GTUC condemns PPP’s fear and smear political campaign
The GTUC calls on the PPP to stop its fear and smear political campaign. The statement by Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon that the government is worried about the influx of former military officers to support the opposition party in the lead up to the May 11th polls is feigned indignation to continue its divide and rule policy, to divert attention, so as not to be held accountable for their stewardship. The PPP clearly demonstrates that it is prepared to continue using the military as a political football where they play both the challenging team and the defending team.
When in opposition they labelled the police as Burnham and Hoyte police and laid every bad deed or unprofessional conduct by every police squarely at the feet of the PNC and added a racial and repressive motive. There always was and always will be good and bad policemen and women. This is universal, yet the PPP propaganda has led this nation to believe that because the police were more of one ethnic make-up they were working against those of another ethnic make-up who were largely PPP supporters. They accused PNC administrations of denying Indians opportunity to serve in the military yet 23 years after they are in government the military looks like the same military of early post-independence. Nothing has changed.
As a matter of fact a careful look over the last years will reveal how the military has served the PPP administration in every regard. Today under the Jagdeo/Ramotar leadership the country has become a police state, and the excesses of rouge cops continue in furtherance of the these men’s agenda to govern by decree and fear. These police show intolerance to dissent even at this time of elections and are prepared to silence election activists arresting and charging them on willy nilly offences such as charge against Vanessa Kissoon who faced the court for insulting one of the PPP members Joe Hamilton.
The military of Guyana as a whole has demonstrated that it is professional in its outlook and prepared to serve the government of the day, the people of this country and not, if any, an opposition political master as they carry out daily duties. Yet these largely professional men and women continue to suffer abuse and distrust under a PPP led administration.
Today the political football game continues as we approach elections. Dr. Roger Luncheon Head of the Presidential Secretariat and Secretary to the Defence Board, in expressing concern over the military, their votes and making innuendos to the integrity of the military, linking these now to the APNU and the presence of a number of retired military members, is stoking fire of fear and smear.
The Ramotar/Jagdeo leadership continues its hell bent obsession in eroding fundamental rights and freedoms of the individual. Yesterday it was the attack on freedom of expression. Today it is the attack on the right to freedom of association. GTUC asks the question-What right or freedom would be under attack tomorrow?
Nothing could be more ludicrous than if this nation allows Luncheon and the PPP to continue the demonisation of retired men and women of the military based on their inalienable right to freedom of association enshrined in the Constitution. Nothing could be more ludicrous than if this nation allows the Ramotar regime to question or cast aspersions on the right of any serving member of the military to vote for a government of their choice. Guyana must not allow the PPP to continue to demonise and discriminate against sectors they believe are not loyal to them, more so our military who are required to give impartial service and protection to all Guyanese.
The military vote is no different, to the votes of the agricultural sector, predominantly the cane-cutters of Guysuco who have traditionally voted PPP. Using PPP logic, should the Opposition and the people of Guyana be concerned about this and become fearful of traversing villages known to be predominantly cane cutters? Should there be corresponding call for a separation of the votes of GuySuCo workers and should there be a separation of votes by all sectors?
The Jagdeo/Ramotar leadership is playing a dangerous game with the citizens and workers in their continued divide and rule policy in efforts to take spotlight off of their stewardship of this country as they continue to run roughshod over the people and plunder the nation’s resources. This new military nonsense of Luncheon is another effort to demoralise and justify undermining the development of the military to provide 21st century service.
GTUC notes even as the PPP is engaging in its fear and smear campaign of our military workers they have active military men and women wearing PPP t-shirts and campaigning for them off duty, operating in Linden and all around Guyana, and soliciting some police to do their dirty bidding. Luncheon talks about men none of whom are active.
GTUC calls for a political campaign on substance, not silliness and fear mongering to energise a broken people. Bharrat Jagdeo and Donald Ramotar and their team must allow this nation to live in peace and harmony during elections and under any administration.
