Protestors interrupt budget speech
-Belgrave and Khan in shouting match
Stabroek News
March 29, 2003
The presentation of the budget by Finance Minister Saisnarine Kowlessar was briefly halted by a group of protestors, including several PNCR parliamentarians, after they sidestepped police barricades and entered the compound of the Ocean View Convention Centre.
Immediately after the sitting resumed, Speaker of the National Assembly Ralph Ramkarran strongly condemned the actions of the protestors and decried the response of the police to the situation.
"The conduct of those gathered outside was extremely disgraceful and disrespectful," he declared. The speaker noted that the parliament represented one of the highest symbols of democracy in a society and asserted that the protestors were "seeking to close down this symbol by desecrating it."
According to Ramkarran, the failure of the police to arrest PNCR MPs Jerome Khan and Abdul Kadir placed them, "in dereliction of their duty" since in his view, the attitude displayed by these men was highly impertinent.
He charged the police to approach the security of parliament with more "seriousness" as such an interruption had occurred before and could take place again.
After Minister Kowlessar had completed his presentation, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Reepu Daman Persaud rose on a motion to condemn the protestors' actions, which he described as most reprehensible and disgusting.
The session was interrupted for at least 45 minutes while some of the protestors seated themselves outside the doors of the centre, chanting loudly and beating sticks against the concrete ground and occasionally on the glass wall.
Several of the ministers, most of whom appeared upset by what was happening, could be seen assembled in pockets inside discussing the situation.
Kadir and Khan entered the centre holding their placards for a short time during which there was a heated argument between Khan and PPP/C MP Cyril Belgrave. The argument, initiated by Belgrave, was only quelled after Public Service Minister, Dr Jennifer Westford intervened and Khan departed. After some time, the protestors and the PNCR MPs vacated the scene.
Earlier, Home Affairs Minister Ronald Gajraj and Presidential Advisor on Empowerment Odinga Lumumba were forced to disembark from their vehicles and enter the compound on foot to the chants of "kill the budget", "murder, murder, murder" and "our children are hungry."
Some of the persons involved in the protest sat and lay down in front of the vehicle carrying Gajraj and refused to move for several minutes causing a minor traffic build-up. When Gajraj left his vehicle, they crowded around him shouting.
Among other things, the placards carried such messages as: "2003 Budget means more burden, less service", "2003 Budget means further loss of confidence in Guyana's future", "Guyana on the decline" and "Linden needs water."
