Opposition-nominated elections commissioner Robeson Benn has alleged that he was verbally abused and threatened while at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Headquarters yesterday morning and he has since written to Commissioner of Police Leslie James voicing his concerns about the encounter.
In the letter which was addressed to James and copied to several others, including Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan and Chairperson of GECOM Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh and seen by Sunday Stabroek, Benn detailed the events of what took place upon his arrival at GECOM’s headquarters yesterday morning.
He said the incident has caused him to feel “threatened and targeted” by “elements” in the Guyana Police Force.
Benn explained that he arrived at the GECOM Headquarters around 3.40am and he was initially denied entry to the compound.
He claimed his presence was questioned by a female Special Constabulary rank. He said the rank demanded to know why he was there and he identified himself and heard others at the post telling her it was “Commissioner Benn.”
Benn said the rank angrily claimed that “not any and everybody can come in here…that this was a serious place.”
He added that he told the rank that he was there to check on the “container watchers”—persons who have decided to watch the cotainers to ensure the security of the ballot boxes—and he was eventually allowed entry but after being verbally abused and threatened.
“I said that I was there to check on the container watchers!! She eventually said that I had to park my car on the road, she was joined by a blue clothed rank on the road who said…. this man feel he can do what he wants… he needs somebody to slam him down parked on the road while hearing this abuse and threats, walked into the compound, spoke with one of the watchers and eventually sat with others under the shed,” Benn related.
He said while he was there the rank kept a close watch on him and others.
Benn noted that he was subsequently asked to leave the compound although he cited his right to be there. “The Special Constable had followed us around when I viewed the containers then left and came back in a few minutes to demand that I leave the compound!! I refused saying again that I was a commissioner and that I had every right to be there. She left after saying…You are a liard big man,” Benn said.
When contacted yesterday, Commander of Region 4(A) (ag) Phillip Azore told Sunday Stabroek that he had not received any report of the encounter. However, he promised to look into the matter.
This newspaper also spoke to a party representative, Paul Persaud who was present during the incident and his account of what transpired did not differ from Benn’s.
The incident was the second encounter Benn had with police within the past week.
Last Monday, a recount of all ballots cast during the March 2 elections was expected to begin under the supervision of a High Level team from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) was delayed.
The Arthur Chung Convention Centre was selected as the site for the recount to take place. However, it has since been delayed by a court case. As a result, the containers were moved on Friday to GECOM Headquarters.
Last Tuesday 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.
Benn had objected, declaring that as a statutory member of the elections commission his right to be present could not be infringed upon 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 [in] 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
Benn said during this incident he sustained a torn left shoulder and elbow ligaments and he currently needs to use an arm sling.
He added that he is pursuing advice in relation to both incidents. “In the meantime I want to rely on you to have your police provide me with the service, protection and respect which I deserve as a citizen and a Statutory Commissioner of an Independent Constitutional Commission,” Benn wrote in his letter to James.
