Jagdeo must use press conference to provide update on alleged underhand dealings with Su; widespread corruption under PPP Govt

By Annette Ferguson MP- The Thursday ramblings and rhetoric hosted as a ‘press conference’ by Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo should be given serious consideration, since it has become monotonous, uninspiring, and a sitcom. I truly believe media houses too should consider attending these press conferences. I would ask myself the following questions:

1. Why would reporters show up?  Is it just to mark themselves present.
2. Why would reporters allowed themselves to be insulted and talked down by Mr. Jagdeo? In many instances, rather than answering the questions, his response is always in a negative light, without being put in his place by these reporters.
3. Why reporters failed to challenge him with FACTS? They sit there and allowed him to rant.

I will briefly examine and analyse the latest of his charade held on Thursday, September 5, 2024. However, the point must be made that Mr. Jagdeo at every press conference can provide insight on ALL the Sectors but FAILED miserably at updating the nation of the alleged under dealings involving himself and SU-Gates, which was exposed by renowned journalist, Ms. Isabel Young of Vice News.

He has stayed away from providing information on the ‘CORRUPTION’ involving senior members of the Guyana Police Force, Mae Toussaint, and what is happening in the Public Sector.

At his last presser, Mr. Jagdeo’s focus was on the Coalition Government and that of its stewardship while in Government. He gives the impression that the Coalition Government was in government prior to October 1992. If one is totally unaware of Guyana’s politics, then they will believe his narrative. It is both essential and imperative to let our young people and others know that there was “NO APNU+AFC government” prior to October 5, 1992.

For the records, the APNU was commissioned on July 15, 2011 in the Conference Room of the then Ocean View Hotel. The A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) formed the Government in May 2015, which served until August 2020. It is time this misinformation be dispelled, and Mr. Jagdeo be called out for ‘lying’ to the nation. He must be held accountable!

Mr. Jagdeo has been and continues to accuse the ‘Coalition Government’ of doing ‘NOTHING’ while in Government. What Mr. Jagdeo has FAILED to do, which I will highlight is that his Party managed this country from October 5, 1992-May 10, 2015, twenty-three (23), of which twelve (12) of those years were the ‘WORST’ under Mr. Jagdeo presidency.

Under his presidency our nation suffered tremendously, through narco trade, trafficking in persons, extrajudicial killings, victimization, discrimination, blacklisted on the international front, corruption, inter alia. Those years were characterised by infrastructure work poorly done, poor health services, poor educational services, poor welfare services for the vulnerable and elderly, poor salaries within the Public Sector and many debilitated structures.

Additionally, I was appalled and taken by surprise after hearing Mr. Jagdeo with a straight face saying that “the Coalition Government handed out contracts without tendering…” However, I would like to encourage Guyanese to go back to the newspaper publications to see the weekly advertisements of public tenders during the 2015-2020 period. At that time, the system functioned effectively.

Also, Ministries were required to prepare their annual procurement plans in which they identified  the procurement methods to be used. It must be noted also that the National Tender Board met regularly to evaluate and approve tender awards. Jagdeo LIES must be EXPOSED. He cannot be TRUSTED.

Finally, an observation on the absence of decorum by Mr. Jagdeo during his press conference which he must consider: – I would like to recommend to Mr. Jagdeo that he should have a handkerchief on him. Rather than using his wrist to wipe his mouth, the handkerchief will be appropriated. Watching his inelegant action literally every Thursday is disgusting and doesn’t set the right example.