‘Diplomatic Community was not disrespected by protest in Parliament’ – Edghill

Following a protest during President David Granger’s address to Parliament on Thursday, November 02, 2017 by members of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), there were concerns about their conduct in the presence of members of the Diplomatic Corp. However, on Saturday, PPP Executive, Bishop Juan Edghill made it clear that comments during the protest were never directed to the Diplomats.

“All of our heckles were directed to President [David] Granger and his Government so the Diplomatic Community was not disrespected in anyway,” Edghill said.

The former Junior Finance Minister further stated, “There seems to be some feeling among others that a President who acted the way President Granger did, should have come to Parliament and everyone should’ve been kissing the ring on his finger…but…President Granger is not God.”

The Opposition Parliamentarians entered the National Assembly on Thursday with placards protesting the unilateral appointment of the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

Edghill pointed out that the actions were “necessary” to highlight to both the local community and the international community this “unlawful act” by the president.

Among the diplomats, who were present in the House were United States Ambassador to Guyana, Perry Holloway, Canadian High Commissioner, Lilian Chatterjee, British High Commissioner, Greg Quinn and Mexican Ambassador, Ivan Roberto Sierra-Medel.

According to an article published on Demerara Waves online, in his first public speech since the Opposition’s actions, the Head of State at the 5th Biennial Conference of his People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R) in the United States described the PPP MPs as “vulgarians” noting that Thursday will go down as “as one of the most disgusting episodes of parliamentary misbehavior.”

The Opposition currently has a case in the Court against the appointment of the GECOM Chair.