“I’m not stuck-up” – Granger visited 15 communities over the last 28 days

 

By Kurt Campbell

[www.inewsguyana.com] – Opposition Leader David Granger has defended his engagements with the people of Guyana while at the same time snubbing criticisms that he is “stuck – up.”

During a press conference this morning (Friday, October 17), Granger disclosed that over the past 28 days he visited 15 communities and spoke with over 1200 persons.

“Nobody said I’m stuck up or that I’m not a people person or man of the people,” the People’s National Congress (PNC) Leader added.

The criticisms were allegedly made following his recent meeting in the mining town and PNC stronghold – Linden – which was afflicted by protest and saw some persons, who were involved in the protest action, being disallowed entry to his meeting.

Some believe the problems being ventilated could have been resolved had the Opposition Leader approached them to talk.

“The allegations are untrue, I am a people person. There are a few critics but I meet thousands of people every year and such comments are not based on facts,” he said; adding “that’s not the way to meet me… don’t come with placards. I meet people in civil surroundings… I’m not remote, I’m not stuck up, I’m not afraid to meet people but don’t shout or wave placards when you come to meet me.”

Granger said himself and team have been going out to communities and doing a lot of work on local government issues and showing the nexus between “the rotten local government system” and problems in some communities.

He said discussions were also held on the “divisionism being fostered by the ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP) by destroying the Neighborhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) and installing Interim Management Committees (IMCs) that have no proper relationship with communities.

“The root of many of these problems lay in the broken local government system and the attitude of central government,” he added.

The Opposition Leader believes too there is the need for a better police force to combat crime in these communities instead of setting up community policing groups.