Chairman of the Electoral Assistance Bureau (EAB) Fr Malcolm Rodrigues yesterday said that Monday’s attack on an EAB observer and a Presiding Officer by a PPP/C candidate was “quite disturbing” and warrants a lawyer’s letter.
Fr Rodrigues told reporters outside the GECOM media centre that the assailant, Odinga Lumumba, who fled the scene, was taken back by members of a private security firm and he apologized for his actions.
The priest said, “there are a number of worrying things that I find quite disturbing” and immediately singled out the Lumumba incident explaining that an EAB observer was attacked at a polling station. This incident occurred at Neville Wray’s residence, Aubrey Barker Road, South Ruimveldt sometime after 3 pm.
Reporters were told that a cell phone belonging to the EAB observer was taken away and destroyed. The entire episode according to Father Rodrigues has left the observer traumatized.
“That was done by a candidate. It is unacceptable behaviour and I think that it is total disrespect for the Presiding Officer at that Polling Station because a thing like that should not have happened and I am very annoyed at that and apparently it is not an isolated case,” he said.
He said initially he did not know that the person involved was an EAB observer adding that regardless of who it was the EAB should have released a statement immediately.
“We are very much annoyed at that and we hope it would not occur at another location. These people are going in there illegitimately. We were registered as local observers and as such we have a right to be in there. For some political candidate to do that is totally unacceptable,” he stressed.
Asked if he was satisfied with the police response, Father Rodrigues said “the report we got did say that the police intervened fairly quickly and that in fact a security firm from outside came and actually brought back the offender and had him apologize and in fact he refunded the man the cost for his cellular phone.” He said Lumumba paying for the phone is not acceptable and that “we are contemplating sending him a lawyer’s letter. I …think he needs a lawyer’s letter to let him know that further action will be taken unless he can justify what he has done”.
When Stabroek News visited the Polling Station, the EAB observer declined to comment, however, a visibly distraught, Onika Beckles, recounted her experience.
The woman said she had refused a PPP/C observer entry without identification and moments later Lumumba turned up with three other men. She said that the politician immediately began to verbally abuse a policewoman who was securing the gate. Beckles then went to him to explain what had transpired and while speaking to her in an aggressive tone, she alleged that Lumumba pushed her into a grill door.
She said she sustained an injury to the back and has since reported the matter to the police. She is also seeking legal advice.
Lumumba in his defence said that the episode was an accident and that he pushed the woman to get past her since as a party candidate he had a right to be in the polling station. He said that he was unaware that the woman sustained an injury and has since replaced the damaged cell phone.
Observers shut out
Meanwhile, Fr Rodrigues told reporters that he has learnt that in Region Eight at least three EAB observers were not allowed to observe the count at a particular station “even though they had walked for over a day to get to that station”.
He said it is very important that GECOM remembers that its “obligation is to the nation and the nation comprises people that live in the mountains and in the forest and therefore they don’t get into a car and drive around. They walk. They walk distances and they did do that and when they got there they were told no you are not allowed to observe these elections. That I found very hard.”
According to the EAB chairman, the organisation keeps having communication problems with GECOM, which included the availability of Statements of Poll (SOP). He said initially Chief Election Officer, Goocol Boodoo, had given assurances that they would be given copies. Then later, GECOM head Dr Steve Surujbally said none would be issued.
He said GECOM has not been very responsive to the EAB’s complaints which included the clarification of the number of letters of employment that were issued. He said that he had written a letter about the issue and to date there has been no response.
Giving an update on the EAB’s elections coverage thus far, he said that most of the SOPs and reports from the observers throughout the country have been received and are being processed.
Fr Rodrigues also noted that the many rumours are cause for concern and appealed to all to “don’t pay any attention to rumours, pay attention to the facts that are there”. He urged persons to call the political parties, the EAB or GECOM for information.
