The Guyana Trade Union Congress (GTUC) has blasted the perceived double standards of the ruling party which seeks to have the police arrest hecklers at its meetings. The GTUC also contended that the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) had even accused the Burnham regime of imposing a ‘police state’ when the PPP was in opposition.The trade union body said that there is the continuous arrest of hecklers at PPP/C public meetings by the police. According to a press release from the GTUC, the PPP had once been fiercely critical when the PNC government had had PPP supporters arrested for heckling and now that the tables of power are turned,Womens MLB Jerseys Online, the party is using the police for the same purpose.The GTUC also referred to specific cases of political dissenters who have come under the force of the law, including Aishalton teacher John Adams.“At a recent political meeting in the city an obviously inebriated man posing no threat to Minister Rohee, was removed because he was engaged in some heckling of the Minister. A few years back a young man who flipped his middle finger at then President B. Jagdeo was placed in the lock ups.At a recent meeting in the Aishalton area, President Donald Ramotar threatened a member of the indigenous peoples and said if it was Jagdeo he would have received a ‘slap.’The release also spoke of the need to protect the right to heckle, stating that it came under the purveyor of the constitutional right to political dissent.“Heckling is a show of dissent and is a universal political culture which shrewd politicians and speakers are able to deflect. It is part of the Guyanese political culture. It speaks to the freedom of expression enshrined in Article 146 of the Guyana Constitution and must be protected, not condemned. Rights are protected and even when protestors become excessive, their rights are to be heard, to protest should be strongly upheld in a true democracy.”GTUC is calling on the Government and the Opposition to uphold the rights of citizens and to desist from excesses.The GTUC’s statement comes in the wake of a PPP/C public meeting at Blueberry Hill, Wismar, on March 24,Cheap NFL Jerseys, last.Minister of Social Services, Jennifer Webster and Junior Finance Minister, Juan Edghill, were the main speakers at the meeting. According to reports,Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale, the meeting was about to start when former Member of Parliament Vanessa Kissoon, with her supporters, arrived and began heckling.They were warned to desist from their actions and Kissoon moved away.A female supporter however,Cheap Authentic Jerseys, remained and continued chanting and making noise,holesale Soccer Jerseys, resulting in her being arrested and processed. She was subsequently released on self-bail,NFL Jerseys Supply, pending a subsequent charge.There have been no charges yet for Kissoon,Discount Air Max, though the police have said that charges may yet be instituted.
