Watchdog groups complicit in conspiracy of silence – PPP
An apparent conspiracy of silence is slowly taking over the country.
At least this is according to the People’s Progressive Party (PPP).
During a press conference held yesterday morning, Party Member Juan Edghill maintained that the entire nation – but particularly the media – has been condoning the shortcomings of the new APNU+AFC government by remaining silent.
Juan Edghill
According to Edghill the “conspiracy of silence” seemed to begin on May 11. He noted a number of deemed violations by the new government, including the dismissal of persons believed or known to have affiliations with the PPP. He also included “ethnic cleansing” as part of the list.
Edghill said that specific organisations and some sections of the media have remained silent as it relates to the violations taking place in the country.
Noting the case of Junior Social Protection Minister Simona Broomes writing to the Public Service Commission (PSC) to temporarily suspend employments in her ministry, Edghill opined that a similar letter was probably dispatched to the media.
“Maybe we haven’t seen that letter as yet, but perhaps there is a letter written to media houses and certain organisations to cease reporting on some specific things that are taking place in the country, and that is why I’m dubbing it a conspiracy of silence…maybe your letter exists and it has not yet surfaced,” Edghill said.
He continued, “I’m hard pressed to believe that the robustness that existed in the media fraternity and among social and political activists has actually been converted to inertia since May 11.”
During his remarks, Edghill went to great lengths to identify as many perceived violations as possible.
He said that those who have believed or known affiliations with the PPP are clearly being targeted and are quickly being dismissed. He maintained that Guyanese have the right to freely associate with whoever and whatever they please and, “a man or a woman cannot be terminated or fired because of their political opinion.”
As part of the deemed violations, Edghill included the dismissal of former Region 9 REO Claire Singh. According to Edghill, the new government’s appointment of Carl Parker to the position reeks of hypocrisy. He emphasised that Parker has known affiliations with APNU.
He also noted Acting Town Clerk Carol Sooba, who was recently sent on leave by the City Council. Edghill maintained that Sooba had been targeted in an “undignified, well-orchestrated, politically sanctioned” fashion by the APNU+AFC government. He added that Sooba had been publicly humiliated and disgraced.
“Yet we have not heard from the Justice Institutes, we have not heard from the Guyana Human Rights Association, we haven’t heard from the Guyana Bar Association…we have not heard from any of the watchdogs of justice and democracy and human rights in Guyana,” Edghill emphasised.
All of these actions, he said, are being done with due process. However, he said, no one has spoken out against these dismissals.
“These are violations of fundamental human rights, but it seems that we have lost our voices or are in league or we’re on vacation. It’s been condoned by the quiet acceptance of the people who should be speaking against it and this must stop. This must stop,” he said. He added, “The APNU+AFC cannot stand the scrutiny of light on these matters that we’re talking about.”
He further said ethnic discrimination or “ethnic cleansing” was ongoing by the new government. He added that though the PPP had been accused of running a racist campaign, it had actually been the coalition that had done so. He emphasised that stories reported by individuals daily indicate his claims.
When questioned on whether the PPP believed that the new administration was doing what the previous government had done, Edghill quickly responded, “worse”.
Since the new coalition came into power last month, PPP has repeatedly accused the new government of witch-hunting.