A convoy through the city by supporters of opposition coalition A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) saw increased police presence along the streets of the capital yesterday.
The motorcade began sometime after 1pm, with a group of supporters leaving the Campbellville area in more than a dozen vehicles and headed for central Georgetown.
An APNU official told Stabroek News that a group of supporters of the APNU gathered in the area and proceeded to the city, but noted that their actions were not sanctioned by the coalition.
President Bharrat Jagdeo later announced that security forces were fully mobilised and on alert in the city to prevent any violence, while sounding a warning against attempts to mislead people into taking to the streets over the elections results.
This newspaper observed the convoy as it headed along Brickdam. As the vehicles arrived in the vicinity of the Stabroek Market area, firecrackers were set off and horns were tooted, sending supporters in the area into a frenzy. Many businesses, however, shut their doors as the convoy of vehicles passed through the city, while staff at several government offices, such as the ministries of Finance, Health and the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), peered out of their offices out of curiosity.
The convoy then headed north along Avenue of the Republic and Main Street and as it approached the Lamaha Street area, the police presence around the nearby Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) headquarters increased. The convoy then proceeded to Congress Place, the headquarters of the PNCR, where scores of supporters gathered as a van load of police officers as well as ranks on motorcycles converged in the area.
There was a tense atmosphere and an angry band of supporters descended on a white, dark tinted Toyota Carina motorcar, which was seen circling the area in front of Congress Place several times. The occupants were not visible, since the vehicle was heavily tinted. As the group swarmed the car, the police officers and party supporters clashed as the uniformed ranks converged on the scene and allowed the car to leave the area.
The supporters of the party alleged that an occupant of the car had entered Congress Place earlier and attempted to create confusion. Earlier, this newspaper observed the car speeding along Main Street as the motorcade travelled through the area.
Later in the afternoon, APNU presidential candidate David Granger arrived at Congress Place as did a large number of supporters. However, a brief rain shower eventually dispersed the crowd outside the gates of the party headquarters.
