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Democratic right
President of the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) Patrick Yarde said at a press conference yesterday that while the union could only support the shutdown in principle due to short notice, it was the democratic right of individual members to take a stance.
Wishing the private sector success in the shutdown, he said the GPSU extends moral support and leaves it to its members to determine their participation.
However, he said that if any of its members were unable to report for duty because of transportation or any other reason due to the shutdown the GPSU would be duty bound to represent them. For that reason, he said that the GPSU will be open to its membership today.
Yarde noted that the union had not been officially invited by any organisation to be a part of any action nor has there been any meeting between the GPSU and representatives of any organisation. However, Yarde said that he himself had been contacted but would not disclose without permission who had done so.
Speaking on behalf of the GPSU, Executive Member Chandrawattie Persaud said that the GPSU recognised that Guyana was in a state of crisis in every sense of the word. The economy was collapsing, peace loving and law-abiding citizens were confronted with unprecedented lawlessness, practised at all levels, and crime, corruption and violence were becoming a norm.
Describing this as a serious challenge, she said that the nation was further confronted with an administration totally incapable of addressing this chaotic situation in an intelligent, responsible and effective manner.
Contending that the government by its own admission and from the GPSU's observation lacks the competence and capacity to deal with the existing crisis she suggested that it go back to the electorate for a new mandate.
Tangible way
The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) has come on board in supporting the call for the shutdown after most of the chambers of commerce, with the exception of the one in Bartica, threw their support behind the action.
In a release issued yesterday, GCCI President, Edward Boyer said that the chamber in keeping with a collective decision of its members present at an emergency general meeting, supports in principle, the call for the closure of the commercial sector today but urged businesses to take all security precautions.
Boyer said that members at that meeting felt that they needed to express in some tangible way their alarm over the escalating crime crisis.
In another release signed by Boyer, however, the GCCI said that it opposes any form of coercion of those businesses that may choose to open today. "That is their democratic right".
Boyer also urged all essential services including transportation to remain operational. He said it was not intended that the proposed closure of the commercial sector adversely "impinge upon the life of ordinary citizens especially schoolchildren."
The advertisements for the shutdown which have been running almost daily since October 4 called on all "decent-minded and patriotic Guyanese" to join in "a total shutdown of Guyana" today.
The advertisements placed by concerned citizens who prefer to remain anonymous are calling for the political parties and government to accept that country is in crisis; to come together to resolve the situation immediately without any preconditions; that the security forces must take proactive and direct action to resolve the crime situation; and to explain to the citizens of Guyana why they have failed to uphold the fundamental rights of the security of the citizens. Failure to address these issues they said will force them to continue the action.
To date, support for the advertisements has come from Price Master, C&F Supermarket, Indra's Fashion, Musical Centre and Video Club, Prem's Electrical, M.R Ramlall, Kanhai's - Guyana Electrical Agency, Delefroze Enterprise, Sandhu Trading, Ariel Enterprise, Boyo's Style and Fashion, Kreative Decor, Paul's Fashion; Edward B Beharry and Company Limited, Secure International Finance Company, Beharry Stockbrokers Ltd, Margarita Gift Shop, Beharry Automo-tive Ltd, International Phar-maceutical Agency Ltd, M Phagoo and Sons, Accoun-tancy Training Centre, R. Sookraj Cambio, Palm Court Restaurant and Bar; Safety Equipment, Nalini's Hair-dressing Salon, JW Potter and Company (Guy) Ltd, Dr MY Bacchus, True Value Elec-tronic and General Store, Kiskadee International Couriers Inc, Kings Jewellery World, Gaskin and Jackson Company Ltd; Spads Inc;
Ashmin's Trading Com-pany and Ashmin's Fun Park and Resort - Splashmin's and the chambers of commerce.
De Abreau's Creations, Toucan Industries Inc, Ice Palace, Bushy Park, Mahai-cony, Shiva Auto Body Shop, Annandale, D. Rogers Mining, Hablow Laurie Meat Centre, Guycreek.com, Cor-reia and Correia Ltd, Patter-son Associates, Readymix Concrete ltd, Alicea Founda-tion - Women in Black, The Container House and ARK Enterprise, Marcel Gaskin and Associates Ltd and Structural Engineering Con-sultants, Orin Hinds and Associates Architects Ltd, Dhamachar Singh Insurance Broker and the Guyana Indian Heritage Association have also pledged support.
Walk the talk
The Unite Guyana group, which has not identified its membership and executive but has also run separate advertisements, is calling for a two-day shutdown.
Unite Guyana, which described itself as a non-partisan, non-political group formed to support the call to deal with the crime wave yesterday issued another whole page advertisement in which it said "Enough promises!! Time to "walk the talk".
The advertisement quoted President Bharrat Jagdeo in the October 6, Guyana Chronicle as saying "our future is secure, our destiny is sure" and asked "Do you really believe that?"
Noting that every day Guyanese were being robbed, murdered kidnapped, terrorised and raped while the political leaders stand aside and blame each other, they declared "Mr Politicians Guyanese need you now more than ever to put aside your differences and work with each other to restore social stability and economic order to Guyana".
They quoted PNC/R Chairman Robert Corbin as saying "It was unfair to say that the PNC/R as a party is responsible" and asked "Do you feel Guyanese actually believe that". Finally they quoted Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Manzoor Nadir as saying that "shutting down will send a message to criminals that they are getting the upper hand" and asked him to "Wake up Mr Nadir, which hand do you think the criminals already have, the upper hand or the lower hand?"
M. Beepat and Sons placed its own advertisement in which it called on parents and non-essential workers to support the day by not sending their children to school.
The Bartica Chamber of Commerce has issued a statement disassociating itself from any action pertinent to the shutdown today.
The chamber also said that it stood "strong against the advertisement made and mentioned on page 14 of the October 8 edition of the Stabroek News" which referred to its participation.
Meanwhile, the Vice President of the Rupununi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) Alfred Ramsarran yesterday told Stabroek News that some 30 businesses in Lethem, Rupununi will close their doors tomorrow to join with the concerned citizens in an effort to get the government to act promptly with regards to the crime situation mainly on the coastland.
Though advertisements were placed for the Bartica and Essequibo chambers of commerce, the Government Information Agency yesterday reported the Mayor of Anna Regina, Sammy Rampersaud, who is also a member of the Essequibo Chamber of Commerce, as saying that the chamber strongly condemned the shutdown. He further described it as a waste of time and proposed that business groups sit with the administration and make recommendations which will have an impact on the situation.
GINA also quoted the President of the Small Business Association Patrick Zephyr as saying that the association's executive has not had the opportunity to discuss the matter.