Opposition leader Bharrat Jagdeo says he is ready to defend his government’s record on Amerindian issues after accusations that the former PPP/C government stifled the ability of the National Toshaos Council (NTC) to act.
Last Thursday, the NTC noted in a press statement that during previous NTC conferences, “every single component from the Chairman’s remarks, to who spoke, and when to hush leaders were all managed by the PPP. Independent media and other organizations were also banned from attending and the agenda and everything else was managed by the PPP.”
NTC Vice-Chairman Lenox Shuman has been reported as referring to the council as a parrot whose wings were clipped by the previous administration and expressed the view that Jagdeo should have been invited to appear at the just-concluded conference to answer for the actions of his government in this regard.
When asked at a press conference held at his Church Street office on Friday if he would be willing to address these accusations, Jagdeo said yes. “I would love to. If they call me now, I will go because I believe we can defend our track record,” he said.