The Private Sector Commission (PSC) yesterday called on Commissioner of Police Leslie James to conduct his duties “impartially” in light of a number of concerns stemming from the conduct of the police during the electoral process.
Their call was supported by the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) which has accused the police of an “aggressive” posture towards members of the political parties and observer teams.
The statement comes in light of growing concerns that the Guyana Police Force is being used as an enforcer for APNU+AFC during the election period. Questions has also been raised about whose instructions the force has been operating under during this period.
The PSC noted that to date numerous attempts have been made to contact James but efforts were futile.
When contacted yesterday afternoon, James told Stabroek News that if the need arises, the force will address the matter at hand. “You don’t have to worry with those press releases. If it’s necessary, the police will respond to that,” James said.
In the statement, the PSC said that it has observed with “increasing and grave” concern instances whereby the police seems to have been acting under direct political direction.
“In particular, members of the Commission and its Elections Observers witnessed the deliberate and forceful intervention of heavily armed police in preventing the oversight of the Statements of Poll at GECOM by physically removing accredited political party representatives, accredited observers, including Private Sector observers, and the members of the media,” the PSC said.
This, they said has resulted in the exposure of the SOP’s to possible fraudulent alteration.
The Commission further highlighted the police “failure” at preventing protestors from “harassing and threatening” accredited observers, party officials and media professionals in the course of their respective functions both outside of GECOM and at other places.
“The Commission further cites the most recent incident of police officers assaulting and attempting to arrest a GECOM Commissioner who was maintaining a legitimate presence to oversee the storage of ballot boxes in containers at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre,” the statement said.
Meanwhile, the GCCI has shared similar sentiments.
“Members of the GCCI’s electoral observer team were present on the evening of March 16th 2020, at the compound of the Arthur Chung International Conference Centre (ACICC) when a group of accredited observers and party agents who had convened a peaceful gathering outside of the building were confronted by riot police and forced to leave the premises. The GCCI can confirm that the observers and party representatives who attempted to question and gain clarity on the orders were subsequently threatened with incarceration,” GCCI said.
On Monday, a recount of all ballots cast during the March 2nd elections which was expected to begin under the supervision of a High Level team from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) was delayed.
The ACICC was selected as the site for the recount to take place.
In the evening, as two of the three opposition-nominated commissioners and various party representatives among others were waiting, members of the Tactical Services Unit of the Guyana Police Force arrived on site “to secure the boxes” and ordered the compound cleared of all persons including agents and observers.
Opposition-nominated GECOM commissioner, Robeson Benn had objected, declaring that as a statutory member of the elections commission his right to be present could not be infringed by the force.
“After 15 minutes or so of trying to cajole me to leave they proceeded to brace me out of the position I was on the ramp of the convention centre. I refused to leave. I hopped around a bit and then they laid hands on me and tried to physically remove me…I held on to the rails and they dragged me along the ground to a point where I was lying on the ground. They said they were going to get a shield to put me on it and physically remove I kept refusing. I said I was a member of the GECOM and that they were here because of decisions made by the commission,” he had explained
GCCI yesterday condemned any attempts of intimidation by the police.
It said such actions set an “uncomfortable” precedent for those involved in the elections observation and also raises question about the professionalism and impartiality of the force.
“Acts of intimidation targeted towards accredited observers and party representatives and attempts of overt political interference in the work of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) must be openly denounced by all right-thinking political actors as such actions threaten to weaken and undermine democracy in Guyana,” GCCI stated.
They have since called on all involved parties to show “restraint and refrain” from “interfering with or compromising” the independence and integrity of the electoral process and to act only in a legal framework in accordance with the law.
