“He is still our president” – NTC Chairman tells 13th Toshaos conference
─ urged village leaders to remain united
DPI, Guyana, Tuesday, October 8, 2019
Chairman of the National Toshaos’ Council (NTC), Nicholas Fredricks, on Monday afternoon, scolded the political opposition, who he said were blatant in their disrespect for His Excellency, President David Granger.
Chairman of the National Toshaos Council, Nicholas Fredricks.
The Head of State had delivered the feature address at the opening ceremony of the 13th National Toshaos’ Conference (NTC) at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC), Lillendaal. However, upon his ascension to the podium, a small number of opposition leaders refused to stand.
The NTC Chairman said the opposition’s action was disrespectful. “We are here for a conference. It is protocol that when His Excellency, for any country, gets up to make a presentation, that we all stand. He is still our President. No one else was sworn in. He is our Executive President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana,” Fredricks emphasised.
He said for the opposition to be sitting while “the Indigenous Peoples” were standing, leaves much to be desired. “What message is that sending to us? To me, it is a sign of disrespect to the executive leader of our country.”
The NTC chair also chided the opposition politicians for circulating invitations to an Opposition Leader reception, when the Head of State had extended an invitation for an event on Monday evening at State House.
“Don’t let us be divided. I know we all have our political affiliation, but when we come to the conference here, we come as one people and we are going one way,” Fredricks stated.