It charged that the PNC/R's latest news conference Thursday was consistent with the stated objective of the Opposition party - "to make Guyana ungovernable" and to ensure the "overthrow of the Government".

"One must recall these statements came directly from Mr. Desmond Hoyte (PNC/R leader) and others in public meetings, tapes of which are widely available and which the press widely reported. We must also remember that only within the last few days, Mr. Hoyte unequivocally stated that his words reflect the policy of the PNC", the PPP said in a statement.

The PPP took issue with the PNC/R statement Thursday that "the police have no authority over the site (the 1763 Monument Square in Georgetown) and their actions of barricading the square and placing guards armed to the teeth around the site is provocative and a matter of grave concern".

The Police have authority to maintain law and order and must determine the appropriate actions to be taken in order to ensure peace and the maintenance of law and order in all Guyana, the PPP declared.

"It is in this very statement and others that the PNC attacked the police for not taking necessary precautions on July 3rd to protect the President's office", it noted.

"They attempted to shamelessly justify illegal actions of hooligans on the fact that the Police should have been more careful and prepared. The Police took their advice and were informed by their previous experiences with PNC marchers and, therefore, exercise their judgment", the PPP added.

The party stated that the PNC/R is asserting to the Guyanese people that the 1763 Monument Square "is a state within a state and is governed by the PNC."

"This is not only arrogance at its highest, but is also contempt for the Government, the people of Guyana and is treason because a political party that has already publicly announced it would make Guyana ungovernable...is now publicly attempting to secede a part of the country. This is treason", the PPP contended.

It said the Government and the Police must make clear that "we have laws and every citizen and every group must adhere to these laws".

"People who want to march must know that the laws demand that Police permission be obtained and that illegal acts emanating from such marches would be the responsibility of those who organise and support the march", the PPP stated.