Victoria meeting Incidents--APNU Responds

A.P.N.U IS APPALLED BY UNSUBSTANTIATED RACIST AND DISTORTED LIES REPORTED BY THE PPPC REGARDING DISRUPTIONS AT THE PPPC RALLY IN VICTORIA VILLAGE

A.P.N.U was reliably informed that frustrated residents took it upon themselves to protest the lies spouted by the PPP/C representatives at a PPP/C meeting held in Victoria Village, Guyana.  Residents expressed that for the past 19 years they have suffered extreme hardships including pervasive poverty, lack of running water, electricity, street lights and lack of job opportunities for the youth of Victoria and have rarely witnessed visits of any PPP/C government officials to their village.

Witnesses report that the people voiced their unhappiness by chanting, "Granger, Granger", which in turn caused a PPP/C supporter by the name of Bunny Culley from Golden Grove to fire 3 gunshots in the air in the presence of police. A.P.N.U. is concerned that this individual was neither questioned nor detained by police on the scene and is further concerned that some media are reporting lies about PPP/C participants being doused with gasoline.  We find this to be a very dangerous and obvious attempt to incite violence before elections.

A.P.N.U. is also concerned that an A.P.N.U. supporter was shoved and slapped in the chest by an officer on the scene.  A.P.N.U. is concerned that police are today attempting to arrest this supporter for being the “ring leader”.  We call on the Guyana Police Force to investigate Mr. Culley’s discharge of a firearm in a public place and we further call for our supporters not to be harassed, detained or arrested for exercising their democratic rights.

A.P.N.U. wishes to recognize that residents of Victoria have a long history of independence, courage and contribution to Guyana. We insist that all Guyanese be treated fairly and without regard to race or party affiliation.  The people of Guyana must be able to express their voices without fear of reprisal or the stigma of violence stereotypes.

A.P.N.U is further calling on the PPP/C to desist from misinforming the Guyanese public and the world that A.P.N.U supporters are disruptive at meetings and rallies of the PPP/C. A Partnership for National Unity reiterates its position that the citizens who are protesting across the country are normal residents who are fed up with the neglect meted out to them by the incumbent PPP/C Administration.