Workers at the Guyana Elections Commission annex turned up yesterday morning to discover that they could not enter their office, since a barrier consisting of six concrete blocks had been set up at the building’s entrance and the doors had been chained and padlocked.
The action was taken on Tuesday evening by the owner of the building businessman Kenrick Thomas as a protest over rent owed to him.
GECOM Chairman Dr Steve Surujbally when contacted yesterday said that he could not comment on the situation since he was not fully aware of all the matters.
When Stabroek News contacted the Chief Election Officer, Gocool Boodoo he said he did not know why the owner of the building chose to lock out the employees.
Boodoo then put this newspaper in contact with Thomas, of K.P Thomas and Sons, who said that he would not comment at that time. He, however, subsequently disclosed to members of the media that the action was taken because he was owed a substantial amount of money in rent by the Commission. Stabroek News understands that the outstanding sum may amount to a few million dollars. Reports are that the arrears continued to exist in spite of several promises made by the Ministry of Finance to the businessman to have the matter resolved.
Meanwhile, at approximately 1 pm Transport Minister Robeson Benn and a team of workers equipped with heavy-duty machinery removed the barriers. Benn told the media that he was there to clear the entrance to public property.
Stabroek News understands that Thomas himself unlocked the door. He, however, declined to say why he had had a sudden change of heart.