PNCR accuses GMSA of ‘treachery’ for disruption of President’s speech

The People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) considers the protest by Opposition members on Thursday at the Savannah Suite, Pegasus Hotel as an “act of treachery.”

Reading from a prepared statement at the party’s weekly press conference at Congress Place, Sophia on Friday Central Executive Member, Rear Admiral (ret’d) Gary Best said “the PNCR, call on the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) and its members to condemn the act of clear and present danger by some of its members.”

“We urge all business and citizens to condemn the act of treachery foisted on the President at the GMSA Event,” he added.

Best was referring to protest action against the President during his address to the GMSA’s business luncheon on Thursday. Opposition supporters and members on entered the Savannah Suite of the Pegasus Hotel where the President was addressing the business community and mounted placards while chanting “call elections now, you’re illegal.”

Best told the media that the incident was “orchestrated by the GMSA to embarrass the President…and to create a platform for the PPP to embarrass this Government.”

“The protestors put in danger, a serving Minister of the Government,” referring to Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr. Karen Cummings who was blocked from entering the premises.

He said the GMSA, having invited the President to the event, should have put certain systems in place to avoid such occurrences.

President of the GMSA, Clinton Williams told the media on Thursday that he had no prior knowledge of the incident. He said everyone was invited to the event which is held annually.

The security officer who was on duty at the Pegasus Hotel told the media that the protestors successfully hid their placards upon entering the venue so there was no suspicion of what was planned.

At the time of the incident, the Opposition was protesting outside of the entrance to the hotel calling on the Government to resign and call elections.