Flag raising incident…

Mar 01, 2018 News

C’ton Town Council threatens to file complaint with diplomatic community

Councillors at Wednesday’s statutory meeting

The Corriverton Town Council at its monthly statutory meeting with councillors representing the opposition and a group representing the APNU/AFC yesterday collectively decided to inform the international community (ABC countries, Diplomatic Commission in Guyana and the Caribbean Local Government Authority) and seek clarity as it relates to the interference of the police at last Thursday’s flag-raising ceremony at Republic Square, Corriverton, Berbice.
This will be done with the aim of seeking clarification as to where the instructions came from to halt the proceedings and whether they were lawful. However, one councillor representing the APNU/AFC abstained from the discussion.
He, however, commented on the lack of protocol on behalf of the town councils and the Ministry of Local Government. They did not provide a written response.
The Council condemned what took place at the event and has decided that it will be seeking further clarification whether events, as such can be observed by the town council on its own behalf or whether the council would have to seek guidance from the government.
What was also brought to the table was the idea to have the event moved from the location it has been over the years to the Town Council compound. This was based on the notion that there may be less interference from the police or otherwise.
The council made it clear that the decision was undemocratic and that the council should have been allowed to carry through the programme.
There were 12 councillors present at the meeting yesterday. Two occupied the APNU/AFC seats on the council.
Also present during the statutory meeting as an observer was Derek Basdeo, AFC Executive Member. He was reportedly sent on instructions from Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan.
Last Thursday, the flag raising ceremony that was expected to take place in Corriverton did not happen after it was reported by the Mayor of the Township, Krishnand Jaichand, that instructions were given by Minister of Social Protection Amna Ally to the Commander of B’ Division Lyndon Alves, to stop the proceedings from going on.
The issue stemmed from the town council refusing to have Ramjattan as the featured speaker at the event. Initially the Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan was invited as a speaker on the programme. He never responded to the invitation, the Mayor had stated. They only received a call three days prior to the activity stating that Minister Ramjattan will be there instead.
The public address systems were seized, the drummers were instructed not to perform, children who had prepared their cultural presentations for weeks prior to the event were prevented from stepping on to the stage to perform and the Mayor was denied the right to address those gathered on instructions from the police that night.
The former Mayor Ganesh Gangadin was also escorted off stage by the police.

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