Opposition Leader and former President, Bharrat Jagdeo, today lashed out at PNC Chairman Volda Lawrence over statements she made at a party internal meeting that members of her party should get jobs and that she hires party members.

Although Lawrence did not indicate what jobs she was referring to, Mr. Jagdeo used his press conference today to declare that her statements represents a corrupt practice.

He said “this is not the kind of thing you say in a country like ours. Volda Lawrence could be charged. It is against labour laws…It is corrupt  to only give jobs to your friends.”

The PPP General Secretary said the PNC probably does not have more than five thousand card bearing members and therefore Lawrence’s statement would mean that the majority of the country would not be able to land jobs under her. He said it is clear “nepotism” and ought to be called out.

“So you got to be her friend, then you have to have your second qualification of being a PNC member”.

He said he is surprised that more organisations have not come out against the statement and it appears as though it is his party that has to fight for everything. He said the PPP would never have had such a policy in place.

While in government, the PPP had come under severe criticism for cases of nepotism. Many of the party leaders had relatives working in the government with the last PPP President, Donald Ramotar, having all three of his children working at various government agencies.

Jagdeo himself had been fingered in nepotism because of the many multi-million dollar contracts that some of his closest friends enjoyed under his presidency.

The PNC General Secretary has said that she stands by her statements about the unemployed needing to get jobs.

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