GEORGETOWN, Guyana - President Irfaan Ali Friday described as “completely false” suggestions that he had made an approach to businessman, Dr. Terrence Campbell, for him to run as his prime ministerial candidate in the 2020 general and regional elections.
Dr. Terrence Campbell (file Photo)“This is completely false. I never approached Terrence Campbell to be a Prime Ministerial candidate for me or the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C),” Ali said in a post on his Facebook page.
The PPP-Civic’s prime ministerial candidate was Retired Brigadier Mark Phillips. But Campbell said Ali had asked him to be his running mate in the polls five years ago.
“The hatred poured out on me weekly by VP Jagdeo is amazing. You may find it hard to believe that I was the first person Irfaan Ali approached to be his prime ministerial candidate. At that time Jagdeo had no issue with me,” he said.
The the main opposition People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) said it was defending Campbell as the PPP regime “attempts to intimidate and victimize him in pursuit of their undemocratic objective of total control and domination of the Guyanese society.
“We call on all decent Guyanese to join us in condemning these dastardly acts of the PPP regime and support Mr. Campbell who, as a member of the Investment Committee of the Natural Resource Fund is simply carrying out his constitutional obligation of ensuring that the money from our oil resources are properly invested and protected against the corrupt and wasteful practices of the Ali/Jagdeo regime.
“Clearly, the regime is hell bent on silencing Mr. Campbell and to keep preventing him from further exposing PPP government corruption and cronyism,” the PNCCR said in a statement.
Campbell has so far made no statement on the matter.
In his Facebook page, President Ali acknowledged having “had many discussions on political matters in the past” with Campbell.
“During our time in opposition, I stated to him and others that the PPP/C is the only national party and that our policies are pro-people and pro-Guyana. At no time did I make an offer for him to be a Prime Ministerial candidate.
“The Vice President and General Secretary does not attack anyone; he responds factually and politically to statements and issues. It seems that there is a belief among some in the country that they can attack the PPP and its leadership without expecting a response,” Ali wrote.
Campbell has been heavily criticised by Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo after he called for transparency in the spending of oil revenues from the Natural Resources Fund (NRF).
The opposition party said it believes and knows that “Mr. Campbell is doing what he is obligated to do as a member of the NRF Investment Committee and representing the people’s interest.
“We, therefore, applaud Mr. Campbell’s resolve and fearlessness. Let it be known that attacking him amounts to attacking the Opposition and all the honest and law-abiding Guyanese people. We, therefore, call for good sense to prevail to avoid the damaging consequences.”
The PNCR said it was calling for the depoliticization of the Guyana Police Force and its return to being a professional institution that ensures that no one is above the law and all those in the corrupt PPP regime that are violating the law be investigated and brought to justice.
“We, hereby, alert the Guyanese public that as the elections get closer, the PPP will seek to create political and racial hostilities in a desperate effort to bolster their sagging support. The Opposition will expose and resist such efforts, while protecting the rights and freedoms of all citizens and urge Guyanese to fight PPP corruption, incompetence and divisiveness,” it added.
