Outrageous abuse of Treasury, Constitution by PPP/C underscores need for change – AFC

Mar 04, 2015 News

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In spite of a series of criticisms that the coalition between A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance For

Change attracted, its members are asserting that the outrageous abuse of the National Treasury and the Constitution by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), underscores the need for an APNU-AFC government.
This sentiment was firmly articulated by AFC Chairman, Nigel Hughes on a recently televised programme on Channel 13. Accompanying him on that show was AFC Leader, Khemraj Ramjattan and Executive Member, Cathy Hughes.
Nigel Hughes was at the time, addressing the rumour that a certain “gang of five” in the AFC took it upon themselves to sign the Cummingsburg Accord with APNU, without properly consulting the party’s executive. Hughes made it clear that the AFC does not operate in any such manner when it comes to making decisions. He said that the AFC always ensures that it consults with all of its members.
Hughes said that there were intense discussions about the impact of the partnership and members carefully examined all of its options. He added that of the most critical issues taken into consideration by the AFC during its deliberations was how the People’s Progressive Party / Civic (PPP/C) had become so outrageous in abuse of the national purse and the Constitution.
The politician reminded that the Opposition recently benefitted from the acting Chief Justice’s ruling where he explicitly stated that government illegally spent $4.5B which the National Assembly disapproved. Hughes emphasized that even after this became known, Government by its actions showed that it was “no longer

interested in abiding by the laws of this country.”
Since the ruling, the AFC Chairman said that the nation has not received an apology from Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh for illegal spending billions of taxpayers’ dollars nor did it see the resignation of Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, who Hughes strongly believes, gave Dr. Singh the permission from a legal standpoint to spend the money.
“What we got after the ruling was arrogance and stubbornness from Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon, who had said that Ashni was right to spend the monies.  It is clear that government is no longer interested or bothered by the parameters of the Constitution,” the Attorney-at-Law added.
The AFC Chairman asserted that what the electorate is dealing with is a government “prepared to do whatever it wants” even in the face of the adverse court ruling. Hughes stressed that based on the actions of the PPP/C; the country is “being dragged to a dangerous place.”
AFC Executive Member, Cathy Hughes in giving her viewpoint, said that when one observes the inequity, the levels of corruption in Guyana, it is clear that better needs to be given to the citizenry. She asserted that Guyana is not a poor country. In fact, she opined that “this developing country is rich with resources but unfortunately, it is being poorly managed”.
The politician said on that basis, it is the primary purpose of the APNU-AFC partnership to kick the

government out of office and restore the country to one where the wealth is evenly distributed and transparency and accountability is restored.
With those thoughts in mind, she said that the new alliance plans to team up with several church organizations, unions, Non-Governmental Organizations, businesses, those disenfranchised with the PPP/C and others from all the different parties in Guyana to achieve a true government of national unity, once it is given the opportunity.
Ramjattan, in support of Hughes’ points said that since the alliance with APNU, it has been spreading the message throughout the length and breadth of the nation. Though he spoke with a hoarse tone, the AFC leader insisted that the job must be done for the purposes of explaining to the people why his party chose to join forces with APNU.
He reminded that while he did say at the AFC’s last national conference that he would try hard to get the leadership post of the pro-democracy negotiations, three weeks of very tough negotiations with APNU  resulted in what the nation has today.
“I want to say that it was not conceding anything, but compromising in the interest of the country. It’s true we didn’t get the Presidential candidacy, but we were dealing with a party that is far larger than AFC. They (APNU) had about 136,000 votes at the last election and they command a very big set of support and AFC only got as you know 36 to 37,000 votes, but the final product was fine tuned to the extent of what we spoke about … constitutional arrangements that we will do down the line. That is, we will reduce the powers of the President and give more to the Prime Minister, and it was a wonderful thing when Opposition Leader, David Granger indicated that lots more powers will be delegated to the Prime Ministerial post,” Ramjattan explained.
The AFC Leader said it is a certainty more than a probability that the new partnership will win the next elections. He emphasized that the PPP/C is “right down in relation to credibility and integrity.”
He stressed that those who were in doubt, “have come to realize the thievery and corruption the PPP/C is involved in, and to that extent the government is in bad shape.”
Ramjattan insisted that it is about time, the country is given a government that is serious about restoring democracy and cleansing the nation of the financial lawlessness that occurs under the current administration.

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