WPa’s Tacuma Ogunseye charged under Racial Hostility Act, released on $100,000 bail

Though he had vowed to plead “guilty with explanation” if the Police brought charges against him for attempting to excite hostility or ill-will on the ground of race, Working People’s Alliance (WPA) executive member Tacuma Ogunseye pleaded not guilty when he appeared in court on Monday morning.

The 71-year-old appeared before Magistrate Fabayo Azore at the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court.

He denied the charge which stated that on March 9, at a Buxton, East Coast Demerara (ECD), he attempted to excite hostility or ill-will against a section of the public on the ground of their race by words spoken by him.

The charge was filed under Section 2 (3) of the Racial Hostility Act.

Ogunseye, who is being represented by Attorneys-at-Law Nigel Hughes and Darren Wade was granted $100,000 bail and was instructed to make another court appearance on April 6.

The Police prosecutor raised serious objections to him being granted bail but these were overruled by the presiding magistrate.

The veteran politician surrendered to the Police in the company of his lawyers last Friday after a wanted bulletin was issued for him the day before. This publication understands that Ogunseye, who invoked his right to remain silent, was kept in custody over the weekend.

During one of his party’s public meetings at Buxton, Ogunseye urged Afro-Guyanese members of the Disciplined forces to “turn their guns” on the ruling PPP/C.

“…The first objective is to get the African team in a state of battle readiness… the Afro-Guyanese Police and soldiers… would stand with Afro-Guyanese in resisting mainly Indo-Guyanese supporting the PPP/C,” he had appealed at the public forum.

The statements made at the meeting have faced widespread condemnation from a wide cross-section of civil society, the Government, and some Opposition Members of Parliament.

Notwithstanding, the WPA has maintained that it has nothing to apologise for.