they have to relocate.
Harmon said that airport officials driving around and handing out eviction letters does not constitute consultations.
Further, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, also a Member of Parliament for APNU, said there is much more that needs to be told about the airport expansion plan.
“It needs far more ventilation, far more public exposure of the modalities, including the financial modalities and the environmental and social impacts; and we are absolutely appalled that they could be contemplating what they are contemplating without the necessary requirements,” Dr Roopnarine stated.
Harmon stated that it is IDB rules which state that in any project, the need for resettlement should be avoided, but if not, it must be ensured that the affected population can achieve an equivalent or improved standard of living within a reasonable time.
Further, he said that there must be full compensation for all transitional losses and that there must be a minimizing of the disruption of social networks and economic opportunities.
Dr Roopnaraine said that if it is that the residents have to be removed, a relocation plan must be settled with them.
But whatever the issue, APNU does not believe the government-run debate is the place for issues to be debated.
“We wish to make it absolutely clear that we are prepared to debate the Government on any issue as it relates to National Development as you have seen us do in the National Assembly. However, we will not be caught in an ambush set by the PPP/C Government and executed by NCN Channel 11,” Lurlene Nestor, an official of APNU stated.
After the first series of debates in which Mr. Carl Greenidge represented APNU, Nestor said it became clear to the party that the entire format was flawed.
“This in addition to other issues which we subsequently raised with NCN informed a decision by the Leadership Council of APNU not to participate in these debates,” she stated.
Opposition Leader David Granger had recommended several issues to be discussed, namely, “the University of Guyana crisis, the Linden security crisis, the riverain and road infrastructure crisis, the local government and municipal crisis, the Georgetown Nursing School crisis, the Hinterland Secondary schools’ crisis, the appointment of Diplomats in the Guyana’s Foreign Service, reforming of the Guyana Police Force, the establishment of a tripartite budget committee, the appointment of judges in the Guyana’s judiciary, social protection for vulnerable citizens, and the collective bargaining in the public sector.”
However, APNU said that “NCN in its own wisdom decided to locate all the issues/crisis within a narrow framework of corruption.”

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