-instead of focusing on positives of Conference on the Caribbean

Georgetown, GINA, June 25, 2008

Relating the outcome of his visit to New York to attend the second Conference on the Caribbean and his and other Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Leaders’ interaction with Leaders and other members of the New York Diaspora, President Jagdeo said today during a press conference at the Office of the President that rather than focusing on the positives of the conference, the Opposition, in typical fashion was very misleading in its propaganda that they had some big protests at the event.
President Jagdeo related that the Caribbean Leaders besides the main event, also met with the New York Diaspora and ‘for the first time ever we met as a group with the Diaspora’.
He said several Heads of State met with a combined Caribbean Diaspora and he believes that through this forum a strong signal was sent about breaking the insularity at the level of Heads, as well as for the Diaspora to act in a more coordinated manner.
“The issues that were raised were many. I’ve seen here rather than focusing on the positives of the conference, the Opposiiton, in typical fashion has been very misleading in their propaganda,” he asserted.
The President related further that while walking through the protests, he observed that at one location the number was four while at another it was seven.
“And they were protesting about issues that I’m sure every CARICOM Head was worried about, that is, cost of living increases. Well, you know my position on that….but I would not spend too much time on that issue because the PNC, you know how massive the protest, the 15 men protest they had here too,” he said.
President Jagdeo pointed out that when the main Opposition speaks to New Yorkers about the phenomenally massive protests that they have in Guyana, he can actually count the people at the protests as the numbers are usually small.
“So I won’t pay too much attention to that,” the Head of State said dismissively.