Following a series of complaints, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) yesterday attempted to improve the accommodation for media operatives stationed outside the Arthur Chung Convention Centre (ACCC) for the National Recount Exercise.
These attempts were however marred when several persons who appear to be supporters of the incumbent APNU+AFC coalition verbally accosted several reporters who were attempting to use the washroom facilities at the National Aquatic Centre (NAC).
On Wednesday media operatives who had been promised an appropriate space from which to operate arrived at the ACCC arrived to find that tents for their use had been erected amid high grass. The area did not include any furniture, washroom facilities nor electricity.
GECOM spokesperson Yolanda Ward, in response to complaints, had the area weeded, secured chairs and a few tables for use and communicated that the VIP room at the Aquatic Centre across the road was available for use as was the washroom facility.
Yesterday, the area was also provided with lights and electrical outlets to facilitate media operations.
However just before 5 pm yesterday when reporters attempted to use the facilities at the NAC they were stopped
Journalists from Newsroom, Kaieteur News and the Guyana Chronicle were allegedly treated to “a nasty buse out” by persons who were wearing “PNC/R T-shirts”.
According to one journalist the “APNU+AFC people” had taken over the centre and were verbally hostile to the reporters telling them that GECOM could not grant them permission to use the washrooms rather the Commission needed to provide portable toilets.
Stabroek News had observed the party establishing a media outpost several hours before on the outskirts of the NAC.
Another of the affected journalists indicated that the Director of Sport Christopher Jones later apologized to the members of the media who were allegedly verbally assaulted.
According to a public Facebook post, Jones indicated that he in his capacity as Director of Sport had not received written communication from GECOM requesting that the media use the facilities at the NAC.
Jones is said to have promised to clean the washrooms and supply them with adequate toiletries so that the media would be able to utilize the facilities comfortably.
