Days after the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) condemned the police for an “aggressive” posture towards members of the political parties and observer teams during the electoral process, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) yesterday defended its actions.
The GPF responded to a statement issued last Wednesday by the GCCI, calling it “unfounded, biased, unmerited and highly fallacious,” while maintaining that it is an impartial organisation.
The police described the title of the GCCI statement—“GCCI Condemns Aggressive Posture taken by GPF and Political Interference in Electoral Process”—as “highly prejudicial” to the force as it relates to its actions during an incident on March 16 at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.
It noted that the GCCI likened its actions to interference in the electoral process, which the GPF called “very misleading”.
Last Wednesday, the GCCI said members of its electoral observer team were present on the evening of March 16, 2020, at the compound of the conference centre 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 had said.
Last week Monday, a recount of all ballots cast during the March 2 elections which was expected to begin under the supervision of a High Level team from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) was delayed.
The conference centre 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 present, 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 [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
The GCCI had 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 [GECOM] must be openly denounced by all right-thinking political actors as such actions threaten to weaken and undermine democracy in Guyana,” the GCCI had stated.
The GPF yesterday said it is a professional organisation and maintains impartiality, a position which it argued has been consistently demonstrated during its daily engagements with the citizenry throughout the ten administrative regions. As a result, it contended there is absolutely no evidence to the contrary as is posited by the GCCI.
The statement further noted that the police operates within the confines of the law provided for by Section 3(2) of the Police Act Cap. “Reference is also made to article 197A (4) of the Constitution of Guyana which itself refers to what the Police can do to ensure safety in ‘all places,’” the police said.
