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Jagdeo wants to feel relevant – APNU+AFC
Executive members of A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) sought to
Former President Bharrat Jagdeo
set the record straight yesterday on the grouping’s position on development in Guyana. They also targeted comments by former President Bharrat Jagdeo on the relationship between the two opposition partners.
Jagdeo had said that the AFC will be cheated in the Cummingsburg Accord it signed with the APNU and too late shall be its cry.
However, AFC’s co-founder, Raphael Trotman, confidently stated during a press conference that it is comfortable and happy with its marriage with the APNU.
“We are very positive and comfortable. I have seen the chemistry between APNU+AFC Presidential Candidate, David Granger, and Prime Ministerial Candidate, Moses Nagamootoo. They are relaxed with each other. Jagdeo has no moral authority to speak to anyone about anything relating to deceit and about persons who are going to be deceived or anything of that nature because his track record speaks for itself.
“The nation needs to know whether it is former President Bharrat Jagdeo or PPP/C Presidential Candidate, Donald Ramotar, running for President because I saw Jagdeo challenging people to debates on his tenure and coming front and centre as if he is overshadowing Ramotar. The public needs to know.”
Trotman, House Speaker until the recent dissolution, said that on Thursday, there was every attempt to have the legal case with regard to the amendment of the two-term limit, heard.
“And someone with very deep pockets seems to be driving the agenda to having the case heard,” Trotman added.
He said, too, that given Jagdeo’s behaviour in the lead up to May 11, one would get the distinct impression that there are “two people saying I want to be President.”
APNU General Secretary, Joseph Harmon, said that the political opposition invited the former President to many debates regarding his tenure and he was like a ghost.
“We don’t have time to waste responding to Jagdeo’s call for someone to respond to his challenge for a debate. We don’t have time, breath and energy to waste helping Jagdeo feel relevant. Our time is going to be dedicated to the people. It is pitiful that Jagdeo suddenly wants to feel relevant in the dying days of the PPP/C.”
Come Sunday, the political opposition is expected to take its rally to Whim, Corentyne which was once, a faithful stronghold of the PPP/C over the years. However, the APNU+AFC said that its candidates are fully prepared for the battle ahead.
Trotman said, “As you would know, we are running a different campaign this time around where we launched in Linden then we are taking it to Berbice and we are confident that based on all that we are feeling that we will have a successful rally.
We know there are going to be attempts to disrupt us but the Moses Nagamootoo I know relishes that kind of challenge. It’s like iron sharpening iron. He performed well and did not wilt in New York and will not in Whim, Port Mourant, Skeldon or any place. We are vigilant and we invite people to come and witness the rallies.”
APNU+AFC also sought to emphasize that it is not against development. In fact, Trotman said that the party wants to see Guyana with a deep water harbour, a road leading to Brazil, hydro power and even a new airport.
What it detests however, is the poor implementation of such developmental projects and the infractions of the law by companies in the extractive sector.
This response was given after Kaieteur News asked the party to explain what it plans to do with mining and logging companies it has been awfully critical of as it relates to alleged abuses in that sector.
The AFC Executive member emphasized that while proper reviews have to be done, and the stamping out of malpractices, effected under the new government, it is not here to discriminate.
“We have nothing against mining or logging but it must be sustainable and done in such a manner that it benefits the people. We are against bad practices and where they exist we will eradicate them. We have nothing against development, but it must be done in an equitable manner and must not destroy our environment,” he added.
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