A People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Regional Councillor and party activist on Wakenaam Island, Region Three, Sadiq Ahmad, has been recorded threatening to remove recipients from the April Cash Grant list if they did not support the PPP/C’s hotdog sale.
In the recording Ahmad could be heard saying, “Good morning comrades, I was made to understand that some people are refusing to buy the hotdog tickets, as it relates to the PPP. I want to see the list of names of people who buy the hotdogs, and if those persons who refused to buy the hotdogs and they are on this Cash grant list that the government is going to give in April, I’m going to remove their names for failure to support the PPP. And I serious, I’m not making joke”
When contacted by this newspaper for a response to the recording, Ahmad responded that he has no comment.
Meanwhile, APNU Member of Parliament Shadow Minister of Local Government and Regional Development with responsibilities for Region Three, Ganesh Mahipaul, stated on his Facebook page that it has come to his attention that Ahmad had shamelessly abused his position by threatening to remove individuals’ names from the April Cash Grant recipients list unless they pledged support for the PPP/C.
“This blatant misuse of power and manipulation of taxpayer-funded aid is a disgrace to our democratic principles,” he added.
According to the Opposition MP, the fact that such coercion could occur raises serious concerns about the integrity and fairness of the government’s Cash Grant Programme. “It is evident that these grants are not being distributed impartially but are rather being wielded as political tools to bolster support for the PPP/C party.” He posited that the exploitation of public funds for partisan gain undermines the very essence of democracy and must be vehemently condemned.
As such, Mahipaul is calling for a thorough investigation into these allegations to ensure that those responsible are held accountable.
“The PPP/C’s claim of promoting ‘One Guyana’ rings hollow when they resort to such unethical tactics. Right now, we are indeed a ‘One Sided-Guyana’. Urgent action is needed to investigate these allegations thoroughly and ensure accountability for those responsible. The people of Guyana deserve transparency and fairness, not political manipulation and intimidation,” the MP declared.
