Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo in a press statement issued earlier today stood by comments he made at an event in New York where he spoke about alleged racial and political discrimination by the government, the lack of an economic plan, taxation polices and a host of other issues which are presently affecting Guyanese citizens.
“I find it strange that a Government would release a lengthy statement based on a short clip of a section of the comments I made in New York. What is stranger is that the comments I made in New York were no different to the ones I have made in Guyana – at press conferences and on the campaign trail in the lead up to the March 2016 Local Government elections. I spoke to the issues of racial and political discrimination, the lack of an economic plan, the taxation policies, as well as the repressive laws that have been advanced and the threats to local democracy under the APNU+AFC Coalition”.
Jagdeo also lashed back at Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo saying that no spin can hide the facts.
“I am inclined to believe that the Nagamootoo-styled statement has more to do with the reception given to me by thousands of people, representing the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) – in contrast to the small crowd and protest actions that greeted him”, Jagdeo added.
Following is the full statement:
A statement, tainted by traces of Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, seeks to condemn my international exposure of actions advanced by the A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Coalition – actions that affect all our people.
And I find it strange that a Government would release a lengthy statement based on a short clip of a section of the comments I made in New York. What is stranger is that the comments I made in New York were no different to the ones I have made in Guyana – at press conferences and on the campaign trail in the lead up to the March 2016 Local Government elections. I spoke to the issues of racial and political discrimination, the lack of an economic plan, the taxation policies, as well as the repressive laws that have been advanced and the threats to local democracy under the APNU+AFC Coalition.
Despite the charges made, my record on bolstering racial harmony and advancing equal development across the country, regardless of race, speaks for itself. That is not a position I need to defend. However, I have spoken out and will continue to speak out about the injustices against our people.
I am inclined to believe that the Nagamootoo-styled statement has more to do with the reception given to me by thousands of people, representing the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) – in contrast to the small crowd and protest actions that greeted him.
While Nagamootoo claims that the Coalition’s policies are geared to deliver the ‘good life’ to all Guyanese and touts social cohesion, he ignores the reality of many of our Guyanese people – the thousands of young Amerindians who were fired, the many Indo-Guyanese removed from their jobs, the assault on the sugar industry and the non-support of the rice and mining sectors.
No spin by Nagamootoo can hide these facts, in the same way that the fig leaf of social cohesion cannot hide the actions of the Coalition Government.
The Prime Minister talks up what Jaganites would do, but he – as a hypocritically ‘self-professed Jaganite’ – has positioned himself to defend the murder of Dr Walter Rodney, years of rigged elections and denial of democracy in Guyana for years under the People’s National Congress (PNC) – the same PNC that is the majority partner of the Coalition.
The only thing in the Prime Minister’s portfolio, as evidenced recently, seems to be making statements to attack the PPP. Further this ‘self-professed Jaganite’ only issues press releases, while he enjoys the luxuries of $45M of renovations to his residence, $20M in furnishings, $22M for a new vehicle, a $1.7M salary and another $8M per month for security and other costs – contrast that with the plight of our people.
The Coalition Government fails to recognise that its policies and actions do not only hurt people perceived to be supportive of the political Opposition, but all Guyanese across the country.
Jagan’s party is strong and will defend the rights of the Guyanese people.
Quite agree with uou. Matters not how some suffer they will still support APNU.
Jagdeo,almost everything you and your PPP party did,hurt people.Paying public servants 6% at year-end every year for years,retroactive from January hurt people,and they realized this the following year,when they had to pay their bills,introducing the VAT hurt people,HEAVY TAXATION GENERALLY hurt people.I believe,you and your PPP party hurt people the most,in this country called Guyana.Only FOOLS won`t believe it.
I still cannot understand why he is not in jail as yet.
Pat!
You need to ask former PNC Finance Minister Hope to return the LOOT money he stole from the Guyana Treasury under the Burnham Dictatorial Regime, or why Petty Tyrant Burnham was the 5th richest Black man on the Planet while ordinary Guyanese were starving?
White Mouth Guyanese will always support the PNC regime even if they have to suffer!
Its actually true Patrick. The only reason there is not a riot is coz the ppl that usually riot put apnu in power!
Only the indian people do not creat riot.The world is aware of the huge pay hike and other benefits nagamotoo and the rest of ministers recieved as soon as he took office while the poore people are left empty handed to suffer.
Have u been sleeping or pretending?
Jagdeo knows well enough what he is doing. Moses Nagamootoo knows well enough what he is doing. Granger has no idea how the Indians fight each other, the only thing he would know is that in 2020 he failed the honest committed people of this land, while he allowed the draconian people of this country to continue as they are currently doing, destroying. Fed up with the Coalition Government.
jagdeo is a notorious liar there is no way that country can afford to pay any prime minister that kind of money e.g a car worth US $100.000 , security $40,000 US per month $225,000 towards renovation of his house and so on man their would be a riot in that country if that was true.