Mentally ill man takes over declaration of elections results

Dec 02, 2011 News

– after breaching GECOM media centre security

A man of unsound mind breached the security of the Guyana Elections Commission

The mentally challenged man addressing the audience at the GECOM Media Centre yesterday.

media centre at the Pegasus and proceeded to address those who were awaiting the announcement of the final results of the general elections.
The man, who was clad in a yellow T-shirt entered the facility undetected by security personnel and proceeded to sit unnoticed among members of the media for more than 30 minutes.
He waited until the arrival of GECOM Chairman Dr. Steve Surujbally to make his move.
When Dr Surujbally sat at the table on the stage, the man took to the podium and started to address the audience.
Dr Surujbally jumped. He looked around the room and saw all the people who should be there either standing or sitting and chatting. Then near panic stepped in. Who was this man? He was uncertain whether this was a GECOM employee.
At the time no one knew who the man was and many thought that he might have been a part of the communication team. The diplomats paid attention. One thought that GECOM had planned something special given that there were three lengthy delays.
It was not until the man began speaking that many in the audience realized that something was not right with him. The observers and diplomats looked at each other.
Photographers rushed to take pictures.
The man, whose name was given as Michael Thom, took advantage of being on live national television to declare himself as the king of kings.
“I am the king of kings. This is no joke,” he said.
It was then that Dr Surujbally, who had begun to sweat, loudly summoned the security and a police officer eventually came and took the man away.
Outside the room the man began to chant, “I am the new president, the king of kings. Hail up. Elections tomorrow.” The police had a hard time controlling him but there was no danger.