Jagdeo condemns Opposition’s vile remarks towards party crossovers – INews Guyana
In recent weeks, the most derogatory remarks have been made against Guyanese who have switched their support from several opposition parties to the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP).
Majority of those comments were racist remarks from long-serving members of the Peoples National Congress (PNC) and its coalition partners including the Working Peoples Alliance (WPA).
General Secretary of the PPP Dr Bharrat Jagdeo on Thursday condemned those remarks, noting that they are “some of the vilest expressions coming from the other side.”
In an appearance on the social media programme, “Buxtonian Morning Time” hosted by Kidackie Amsterdam on Friday last, former Finance Minister, Winston Jordan said Opposition Member of Parliament (MP), Geeta Chandan-Edmond’s endorsement of President Dr. Irfaan Ali is a betrayal to the Afro-Guyanese whose votes elected her to serve in the National Assembly.
Similar sentiments were expressed by WPA’s David Hinds who said PNC’s Daniel Seeram, Chairman of Region Four who has also endorsed President Dr Irfaan Ali for a second term, was granted his post as “ethnic window-dressing” or solely because he is Indian.
The racist remarks were never condemned by APNU leader Aubrey Norton. When asked for a response, Norton in fact said; “We know what his beliefs are, we will work together, but there is no way we will condemn David…When his views conflict, we will have to deal with it.”
Jagdeo on Thursday told reporters that the opposition’s views of members who switched sides is reflective of how they view people.
“That is how they see people…they can never get past that, not to see people as comrades, as brothers in a party or family [like] we see people in our party,” he emphasised.
In the past, Afro-Guyanese who threw their support behind President Ali were also called names including “house slaves” by Hinds.
“Everything is about race… so if you’re Afro-Guyanese and you come to the PPP, you are called all sorts of names, it is so vile, and then the Indian ones who might have supported the AFC or PNC in the past, if they decide to support the PPP or anyone else, it is suddenly ‘oh we expected that from them, they always duplicitous’ never to see people for who they are or contributions they make,” the PPP General Secretary noted.
He pointed out that the PPP respects people for the contributions they make to the development of the country.
Jagdeo alluded to the lack of concrete plans from the opposition, highlighting that some believe people should remain bound to the party because of their ethnic origin.
“Not because of policy, not because of plan, not because of anything else, not because it is good for you and your own future, you must remain wedded to this party even if they are a sinking ship or if they have no future [but] just because of race,” he contended.
