GPF/ PSC meet on ‘security’; other issues during elections period

Top Cop Leslie James and teams from the Police and Private Sector Commission meeting on Monday

A team from the Private Sector Commission met with the Guyana Police Force on Monday where discussions were held on the issue of the latter ensuring peace, stability, and security during the impending elections period.

In a statement issued by the Guyana Police Force on Tuesday, it was noted that the private Sector Commission delegation was led by its Chairman Gerry Gouveia while the team from the Guyana Police Force was headed by its Commissioner of Police, Leslie James.

“During the meeting which was held at the Commissioners’ Conference Room, discussions were focused primarily on the Force’s role with regard to its commitment on ensuring peace, stability and security during the impending elections period” the statement from the Guyana Police Force noted.

Over the last few weeks, there have been pockets of confrontations and agitation from both sides of the two main political parties as each carried out their respective political activities across various communities. There have been no charges brought against anyone in these incidents.

There was first the incident in Laing Avenue where a group of supporters for the Peoples Progressive Party Civic was prevented from campaigning and erecting party paraphernalia in the community by supporters of the APNU+AFC who blocked the path of the supporters of the PPP?C. In that instance, the police were called in and escorted the PPP/C activists out of the area by ordering them to reverse their vehicle out of the community.

Two weeks ago, supporters of the APNU+AFC were forced to endure taunts and counter activities by PPP/C supporters when they entered the community of Enterprise, East Coast Demerara to hold a political meeting calling for the community to vote for the PPP/C. The police who were present at that meeting were forced to keep both sides at bay.

Just last week there were two more incidents, one where activists of the APNU+AFC set up their podium on the parapet of a resident at Non-Pariel to conduct a political meeting. It turned out the set up was done in front of the home of a PPP/C supporter and that did cause some conflict between the two sides.

Last week also, the security for former President and Prime Minister Samuel Hinds of the PPP were forced to evacuate him out of an area in Linden after some sort of explosion was heard as he addressed a roadside political meeting in Linden, Region 10. Prior to the explosion sound, a number of supporters of the APNU+AFC were seen waving flags and hitting instruments in the general area where the meeting was being held.

“The Guyana Police Force endorsed the efforts of the PSC as a key stakeholder and gave its commitment to collaborate with a view of ensuring that all events leading up to the General and Regional Elections are guided by its mandate as set out under the Constitution of Guyana” the statement from the police force noted” the police statement on Tuesday noted in respect to their meeting with the Private Sector Commission.