Hundreds of protesters seized the opportunity to break through police barriers after being addressed Opposition Leader David Granger, to move their action directly opposite Parliament Building, when word of the President’s decision to prorogue Parliament began to spread yesterday.
The placard-bearing animated group chanted “follow the leader” and ignored police officers who asked them to remain behind barricades. They were briefly joined by some Alliance for Change (AFC) Members of Parliament, as slogans of no confidence in the government and the call for local government elections were being voiced.
At approximately 12:20 hrs, what commenced as a gathering of a few score at Brickdam and Avenue of the Republic with placards calling for the resignation of Attorney General Anil Nandlall and the expression of no confidence in the Donald Ramotar administration, morphed into hundreds rhythmically prancing as they chanted anti-government slogans.
Although protesters refused to comment on their participation, many held out their placards and chanted what they read. “Anil must go…,” shouted a riled-up woman, referencing comments made by the AG about a Kaieteur News female reporter, during his publicized telephone conversation with a senior reporter of the newspaper. Other placards simply called for his resignation and labelled what he did as being “disrespectful” to women.
Meanwhile, those privy to the declaration to prorogue Parliament, displayed slogans such as “yes to democracy – no to dictatorship,” and “shame from pro-democracy to pro-rogues.”
In an invited comment, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament, Ronald Bulkan told Stabroek News that with regard to the President’s decision to prorogue Parliament, “it is not the opposition that is expressing no confidence in him, it is the electorate that did so three years ago in 2011, when they told him that he does not enjoy a majority in this National Assembly.” Moreover, the parliamentarian opined that the message the electorate was sending Ramotar, was one of inclusivity that they require a consensus government and that the electorate “are turning their backs and rejecting winner takes all politics.”
He said the opposition has been “tolerant and kind” to Ramotar, in allowing him three years to try to build consensus.
Furthermore, Bulkan said, “the discredited Nandlall” in sections of the media stated that the President’s decision will be a mechanism to allow the two sides to speak. However, the APNU Member of Parliament said, “It is impossible, we cannot speak under duress,” as he opined that there is no sincerity in the Ramotar administration. “He will be behaving like a naked dictator and I don’t believe that the people will take too kindly to him trying to operate a government in hiding… He will have to face the heat.”
He described those gathered as concerned citizens, many of whom were APNU supporters. He stated that people are concerned that their democratic rights are being taken away. “We’ve moved pass an authoritative era, this country is not going to go back to an authoritarian rule so Mr Ramotar should put that in his pipe and smoke it.”
Opposition Leader David Granger, addressing a few protestors earlier at the corner of Brickdam and Avenue of the Republic, expressed the view that the government was “planning to give themselves time to conduct their general elections campaign. Ramotar is trampling on the constitution… on the people’s right for their representative to go into the National Assembly and be heard.” That, he opined, was a travesty.
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Additionally, the opposition leader told members of the media that a realistic option for the government was the revocation of the proclamation to prorogue Parliament.
Granger said that the president is going to see protest following his decision. “We are going to encourage all Guyanese, civil society, trade unions, and religious organizations to come out and protest against this travesty.”
Following an hour and a half of protest and after the arrival of opposition members of parliament, AFC members emerged from Parliament Building with placards calling for the resignation of the government and also expressing no confidence in the Ramotar administration.
The prorogation of parliament prevented the moving of the no confidence motion against the government, which was on yesterday’s agenda. However, yesterday opposition members said the motion will be brought to Parliament whenever it reconvenes.
After the MPs entered Parliament, the protesters braved the sun which came out in all its glory and marched to the drums of Ras Leon Saul in a circle, until the meeting ended at about 3 pm.
Among those present at the protest were Deputy Mayor Patricia Chase-Green and political activist Freddie Kissoon.
