The police today said they are investigating reports that five supporters of the PPP/C were assaulted at a public meeting at Victoria yesterday and the force urged political parties to call on their supporters to show restraint.
The PPP last night alleged that its supporters had been set upon by supporters of A Partnership for National Unity and that prior to this its speakers had been drowned out by hecklers and had to be escorted out of the East Coast Demerara village.
In a statement tonight, the police said the force is investigating reports that five supporters of the PPP/C were assaulted and kerosene thrown on one of them at the public meeting held in an Access Road at Victoria Village, ECD.
Police said that investigations revealed that while Anil Nandlall was addressing the gathering, “a crowd of about 300 persons bearing placards with photographs of APNU Presidential Candidate David Granger and shouting `Granger, Granger, we want Granger’ approached and also began to heckle the speaker.
“During this period it is alleged that a bottle was thrown in the direction of Anil Nandlall which missed him. However the police ranks on duty called for assistance and a police patrol from the East Coast of Demerara responded and assisted in placing the APNU crowd a safe distance away from the PPP/C meeting.
“The two speakers (Nandlall and Joseph Hamilton) then completed their addresses and were escorted to their vehicles by the police and they departed, while ranks remained with those persons dismantling the equipment used.
“At this time both the persons who had attended the meeting and persons who appeared to be APNU supporters were making their way towards the Public Road, during which it is alleged that five supporters of the PPP/C were surrounded and missiles thrown at them.
“It is further reported that an attempt was made to assault Ovid Wilson with a baseball bat which was taken away from his alleged assailant by Clifton Harris.
“It is alleged that subsequently kerosene was thrown on Clifton Harris at which stage Ovid Wilson, who is a licenced firearm holder and who became fearful, discharged two rounds from his firearm into the air.
At this stage police ranks arrived on the scene and escorted the five persons to Cove and John Police Station where statements were taken. They were offered to be taken to seek medical attention but refused. Additional patrols were requested and assistance came from Georgetown.
Efforts were made to contact those persons identified by the virtual complainants but they were unsuccessful. Investigations are in progress. No arrest has been made as yet.”
The police force said it wished to call on all political parties to advise their supporters to exercise restraint at this time. It added that any political party should be free to hold a political meeting anywhere in Guyana without being confronted and assaulted or having their meeting disturbed by supporters of another group.
The Force vowed it will “leave no stone unturned to ensure that it investigates allegations of breaches of the law at political meetings by supporters of any political party. In fact, members of the Force working at these meetings and responding to any reports of disorderly conduct at the political meeting have been advised to take firm action against those concerned in order to avoid situations getting out of hand.”
