A question for Speaker Trotman and Opposition Leader, Granger

Dec 02, 2012 Letters

Dear Editor,
During the last sitting of the National Assembly, members of the People’s Parliament stood outside the gate with their picket and were greeted with hostility by Commander Vyphuis. His anger was that the picketers went beyond the barricades. He sent for a truckload of policemen. They came armed to the teeth but before their arrival, the picketers were persuaded by other members of the People’s Parliament to move and go beyond the barriers
This is nonsense. Parliament passed a motion for the removal of these obstacles. Three Parliamentarians, two from APNU and one from AFC, came out and spoke with the picketers. But it was Opposition Leader, David Granger who walked over to Mr. Vyphuis. I walked beside Mr. Granger and witnessed the conversation. Mr. Granger enquired why the barriers were still up and Vyphuis assured him the barricade was retained after consultation with the Speaker and the Speaker agreed because security was the main issue. Mr. Granger then told Mr. Vyphuis that he would talk to the Speaker
Did the Speaker agree to the continuation of the blockade because of security? If that is so why then did the Speaker write the Police Commissioner asking for the blockade to be discontinued? It was the Speaker who sent a copy of his letter to the People’s Parliament. If the Speaker did not acquiesce to the security argument it means that he could not have told Commander Vyphuis so. Mr. Granger can testify that Mr. Vyphuis did say the Speaker conceded to the continuation of the barriers. Can Mr. Granger indicate if he did have a word with the Speaker?
When the Parliamentarians were driving in, some members of the People’s Parliament did exclaim in their presence that if the motion to remove the barriers is tossed aside then why should the opposition persist with the Rohee motion. Some of us in the People’s Parliament feel that is it a situation of crass opportunism. You pass a motion to remove the blockade around Parliament, the Government ignores it. You pass a motion against Mr. Rohee, the Government ignores it too but you stay over the barriers but raising hell over Rohee
Is it because the Rohee battle will give the opposition more publicity, more mileage, but not the fight over the blockade? Aren’t principles at the heart of both issues? If the opposition is not interested in a war to end the blockade then why did they waste the taxpayers’ money by introducing and debating the blockade motion in the first place? I end with a little hilarious incident.

I got locked inside my car last Friday. I couldn’t open the driver’s door from inside. I couldn’t push my hand through the driver’s window and open it from outside because a year now the driver’s window malfunctioned and remains in an upward position, meaning it cannot come down.
I went to the electrical technicians at Camp and Princess Streets. They are always busy people so you have to wait. I saw a friend come in with car troubles too and he was immaculately dressed. I said to him, “You look like a Parliamentarian.” He replied; “Freddie, are you insulting me, I work for the money I earn.” If our opposition parliamentarians only know the widespread cynicism that exists out there for them. But poor people, they wouldn’t know about it because when they greet citizens, the Guyanese people are usually polite to them .and wouldn’t tell then their true feelings
Frederick Kissoon

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A question for Speaker Trotman and Opposition Leader, Granger

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