| …present evidence fuelling allegations – AFCWhile promising a more comprehensive response at a later date Leader of the Alliance for Change Raphael Trotman,John Hannah Patriots Jersey UK, says that the President is daily illustrating to all and sundry why he is unfit to lead the nation.The ACF leader said that it is evident in his spurious, baseless statements and accusations that are made by President Bharrat Jagdeo.The ACF leader also called on the President to present the evidence fuelling his many accusations against the party and its members.He said that it is disappointed again in the President’s demeanor in fending off accusations.After a special caucus on Friday evening at the Guyana International Conference Centre to discuss the free movement of people and goods across the Caribbean Community (CARICOM),Greg Lloyd Steelers Jersey UK, Jagdeo flayed the Alliance for Change (AFC) for its statements that questioned Guyana’s democracy.The AFC, and a few other groups, placed full-page advertisements in the newspapers on Thursday and Friday last criticizing the Barbadian immigration policy and accusing Government of cronyism and financial skullduggery.On the immigration row,Brett Favre Falcons Jersey UK, the President insisted that political parties have to act in the best interest of the people and try to avoid public hysteria and using complex regional issues for political purposes.“I think Raphael Trotman and the AFC are using this issue politically.The last thing I want is for that to happen. The Government doesn’t have that luxury,” Jagdeo told media operatives.He noted that Guyana will ensure that the Government of Barbados lives up to its Treaty obligations,Mike Webster Steelers Jersey UK, but it must be recognized that Barbados is a sovereign state and there is only so much that Guyana is entitled to ask.“We can’t determine the immigration policies of Barbados outside of those that are provided for by the revised Treaty of Chaguaramas,” he said, but insisted that he will persist in his efforts to ensure Guyanese are treated fairly and with dignity.On the criticisms of his Administration, the President was adamant that Guyana is one of the most democratic countries in this hemisphere. “Of the 192 countries in the world, we’re in the top 30 for the freedom of the press,Patrick Chung Patriots Jersey UK,” he stated.The Head of State explained that the AFC’s antics were intended to create an impression among Heads of Government that Guyana is violating democratic norms.However,Ra Shede Hageman Falcons Jersey UK, he pointed out that his fellow CARICOM leaders are wise politicians, and recognised that the AFC is trying to exploit the occasion of the 30th CARICOM Heads of Government Conference.President Jagdeo was also critical of the integrity of the AFC noting that there are still unanswered questions concerning funding for the party and the honesty of Khemraj Ramjattan, the party’s other co-leader.“Until now, they’ve not answered us about the substantial donation that they got from a drug dealer,Tom Brady Patriots Jersey UK, the one who was exporting pepper sauce…and Ramjattan still needs to answer how as Member of Parliament, he got a duty-free concession and then he sold that duty-free concession, benefitting from that,” the Head of State said.This is not the first instance of such political manoeuvering by the AFC. During the Fifth Summit of the Americas held in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, the party had published a whole page advertisement on what it terms ‘state of affairs’ in Guyana in the Trinidad Express and locally.On that occasion,L.C. Greenwood Steelers Jersey UK, President Jagdeo had stated that the AFC attempt to embarrass his administration was unsuccessful. He had felt that because the party’s co-leader, Raphael Trotman was not part of Guyana’s delegation to the Fifth Summit of the Americas,Bart Starr Packers Jersey UK, he was offended. |
