–says the law will deal with ‘bravadoes’
Home Affairs Minister, Clement Rohee, says the PNCR was engaged in acts of political extremism, which he believed might have led to the recent channa-bombing of the Ministry of Culture.
But PNCR spokesman, Aubrey Norton, said the incidents smack of PPP “dirty tricks”, noting that as far he was aware his party was in no way associated with such acts.
The PNCR has upped the ante against the Bharrat Jagdeo administration, threatening to make Carifesta unmanageable, while some of its supporters recently kicked down police barricades and marched at least twice without permission from the authorities.
Speaking at a press conference yesterday at his office, Rohee said there were two sets of extremism; one being the unlawful political protests and the channa bombs that were hurled at the ministry. “There is some coincidence there. The point is that if a statement is made that you are going to make the situation (Carifesta) unmanageable for Caricom, then you are sending a message and a signal. Somebody picked up that ball and ran with it and began engaging in extremist actions. I am positive that if such a statement was never made, nobody would have picked up that ball and run with it,” Rohee said.
However, Norton said that when his party said Carifesta should not be held it was speaking to the present depressing conditions that exist. “Carifesta started under us and we want it to continue, but with crime soaring and cost of living high we feel that the time is not right to hold the event here,” Norton declared.
Rohee said that while the security plan for Carifesta was moving apace, his ministry had noted the public statements about making the event unmanageable. “I leave the public to draw its own conclusion.
Incidentally, I have not heard Mr Corbin and the PNCR condemning this dastardly act,” Rohee charged.
Last Friday night, unknown persons lobbed channa bombs at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport building on Main Street. Police, in a release following the bombing, said that around 9.20 on Friday night, armed men in a dark-coloured car drove south along the eastern carriageway of Waterloo Street and fired a number of shots at a policeman’s car. Minutes later two men armed with guns exited the vehicle and raked the northern side of the ministry with bullets, shattering windows and damaging the wall. The men also lobbed channa bombs at the building, one of which exploded scorching a blind at one of the windows, before escaping, the police said in their release. On the same night, gunmen had shot up the WaterChris Hotel.
Meanwhile, Rohee also declared that the recent unlawful protests by the PNCR were most unfortunate and would not be tolerated. “The law enforcement agencies will not stand by and allow the PNCR to run amok in the city… no one is being and will be denied the right to protest or march.” However, the minister warned that at the same time no one would be allowed to engage in unlawful marches and practices and to infringe on the rights of other citizens desirous of living and working in peace and tranquility.
Commending the security forces for exercising restraint during the illegal marches, Rohee said Corbin must know that the law did not discriminate against anyone. “If Mr Corbin wants to project himself as a ‘bad John’ by engaging in bravado and misleading his supporters into believing that unlawful acts are lawful and constitutional, he is wrong because the law has a long arm and the police will not hesitate to deal with those who break the law,” Rohee warned.
