Timehri North Community Council condemns alleged attack on Chinese

Oct 17, 2013 News

…says Government creating environment
The Timehri North Community Development Council (TNCDC) has condemned the reported robbery/assault committed against three Chinese nationals executing work related to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport expansion project.
The Chinese workers while conducting sand excavation work in the area were said to have been attacked by angry farmers whose crops were destroyed. The assailants were said to have had weapons. They reportedly relieved one of the Chinese nationals of a cell phone before inflecting minor injuries on them.
The Council said, however, that while it is against the alleged violent actions, the government has created an unfavourable situation within the community in which the Chinese are carrying out their work.
Community Chairman Daniel Fraser said, “While we condemn those alleged acts of violence and distance ourselves, we wish to state that the government continues, through the Ministry of Public Works, to act as though there is a consensus, based on discussions and dialogues, and that the residents who have inhabited these lands for generations, are inanimate beings.”
He said, “It is clear that the government is setting up those innocent immigrants to suffer hostility and possible harm by sending them in an environment that is caustic and where any act, as is being undertaken by the Chinese is seen as hostile.
In any civilized human environment where there is a threat to livelihood and civility one would tend to act in a manner to protect that which he/she has sacrificed for. And given the moralistic and educational degradation that engulfs our society, the results of such apprehension are easily calculated, thus, our conclusion of the Government setting up the Chinese immigrants.”
Additionally, the actions of the government will inevitably lead to tensions and clashes between the residents and the Chinese workers, Fraser said.
“The government has to take full responsibility for any clashes that erupt because it is pushing both sides into confrontation. The logical conclusion has to be that the government is deliberately fomenting strife and conflict; something that is not only imbecilic but dangerous and irresponsible.”
The Chairman emphasized, “To date, the Government of Guyana has not approached the community representative body to discuss any plan, nor have they afforded any avenue for any such discussion. Instead, the Minister of Public Works attempts to divide the community, at his convenience, to dislodge a duly elected and representative Community Based Organisation (TNCDC) for obvious reasons.
“It is clear that that strategy does not augers well for the supposed development, proffered as national by the government and a few of its beneficiaries.”
“While using this opportunity to disassociate ourselves and our community, as a whole, from this and any other act that may be contemplated by persons inclined to crime and other forms of violence, we call upon the powers that be, to speak to this senseless imbecilic intrusion of the Works Ministry.
“We call on the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security and the Child Protection Agency among other related and relevant organisations, to see into this injustice, appease these farmers and the families that are so dependant of the livelihood that is being destroyed before their very eyes, and advise the Minister that a new and inclusionary approach, preferably by the Ministry of Housing should be employed.”
Meanwhile, the TNCDC is undertaking an appropriate plan based on best practices and acceptable standards to present an outline of ‘An Involuntary Relocation Plan’ which will be presented to the Ministries of Housing, Human Services and the Finance, as well as to the Parliamentary Opposition Parties for their consideration and action.

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