The annual Essequibo Night event started about eight years ago in Region Two and is sponsored by the Region’s Administration in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture. This two night event, Friday and Saturday coincides with Agriculture Month observed in October.
Unlike previous years, this year the Committee and Sub-Committee were not named or the event mentioned and discussed at the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) Meeting prior to the hosting of event. It will be a fair comment to say that the secrecy surrounding the planning of this event was to deliberately keep the five opposition Councillors from participating meaningfully at any level, before, during or after this event.
While it is observed that only a few of the Councillors of the R.D.C. were directly involved, all those involved are known activists of the PPPC. The question was asked before this year’s event staged on the 5th and 6th October, at the Anna Regina Centre ground, whether this is now becoming a PPC event.
On the night of Saturday October 6, a quantity of bogus or counterfeit tickets was on sale at a booth at the PPPC Regional office gate. That booth was manned by a PPPC Regional Councillor and the son of a Senior Regional Official.
The police was summoned and a search made. Hundreds of counterfeit tickets were found in the Councillor’s bag. An arrest was made and the suspect, the female councilor, was taken to the Anna Regina Police Station for further questioning. She was later that night transferred to the Aurora Police Station some twenty miles away. It was from there according to a reliable source that she was placed on bail, after a minister of the Government so instructed. On Tuesday October 9, 2012 at the Statutory Meeting of the Regional Democratic Council nothing was mentioned about the Essequibo Night event under the Agenda item ‘Announcement’,
But under the Agenda item, Matters of Privilege or Public Interest, I asked the question if it can be confirmed or denied that at the Essequibo Night event hundreds of bogus or counterfeit tickets were on sale, and persons or persons alleged to be involved were arrested and placed on bail.
The Chairman Mr. Permanand Persaud confirmed the sale of the bogus tickets, but claimed to have no knowledge of any arrest. I was not surprised by this answer, it was clear that the cover up may have begun the said night the arrest was made.
I spoke with the Police at Anna Regina Station but was told that no official from the Regional Office is prepared to give a statement despite several requests made to have persons who were directly involved in the printing and distribution of the tickets and other aspect of the event.
What may be surprising to many is that during the Let’s Talk Essequibo programme aired on R.C.A.’s and hosted by Mr. Romel Roopnarine on Friday November 2, he mentioned the Essequibo Night event.
I would say, out of embarrassment, he asked his guest the Regional Vice Chairman Mr. Vishnu Samaroo for an update, saying that the Alliance for Change is trying to mislead the public by telling them that plans are afoot to cover up. The Vice Chairman responded by using the words ‘allegations’ and ‘rumours’ as if to indicate that there is no evidence.
I have the evidence in writing that the PPPC have set up an Essequibo Night Fraud Committee that comprise of current and former Councillors and party Activists to investigate this dirty act allegedly committed by their own member.
The big question that Romel Roopnarine should ask is, why after a month nobody wants to give statements to the Police thereby assisting them with their work? The people, not only of Region 2 but in other regions as well, are watching and waiting, but because of the PPP’s track record many expect this dirty act to be washed aside. [END]
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