Vice President unshaken, unmoved by Opposition protest

Dear Editor,

As I travelled to Linden on Tuesday, August 4, I found myself wondering what the day would be like, knowing of the opposition’s plans to protest. I asked myself: how would Vice-president Bharrat Jagdeo respond? Would he meet with the protesters before his outreach began, or would he do what he has always done — smile, greet people, and continue with the work he went to do?

Before the vice-president arrived at Watooka Guest House that morning, hundreds of Region 10 residents had already gathered at the venue, patiently waiting to have their concerns addressed by staff and ministers from various government ministries and agencies, as well as to meet personally with the vice-president.

Outside the entrance, opposition supporters had assembled and appeared to be positioning themselves in an attempt to disrupt the vice-president’s arrival and, by extension, the day’s proceedings. However, when the vice-president and his entourage entered the compound, the shouting from the protesters was limited and did little to affect the atmosphere inside.

At this point, Vice-president Jagdeo took the time to greet ministers, public servants, and staff from the various ministries and agencies. He then interacted with the hundreds of residents before proceeding with one-on-one engagements with those who had come seeking assistance.

I must commend the people of Region 10 for their massive turnout. Hundreds endured the hot sun because they wanted their concerns heard and addressed. Their presence demonstrated a genuine desire for engagement and solutions, despite the protests taking place outside the venue.

As the outreach progressed smoothly, the protesters eventually made their way through the barriers and into the compound, chanting and demanding that the vice-president meet with them to hear the reasons for their protest.

To me, that was unnecessary. The vice-president and everyone present were already aware of the issues being raised. It appeared that the protest had shifted from expressing grievances to seeking publicity and attention.

To my surprise, however, the leader of the PNC turned up surrounded by about 10 people. I don’t know for what purpose — wearing his usual serious expression, he spoke briefly to the media and then left, leaving those protesting, even his own MPs, to wonder why. I believe Mr Norton left because he realised the entire protest was not warranted and had no real substance, but that he showed up only for appearance’s sake, so that the little support he has in Linden could say he was there.

Norton found the will to turn up at the protest but couldn’t find the will to show up during the MV Barima tragedy^[1] to help search for our brothers and sisters, or console the grieving families and relatives. That alone shows that he and the opposition don’t care for the people of Guyana — only for political power.

Despite the continued chanting and noise from the protesters, residents remained focused on having their matters addressed. Vice-president Jagdeo remained completely unshaken and unmoved. He continued meeting with residents throughout the day, giving his full attention to those who had come seeking assistance.

That, in my view, deserves recognition. Leadership is tested not only in moments of calm, but also in moments of confrontation. The vice-president did not abandon the people of Linden, nor did he allow political theatre to derail the purpose of the outreach.

I was particularly impressed by the conduct of Minister Zulfikar Mustapha^[2]. Although some protesters appeared to target his booth, he remained seated at his open-air table and continued serving members of the public without displaying fear or hesitation.

I must also commend Ministers Walrond and Ramson for standing their ground and facing the protesters directly, without intimidation and without responding to the insults, even as the protesters shouted their names and hurled slurs at them. This shows political maturity.

Perhaps the most revealing aspect of the day was that several individuals who had been protesting eventually entered the outreach and sought assistance from the vice-president, ministers, and government agencies. They were not turned away. Instead, they were heard, their concerns were addressed, and they were treated with respect.

That, to me, was one of the strongest statements made that day.

I was also surprised by the presence of former APNU+AFC minister Ms Valerie Patterson, who visited the vice-president during the outreach and publicly acknowledged the development taking place across Region 10 and Guyana as a whole. She commended the government for its efforts and for the positive changes she has observed.

The outreach was undeniably productive. Hundreds of residents had their concerns addressed, with many matters resolved immediately and others referred for further action. The appreciation expressed by residents was evident throughout the day.

As the vice-president concluded the outreach and prepared to leave, the protesters mounted another demonstration. In a moment that reflected both humour and composure, he waved to them and remarked, “Y’all had a hard day in the sun, right?” before departing.

So, yes — what they had been waiting for all day finally happened, as the vice-president acknowledged their presence with that remark.

The events in Linden demonstrated that Vice-president Bharrat Jagdeo is not easily intimidated by protests or political pressure. He did not retreat, he did not panic, and he did not allow the disruption to prevent him from engaging with the people of Region 10.

Whether one agrees with his politics or not, his conduct that day reflected confidence, composure, and a willingness to stay focused on the task at hand.

Guyana’s democracy allows for protest, and that right must always be respected. But public protests should not become an obstacle to citizens receiving government services and having their concerns addressed.

As I always say, there is one Bharrat Jagdeo, never two.

Keep up the good work, VP. Let Guyana continue to progress under your strong and committed leadership.

References

1. Govt. outreach, Opposition protest collide in Linden over MV Barima tragedy | Guyana Standard — www.guyanastandard.com ↩
2. Min Mustapha engages Region 10 residents on Agriculture issues – The Big Smith News Watch — bigsmithnewswatch.news ↩