The People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) has condemned statements attributed to General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party, Clement Rohee at the PPP’s press conference yesterday, saying that the party views the remarks as slanderous, libellous and outright lies and a campaign of disinformation against the leadership of APNU.
In a press release, it said that it is a total fabrication that A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) has “constantly” attacked the Joint Services.
“What is true is our criticism of and lack of confidence in James Clement Rohee and his total incompetence and wilful neglect of the Security Sector of this nation,” said the release.
It said that “The PNCR dismiss as an outright lie the General Secretary of the PPP’s scandalous and libelous assertion/accusation regarding Opposition Leader and PNCR Leader Brigadier David Granger’s involvement in high-jacking ballot boxes and the death of two Guyanese during the 1973 General Elections.”
According to the release, “In November 2011 Brigadier Granger stated; “I was not the commander of the Guyana Defence Force (in 1973). I was not at the scene of any shooting. I never shot anyone.” Further there was a Commission of Inquiry coordinated by the Honourable Justice Dhanessar Jhappan that looked into the shooting at number 64 village during the 1973 General Elections.”
The PNCR said that “this type of gutter politics by the PPP as an attempt to divert the attention of the people of Guyana from the party’s incompetence and lack of vision for this nation and the plight and struggles of the average working men and women of this nation.”
It said that “while Rohee peddles his disinformation and propaganda the vital Security Sector which is his remit cries out for competent leadership.”
It alleged that under Rohee’s watch Guyana has digressed to a haven for narco-traffickers and gun-runners and all forms of criminality.
It claimed that there is one armed robbery every twelve hours in Guyana. It also alleged that under Rohee and the PPP administration the Italian and Mexican Mafia have transformed Guyana into a transhipments point for narcotics shipments to North America, Europe and Africa.
It cited that there were 154 murders in 2013, an 11% increase; most of these murders remain unsolved; there was a 7% increase in serious crimes (armed robberies, rape, kidnapping, burglary etc.); guns and drugs freely cross the borders, yet the Minister of Home Affairs said that there is no security crisis in Guyana.
The release said that the PNCR “will not be fooled and distracted by the shenanigans of Rohee and the PPP. It is clear to all, and Rohee’s antics today prove beyond a doubt that there is a crisis of leadership in the People’s Progressive Party.”