‘How would they be accountable?’ – Jagdeo blazes AFC for refusal to answer questions at presser

Days after members of the Alliance For Change (AFC) political party refused to answer questions about the 2020 General and Regional Elections, General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) raised concerns about the party’s willingness to be held accountable if entrusted with political power.

At his weekly press conference, Jagdeo raised concerns that AFC Executive Cathy Hughes denied a reporter the opportunity to ask a question about the party’s actions in the last elections. Hughes was at a press conference with party Nigel Hughes and other executive members.

And she told the reporter that only questions about contemporary issues would be taken.

“You had three of the leaders of the party there… saying we’re not prepared to take questions from the past, from four or five years ago,” Jagdeo lamented.

He later added, “If they can’t be accountable now, how would they be accountable if they have political power?

“The kind of arrogance they had when they had poltiical power, they bring nack now in the opposition.”

Jagdeo, who is also Guyana’s Vice President, emphasised that such a move is unacceptable since it means that prior shortcomings and conflicts of interest from a party that holds itself out as a “serious political party” would not be scrutinised.

He pointed out, in contrast, that he has taken questions at his weekly press conference from any period of the PPP’s existence. And Jagdeo said he will continue to do so.

The General Secretary also called out the Guyana Press Association (GPA) for their silence on a reporter being barred from asking questions at the AFC presser. Had it been the PPP, Jagdeo contended, there would be much outrage.