A newly-formed group concerned about the crime situation in the country is urging citizens to support the call by a section of society for “a total shutdown of Guyana” on Wednesday, October 9.
The group, Unite Guyana, made up of businessmen, professionals and members of non-governmental organisations and civil society, met yesterday at a venue in High Street, Kingston to plan their strategy of support to the callers of the “total shutdown”.
According to a spokesman for ‘Unite Guyana’, the non-partisan and non-political membership wants Guyana to return to a semblance of normalcy as they say no one is safe in the current state of affairs. He said that while the two main political parties are fighting, Guyanese in general are suffering the effects.
The spokesman, who preferred to remain anonymous, added that while the decision has been taken to support the call for the one-day shutdown, he felt if that is not effective, the group would agitate to continue similar action to bring the country’s politicians to the realisation that “if they cannot administer the affairs of the country” the citizens will have to have a greater say.
The spokesman was referring to the advertisement in the Stabroek News yesterday charging that “the Government and the Opposition have failed 93% of the People of Guyana”.
The paid advertisement said: “We, the concerned citizens of Guyana, call on all decent minded and patriotic Guyanese to join us in a total shutdown on Wednesday 9th of October” in response to the failure of the country’s political leadership to address the most pressing problem in our society today - the safety and security of its citizens.
The concerned citizens are demanding that the political parties and government accept that the country is in crisis; all political parties come together to resolve the situation immediately without any pre-conditions; the security forces take more pro-active and direct action to resolve the crime situation; and explain to the citizens of Guyana why they have failed to uphold the fundamental rights of all civilised societies - the security of its citizens.
They said that failure to address these issues immediately will force them to continue calling for a total shutdown.
The ‘Unite Guyana’ spokes-man also said that the group agrees with the statement by the Aircraft Owners Association of Guyana calling on the political leaders, particularly President Bharrat Jagdeo and PNC/R Leader Desmond Hoyte to come together and with one voice declare war on crime and denounce all forms of violence as well as reject politically and racially motivated confrontation as a means to a political end. (Miranda La Rose)