Opposition disrupts President’s address in National Assembly- PM calls it display of hooliganism
DPI, Guyana, Thursday, November 2, 2017
As President David Granger addressed the 71st Sitting of the National Assembly, on November 2, 2017, the Opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) held up placards, shouted and heckled throughout, in protest.
The President, despite the uproar delivered his speech, where he highlighted measures implemented by the Government over the years and outlined plans for further advancement of the economy, as the Administration work towards ensuring the “good life” for all Guyanese.
Members of the Opposition chanting and holding placards aloft as they protested during the 71st Sitting Parliament.
Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, in a special interview following the President’s address expressed dissatisfaction with the Opposition’s behaviour in the National Assembly, noting that the Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo has brought himself down to a lower level.
He said that, “I think he [President David Granger] battled on today as a real soldier inspite of an unusual and unprecedented outburst of political hooliganism in the House, I think Mr. Jagdeo has attempted to turn the National Assembly into an arena of domestic terrorism thinking he could intimidate the President of the Republic of Guyana from delivering his charge to the National Assembly.”
The Prime Minister further expressed that, “To hide behind a slogan of rigged elections was infantile, but of course… personally, I didn’t expect any different from Bharrat Jagdeo and his political hordes in the National Assembly.”
The Opposition, according to several ministers of Government, not only displayed a high level of disrespect for the Head of State but also a negative image as representatives of the people and further did so in the presence of the diplomatic community.
Minister of Public Telecommunications, Catherine Hughes described their behaviour as unproductive, “Because the Parliament is supposed to be one place where we could have informed intelligent discussions and therefore to see it denigrated in such a manner…my distress is that the People of Guyana did not get to hear the content [President’s address]as clearly as they should have.”
Her sentiments were supported by Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Sydney Allicock, who noted that, “If we are truly interested in the development of Guyana and the unification of this nation, then we need to put all of our efforts in building that confidence of our People. I think the Opposition had the opportunity to do that over the 23 years and at least they should have listened to the President instead of behaving in the gutter politics, we should now become more matured and realise we have a beautiful country to manage.”
Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes also shared her views on the Opposition’s display, noting that, “to demonstrate that kind of disrespect is an insult to themselves. I feel embarrassed for them, I know that the PPP are a wild bunch of people…but to come and demonstrate the level of wildness here…it’s horrible. It is the President we are talking about. The diplomatic corps know about Bharrat Jagdeo and his behaviour, but where’s the pride for us Guyanese?”
Among the diplomats that were present in the House were United States Ambassador to Guyana, Perry Holloway, Canadian High Commissioner, Lilian Chatterjee, British High Commissioner, Greg Quinn and Mexican Ambassador, Ivan Roberto Sierra-Medel, who watched on in amusement.
Several prominent Guyanese have also expressed disgust and disappointment at the stance taken by the Opposition, as the President addressed the House. Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr. Barton Scotland banged his gavel several times during the address, but the Opposition refused to heed his appeal.
The next sitting of the House is scheduled for November 17, 2017.
By: Stacy Carmichael