The opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has written to Commissioner of Police Leslie James requesting an urgent investigation of an alleged attack on party activists during the public announcement of their campaign launch.
In a letter to the commissioner on Friday, PPP/C member Anil Nandlall reported that the attack occurred in Sophia, Greater Georgetown, on the afternoon of January 2nd and he implicated “known PNC/APNU activists,” including Lurlene Nestor, who has since denied the accusations, including the claims that missiles were hurled and threats were issued.
In the letter, Nandlall noted that a truck with a music system and several PPP/C activists was driving through Sophia and announcing the rally to launch their elections campaign.
He alleged that “known PNC/APNU activists,” led by Nestor, blocked the streets and started to hurl missiles at the truck and its occupants and threatened them with violence if they continued with the announcements in Sophia, which is a stronghold of the governing APNU+AFC coalition.
However, Nestor, in a Facebook post, refuted the claims made, calling them “blatant lies” and a racist attack on a predominantly Afro- Guyanese community.
Nestor said she was in Sophia announcing the APNU launch at the same time the PPP activists were there. “The people came out and rallied behind the APNU caravan of excitement, but rejected the PPP and the lies they were pedaling. From my vantage [point], at no time did I see anyone attack the PPP’s drive through announcement, at no time did I see anyone behave in anyway [untoward]! I am angry because I was there and did not [see] what is being alleged here,” she wrote.
Nestor further said she was disappointed that the PPP had decided to make such claims. “The PPP was forcefully rejected by the residents of Sophia, they said NO to them they DID NOT attack the PPP period!” she said, while maintaining that the accusations amounted to a racist attack.
While Nandlall said a report of the incident was made at the Prashad Nagar police outpost, Police Commander of Region 4 A (Georgetown), Assistant Commissioner Edgar Thomas, noted that when he enquired from his ranks whether any report was made of the alleged Sophia incident, ranks responded in the negative. He advised that persons can still come forward and lodge a complaint.
Thomas did, however, confirm that the police were investigating reports made yesterday of events that occurred at Laing Avenue.
‘Y’all don’t belong here’
At least two videos posted on Facebook yesterday showed scores of supporters of the coalition preventing a PPP/C-branded vehicle from passing through Laing Avenue. Garbage bins were also placed on the roadway to prevent the vehicle from advancing.
Supporters of the coalition congregated and started to chant “Granger” and declared that they will be voting for him. Coalition supporters also displayed the coalition’s flags and banners in front of opposition supporters. Some activists from both sides exchanged obscene remarks.
Coalition supporters in one of the videos seen by this newspaper questioned the PPP/C supporters about their presence in the community. “What y’all doing in here? Y’all don’t belong here,” one man said, while another pointed out “y’all disrespectful” as he indicated that they were trespassing in a government territory.
While police were called to the location, they were challenged to calm to the crowd and persuade them to allow the PPP/C-branded vehicles to pass. The vehicle eventually reversed out.
Nandlall, in his letter the Top Cop, said, “You do appreciate that each political party has a constitutional right and the democratic freedom to disseminate its messaging and indeed, to campaign for the 2nd March, 2020, National and Regional Elections. Any attempt to interfere with a party and its supporters’ right to do so would be unconstitutional, undemocratic and illegal.”
“Additionally, electoral activities aside, it is contrary to the criminal law for anyone to issue threats, hurt missiles or block public access on public roadways,” he added as he called for charges to be instituted against persons who participated in such activities.
The former Attorney General also complained of the alleged removal of PPP/C-branded paraphernalia that was mounted in several communities.
“I wish to report that known activists of the PNC/APNU/AFC have been pulling down and destroying these campaign materials at Charity, Region 2, Den Amstel, Region 3, around George-town, Hope Town, Lovely Lass, and Number Five village Region 5,” he said.
He further noted that there are specific provisions in the electoral laws which protect political parties’ rights and freedom to campaign and disseminate their messaging and that violations amount to criminal offences.
“In the circumstances, I request these complaints be urgently investigated by the members of the Guyana Police Force and that criminal charges be swiftly instituted, where appropriate,” he added.
The letter was copied to the Commander of “A” Division; the Crime Chief; the Minister of Public Security; the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC); the Ombudsman; the Police Complaints Authority; the Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM); the Chief Election Officer (CEO); Head of the European Union (EU) Delegation; the Ambassador of the United States of America; the Canadian High Commissioner; and the British High Commissioner.
Efforts to contact Co-chairs of the APNU+AFC campaign, Joseph Harmon and Raphael Trotman, for a response proved futile.
