PNC has 50-years history of terrorism

The People’s National Congress/Reform (PNC/R)’s terrorist strategy for Guyana is two fold; at one level the strategy is aimed at whipping up animosity and hatred, creating a sense of insecurity so people will leave the country, scaring away investors, and generally bringing the country to a standstill which is consistent with its “ungovernable” theme.

At another level the strategy is being played out at the political level so as to cause paralysis at the governmental level. In this regard the PNC/R has made and promptly broken agreements with the Government. Examples include the agreements on Constitutional Reform and the sectoral committees in Parliament.

This was the view of Minister of Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, during a television panel discussion on GTV 11 on Tuesday night. The theme of the discussion was Guyana-Victim of Domestic Terrorism. Also appearing on the Programme was trade unionist and PPP/C Member of Parliament, Mr. Cyril Belgrave. The moderator of the Programme was Mr. Robert Persaud, Liaison Officer and Press Secretary to the President.

Dr. Ramsammy defined terrorism as when, “ a group or groups within a country organise(s) itself/ themselves and carry out activities that lead to intimidation, harassment, destruction of property, beating and killing of people, etc.” According to this definition, Dr. Ramsammy feels that there is great merit in the suggestion of Guyana being in the throes of Domestic Terrorism.

It was pointed out by the Moderator, Mr. Robert Persaud that over the past few weeks there have been a number of incidents and events which have taken place and which can be viewed as an attempt to interrupt progress in the country. These incidents include the Mash Day jailbreak, the pause in the Dialogue process and other incidents which fit Dr. Ramsammy’s definition of “terrorism.”

This country has experienced almost fifty years of terrorism with the PNC, and the central issue is once again that of power. The PNC is not prepared to accept the people’s verdict in reposing confidence in the PPP/C to manage the affairs of this country. Instead they are once again using violence and terrorism to regain power which they lost in free and fair elections in 1992.

As Mr. Belgrave pointed out, it all started in 1962 when Mr. Peter D’Aguiar teamed up with Mr. Forbes Burnham to create mayhem in the country. Mr. Belgrade, a veteran trade unionist and political activist, was very specific as to the location of this infamous rendevzous which he said took place at the corner of Croal and Carmichael Streets, just near to the PNC’s Headquarters. That night, now known as “Black Friday” saw major sections of Georgetown, more specifically Water and Regent Streets, going up in flames. The destruction was unprecedented as millions of dollars worth of property were consumed by the fire.

In 1963 Mr. Belgrave reminisced, the PNC teamed up with the TUC to once again inflict violence on the country. This time the PNC’s infamous X-13 -plan was unleashed with a vengeance unparalleled in the history of this country. The violence was repeated in 1964 when hundreds were killed by the PNC’s evil bid for power.
It was observed by Dr. Ramsammy that after the PPP was removed from office in 1964, the outrageous violence suddenly ceased because as he put it, “ The lion was caged.”

However, even during the illegal rule of the PNC, there was still instances of violence against the citizens. People were intimidated, beaten and falsely imprisoned. Mention was made of Dr. Walter Rodney who was assassinated by the PNC dictatorship, Father Darke ,the Ballot Box Martyrs, and others.

But the naked violence was again unleashed with all its horrors after the 1992 elections when it became clear that the PPP/C was winning. The Elections Commission Office on Croal Street was attacked to such an extent that not even one window of the building remained undamaged. Senior members of the PNC stood by as the vicious attack was going on

At that election also the PNC took over the Elections Commission Office in Linden and the West Coast of Demerara.

The same pattern of violence was evident after the 1997 and 2001elections. There were marches, beatings, robberies, kidnappings and murder. Clips were produced on the programme showing people attesting to the fact that they were kidnapped and taken to Congress Place, the PNC’s headquarters, where they were threatened, beaten, interrogated and confined.

Today the same pattern has emerged as the PNC/R again tries to grab power by illegal means. There have been threats, attacks,beatings, robberies, bombings, arson and murder. The PNC is now using criminal elements in their nefarious designs. At Shaka Blair’s funeral, when the police were attacked by armed thugs, Mr. Hoyte, on emerging from the church, did not condemn this armed attack on the police. Instead he rebuked the police for their firm action against armed bandits. However, as has become typical of Mr. Hoyte, he now claims that the PNC/R was not involved, an echo of the election ad of “It wasn’t me.”

It is very important to note that although the PNC/R has disclaimed any connection with the bandits, they have never supported or lent encouragement to the police to recapture them. Even more damaging to that party is the fact that they have never said that the activities of the bandits are wrong.

Two pamphlets have been produced by the escaped bandits. They are entitled, “Shaka lives” and “Five For Freedom.” The first pamphlet acclaims the five bandits as heroes while in the second leaflet, the bandits have targeted all Government officials, police officers and their families. It was pointed out that the level of education of the bandits does not lend any credence to the claim that they produced the pamphlets by themselves.. Those who have read the leaflets have commented that there are no spelling and grammatical mistakes and that the sentiments expressed in the pamphlets mirror those of the PNC/R to an astonishing degree.

Those who now revile the Police Target Special Squad, more popularly known as the “Black Clothes” must know that this section of the force was created in 1990, during the heydey of the “Kick-down-the door” bandits when Mr. Hoyte was President. The PNC/R has turned against the police because the police and army have refused to support the PNC’s plan of toppling the elected Government. The security forces have dispensed their duties in a professional manner and have rejected the call to “kith and kin” politics.

On the question of extra-judicial killings Dr. Ramsammy explained that the police are facing heavily armed bandits who are not averse to using indiscriminate fire to achieve their objectives. In such a scenario the police are forced to always operate in an over-alert way, thus resulting in a number of unnecessary casualties. It is imperative that the police are given all the support that they need because they are putting their lives on the line everyday to protect innocent citizens.

The panelists pointed out that PNC members and supporters are also suffering because with the PNC/R’s policy of scaring away investors, less jobs will be created. There are numerous applications with GO-Invest from investors wishing to do business in this country but they are hesitant in the light of the present crime situation. In addition the destruction of vital infrastructure in PNC/R strongholds has both reduced our development drive while at the same time using up necessary funds to repair these vandalised infrastructures.

But the destruction of the infrastructure and the attacks on the police will also cause reluctance on the part of the relevant authorities to go into these villages to effect any emergency work , e.g. a patient needing urgent medical attention. In fact more and more PNC/R supporters are becoming disenchanted and embarassed by the actions and utterances on their party. Many of them now realise that they were deceived into participating in the marches, demonstrations, strikes, etc. They are now confronted with the stark reality that the PNC/R’s campaign is not about representing their supporters but about regaining power at any cost. As Dr. Ramsammy put it, the terrorism would stop immediately if the PNC/R were to regain power tomorrow. The bottom line for the PNC/R is power and they will cease their violent campaign only when they form the Government.

It was also pointed out that the WPA /GAP and the ROAR organisation which have representatives in Parliament have not given any support to the Government and the police to confront this terrorist threat. In fact these two parties have not even condemned the PNC/R for the part it is playing in promoting terrorist activities. As far as Dr. Ramsammy is concerned the Opposition in Parliament means the PNC/R since the other two parties are very closely associated with the PNC/R.

In the present situation it is not enough for the PNC/R to dissociate itself from the activities of the terroroists and bandits but it must call on the police to arrest those responsible. The PNC/R must stand with the Government and the police because that is what happens in a decent, civilized society. PNC/R supporters should call on their party to re-engage the Government so that we can all move forward.
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