Granger accused of election rigging, political suppression during Army tenure

By Kurt Campbell

[www.inewsguyana.com] – General Secretary of the incumbent People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) Clement Rohee has questioned the substance of the Opposition Leader’s support for the Guyana Defense Force (GDF), particularly its allocation in the upcoming 2014 National Budget.

According to Rohee, the Party has noted with disgust David Granger’s pronouncement following a meeting with the Army’s Chief of Staff, Brigadier Mark Phillips.  Granger is a retired Brigadier.

At a PPP press conference on Tuesday morning [February 25], Rohee opined that his announced support for the GDF was in stark contrast to the APNU’s refusal to engage government on proposals for the 2014 budget and wondered if it is a “back door” attempt to preempt the budgetary allocations to the Army.

“It boggles the mind that he would meet to discuss national security concerns when the opposition is doing all that is possible to undermine measures at the administrative and legislative levels,” Rohee said, adding that “his utterances are intriguing and hallow given the APNU’s constant attacks against the joint services.”

Rohee reminded of Granger’s criticisms of the Army on several issues including its role in the Lindo Creek Massacre and the Army’s links to criminal elements which resulted in the massacres at Bartica and Lusignan.

“I hope he would have informed of his hijacking of ballot boxes while a member of the army top brass and his involvement or non-involvement in the cold blooded murder of two Guyanese on the Corentyne during the seizure of ballot boxes,” the PPP/C General Secretary said.

Rohee further stated, “I hope he explained his role along with Joseph Harmon in providing intelligence to the PNC to suppress the then political opposition during the Burnham/Hoyte era.”

Rohee recalled that also a part of the opposition delegation meeting with the Army Chief was Former Commissioner of Police Winston Felix.

In this regard, he told reporters that there were attempts by Felix to undermine in the interest of a known drug trafficker which he later identified as Roger Khan.

He alleged too that Felix had conspired with a known Attorney to place drugs in the suitcase of an outgoing passenger at Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).

He denied however that the PPP/C was bothered by the meeting between the opposition and Army top brass. Granger along with Harmon and Felix had met with Brigadier Mark Phillips just under a month ago following revelations in international media linking Guyana to international drug mafias.