An Aishalton, Region Nine resident last night alleged that he was assaulted by a member of President Donald Ramotar’s security detail after publicly criticizing the current administration at a meeting at which Ramotar was present.
“After I was finished speaking one of the security came up to me in the crowd and give some slaps telling me I disrespected the president and he would take me down,” John Adams told Stabroek News via phone from Aishalton last night.
“His Excellency came here for a rally and they had a space for anyone who wanted to say something. I got up and spoke about The Learning Channel and other issues affecting our people,” he added.
Public Relations Officer of the Office of the President, Kwame Mc Coy, when contacted this morning told Stabroek News that he was not at the time aware of the alleged incident and promised to return a call.
Adams said that when he gave his address he called two antennas that are supposed to be used to upload The Learning Channel to his district, idols because he said they served no purpose. He said that he also told the president that he was aware that it was the friend of former President Bharrat Jagdeo, Bobby Ramroop, that is being paid to provide a service and is not doing so.
“I talked openly because these are issues facing us. They gave me the time to talk and I made use of it. I told him also about the $34,000 that each resident pays for lights and gets nothing up to now,” he said.
A teacher at the local school, Adams said that he is privy to a lot of issues faced by villagers and wanted the president to be aware of this.
He said that he never expected to be penalized for his views as he was in no way disrespectful to the president.
Detailing the assault, Adams said that after he was finished speaking and was making his way through the crowd he felt a hand collaring him from behind and when he swung around to see who it was he saw that it was one of the president’s guards.
“The man ask me ‘weh de other two that went with you’ and I told him I don’t know what he talking about it was just me. The man said I lying and as I continued to explain to him that it was just me speaking my mind he hand me one slap to the left side of my jaw,” he recalled.
“The slap numb my face and like I get dizzy because I can’t tell you how many other slaps I got after that if it was one or two or five…I start begging … I say ‘Boss what wrong with you, boss ow boss’ but he tell me I disrespectful,” Adams added.
The man said after the assault he ran home, escaping through the crowd and used his motorcycle to go to the police station to lodge a complaint. However when he got there no one was there.
Another villager Dell Joseph expressed disgust at the actions of the presidential guard last night saying it was uncalled for. “He was speaking for us. He said what we wanted the president to hear and they slapped him up for that? What is wrong with these people,” he said.
Meanwhile, A Partnership for National Unity issued a call on government this morning for prompt investigations into the incident.
Joseph and other villagers are also calling on the government and police to launch an investigation.
