Head of the People’s National Congress Reform, Region Nine chapter, Carl Parker, was yesterday charged along with another party member, Godfrey Williams, for damage to the perimeter fence of the building that housed the party’s regional office.
The duo appeared before Magistrate Allan Wilson at the Lethem Magistrate’s Court and pleaded not guilty to the charges. They were represented by attorney-at-law Darren Wade
Parker, 59, unemployed, of the Lethem Agriculture Zone, Hiowa Creek, Central Rupununi, and Williams, called ‘Cut-Mouth’, 55, a miner of Tabatinga Village, Lethem, were jointly charged with malicious damage to property committed on a government building.
They were each placed on $30,000 bail.
Meanwhile, Parker was slapped with a second charge for threatening behaviour and malicious damage to property committed on Dale Kennedy on March 4. He pleaded not guilty and was released on self-bail.
Kennedy, of Tabatinga, Lethem, was hired as the contractor to erect the perimeter fence around the property.
The matters were adjourned to March 22.
The building which once housed the region’s head office became the centre of controversy after a contractor who was awarded a contract to carry out remedial work by the Regional Democratic Council (RDC), had his workers begin to dismantle the building during the wee hours of March 2. The PNCR for decades occupied the building but the RDC has claimed ownership of it.
The PNCR had strongly maintained that the premises belongs to the party and that no document was provided to state otherwise.
General Secretary Dawn Hastings-Williams said the party “has been in possession of the property” for approximately 50 years now, “and its rights to ownership and possession have never been disputed.”
However, Regional Executive Officer of Region Nine, Karl Singh, yesterday told Stabroek News that the property was in the inventory of the RDC. He said the process to have the property vacated started over one year ago.
According to the REO, in addition to dispatching notices to the leadership as well as the local arm of the PNCR in Lethem, he also personally visited the location to meet them and discuss the issue.
Singh said a contract was awarded for remedial work to be carried out on the building’s roof and windows to make way for a health centre. He said that the agenda of the region and government was to ensure that “we have healthy people” and as such proper facilities must be developed.
According to the PNCR, the operation was carried out by hired Venezuelan nationals under the supervision of ranks attached to the Guyana Police Force.
Hastings-Williams said that items belonging to the party were seized during the “unlawful operation.” They included Claims and Objections reports that should have been submitted to the Guyana Elections Commission by 6 pm yesterday, along with 11 barrels of clothing for distribution and electronic equipment.
When asked about this, Singh told this newspaper that to his knowledge the items which were in the building were “secured” by the contractor and the party was informed that they could be uplifted.
Hastings-Williams yesterday added, “This action is consistent with the pattern of disrespect for the Rule of Law and democracy that has been displayed by the Irfaan Ali-led regime.”
She charged that the action was “dangerously provocative” and it was clear the government’s aim was for “total dominance and control.”
The party has filed a report with the police and the Guyana Police Force in a statement had said that the file has been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions for advice.
