The People’s Progressive Party says it is deeply concerned at the vehemence of the opposition’s reaction to President Bharrat Jagdeo’s visit and meeting in Buxton.
In a statement yesterday, the ruling party was critical of what it labelled as “wild accusations” by leading opposition spokespersons who in the party’s view have shown clearly that they have no interest in promoting inter-ethnic understanding and unity among all the people in Guyana.
According to the PPP, this has demonstrated that all the talk about power-sharing by the opposition parties and personalities is fundamentally insincere and what they are more interested in are deals to promote their personal agendas.
The PPP also expressed surprise that “those same forces are once again trying to blame the PPP and government for the criminal seizure of Buxton after the February 23, 2002 jail breaks.”
The PPP said there was only one political party that frequented Buxton in that time and “many of the leaders were actually rubbing shoulders with the criminals who used the village as its base.”
Moreover, the PPP maintained, “few of those making hysterical noises now said anything of the abuse that many ordinary Buxtonians had to face at the hands of the politically-sponsored criminals who took over the village.”
The ruling party recalled that many Buxtonians were gunned down in cold blood, women were raped and there was the burning of homes of persons in the village who dared to utter any word of displeasure, and all of this took place amidst the “resounding silence of the PNCR and some others in the opposition.”
The PPP further stated that since it took office, Buxton has experienced many gains in the building up of its infrastructure and more roads, schools, health clinics have been made available to the people of that village than during the whole period of PNC rule.
The PPP noted that President Jagdeo in his remarks during his visit to Buxton last week had mentioned how closely the Cabinet has been following developments in that village. He also mentioned the ongoing efforts of the PPP/Civic administration to accelerate Buxton’s village economy which was seriously harmed by the criminal enterprise that was centrally directed, the PPP statement added.
It is clear, according to the PPP, that “the overwhelming welcome that President Jagdeo received is deeply worrying the opposition.”
However, the PPP insisted that it will not be deterred by the outbursts.
“We will continue to work in every part of Guyana to strengthen the socio-economic conditions of our people. We have always advocated equal rights for all our people and all communities,” the PPP said.
The PPP said it will not be sidetracked in its work to build national unity in the country and the party urged that all Guyanese “ignore the doomsayers and work in unity to make our country peaceful, prosperous, united and free,” the statement added.
