– PNCR says no intention to interrupt festival
Government yesterday described the attempt to disrupt the launch of Carifesta X on Wednesday night as “unpatriotic”, saying this most recent development by the opposition begs the question, “where would it end.”
Government spokesman Dr Roger Luncheon made the assertions at his post cabinet media briefing yesterday in response to queries from reporters. He said that even though protest action was legitimate in Guyana, Wednesday night’s action by a group of protestors was “profoundly unpatriotic.” Luncheon said the event has garnered a great level of support and many Guyanese have been tasked with contributing in many ways but have now been issued with a threat by the opposition to interfere and make it difficult for a successful hosting.
However, the PNCR said that its protests were not intended to interrupt the Carifesta X celebrations, but rather to highlight the constitutional breaches that have occurred including the suspension of CN Sharma’s television licence and the continued incarceration of ex-soldier Oliver Hinckson as well as the economic struggles that are gripping the nation.
Responding to questions, during a press conference at Congress Place, Sophia, yesterday, PNCR Leader Robert Corbin said the party will continue its protest action. He stressed that the actions were not to interrupt the start of Carifesta X but rather to focus on the constitutional breaches by the President regarding Sharma’s licence as well as others.
He said that it was the party’s intention to make Caricom aware that there were problems here and that “when they come for Carifesta, all is not well”.
Corbin had earlier said, soon after the four-month suspension of the television station’s licence by the President, that if it were not lifted, the PNCR would hold protests to make Carifesta “unmanageable”, a stance that Minister of Culture Dr Frank Anthony had slammed as “unreasonable”.
Meanwhile, Corbin yesterday lashed out at the government for not informing him in adequate time of the Carifesta launch. He said he first knew of the event three days before, when he saw an advertisement in the media. He said he received an invitation 24 hours before the launch and that was the reason he absented himself for the celebration.
Luncheon questioned yesterday whether the response to the licence suspension was appropriate.
“After so many years we have committed to a successful hosting of Carifesta, and it is now being held hostage to what?” Luncheon queried.
“Even if the allegation was to be established, are we now dealing with situations that lead to that type of response being deemed as appropriate?”
Luncheon said he was waiting to see the type of response this clear challenge to the event would reap especially from all those who would benefit, one way or another, from the country’s hosting of the event.
Just before the official start of the launch on Wednesday night a small group of mainly women raised their voices shouting “No Carifesta” and “We want Sharma” among other slogans.
Ringing a bell and blowing whistles the women shouted their slogans for a few minutes before the police attempted to restore order.
Some persons in the crowd also attempted to calm them down.
Their chants did not appear to have any effect on officials sitting on the other side of the Cenotaph, but hundreds of persons, who were there for the launch looked on as a few of the more vocal protesters were hastily led away by the police. It was not clear whether they were arrested but after they had been moved off, and as the programme got underway, chants were still occasionally heard from the back of the large crowd though not enough to prevent persons from enjoying the show.
At the ending of the proceedings, as the President was leaving, a group of protesters quickly converged on him but his security detail prevented them from getting too close. Shouting about the CNS TV 6 suspension and the high cost of living and banging empty tin cans the protesters shouted out at Jadgeo as he was driven away.
Meanwhile, the PNCR said yesterday that it would hold another march and rally today. This march, which is against the high cost of living, the closing down of CNS TV, unemployment and corruption will begin at noon at the corner of Mandela Avenue and Joseph Pollydore Street. The rally will be held at the Basketball Court, Parade ground.
A statement from the party said the protest action held at the Parliament Buildings last Friday was well attended and so was the picketing exercise outside the Caricom Secretariat on Monday. Before the protest, a letter was submitted to the Secretary-General Edwin Carrington and Chairman of the Regional Grouping, Hubert Ingraham, outlining the party’s concerns about the hosting of Carifesta X in the current circumstances, the release said.
The statement also said that the political and economic environment here in Guyana was not healthy for the staging of this event.
The party said that the government had enough time before the August holding of the event to address the critical matters necessary to create the appropriate environment.
“Carifesta X must be held in an environment in which the Constitutional right to Freedom of expression and the right to work are respected by the government. There must be an immediate end to the suspension of the licence of CNS TV Channel 6; an end to the violation of the human rights of the citizens of Guyana; the release of Oliver Hinckson from prison where he has been incarcerated on unsustainable charges and his trial being continuously postponed; an immediate short-term programme to address the deteriorating security situation; the enactment of broadcasting legislation to end political control over the media and to establish an independent national broadcasting authority; equitable access by the parliamentary opposition to the state-owned media and an end to the monopoly on radio,” the statement added.
