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Party reps, Observers asked to “leave” Convention Centre or “face arrest” by Riot police
– Commissioner claims injury during attack
By Shikema Dey
Accredited Observers for the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections along with representatives from the varying political parties were last evening reportedly given an ultimatum by riot police to either leave the Arthur Chung Convention Centre or face incarceration.
Opposition Appointed GECOM Commissioner, Robeson Benn, lying on the ground reportedly after being injured by police ranks
The Convention Centre is the official venue pinpointed for the national recount of ballots for the previously held elections.
Kaieteur News was informed that the threat was made after the party representatives refused to vacate the compound since it now houses the containers packed with the ballot boxes.
People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Executive Member and Attorney-at-Law, Anil Nandlall, was among the group removed from the compound.
Speaking to reporters outside of the Convention Centre, Nandall explained that the agreement made allows for a representative or representatives from the political parties and the observer teams, alongside Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Commissioners, to be present at this site.
He told Kaieteur News that “they (the police) said that they are giving us lawful directions, they warned us that a refusal to carry out or comply with the police directive is an offence and they threatened to arrest us if we do not comply with their directives.”
He said, “They have put us out and there are containers in the compound here, unsecured and without any monitoring from any of the political parties or the observers’ teams.”
Nandlall pointed out that the order was made by a police officer in riot gear who suddenly appeared without warning.
According to him, “they brought in a whole group of riot police, totally attired, to deal with a riotous situation that did not exist.”
“Now you saw all of us here, you know all the people who have been out here, you would not have heard any noise, you would not have seen any evidence of any riotous conduct or behaviour. Yet the riot squad was called in, equipped with riot clothes and equipment to put us out of the compound,” he added.
PPP’s Anil Nandlall address the reporters
Nandlall described the act as a blatant “abuse of power”, citing that the police are being used as pawns to carry out political directives.
“This is highly unacceptable and the Guyana Police Force is again being used as a political instrument, to carry out political directives,” he insisted.
When asked who the orders came from directly, Nandlall was unable to ascertain such, explaining that they were not told why they were asked to move, only given the directive.
“The Commissioner of Police has not surfaced. You’re not hearing anything from the Commissioner of Police, you’re not even hearing from the Minister…well there is no Minister, just the President so you don’t know who is running this operation but certainly the police can’t take directions from ministers.”
The former Attorney General posited that the police must take directions from a higher head since they cannot act on their own accord.
“We see an abuse of power taking place and we see the ballot boxes being unnecessarily exposed to the danger of being raided,” he said.
Opposition-appointed Commissioner, Robeson Benn, claimed that he was injured last evening during an altercation with two riot officers.
According to Benn, while he was situated with the containers containing the ballot boxes, he was approached by two officers who demanded that he leave the premises or be arrested. However, the Commissioner made it known to them that an agreement was made at the level of the Elections Commission on Sunday, which was affirmed.
Benn was keen to highlight that it was agreed that a representative from each stakeholder party had to be present with the containers 24/7. As such, Benn defended his presence there.
However, those riot officers, according to Benn, refused to listen to his statements, after which they attacked him. Photos that were circulated on social media showed Benn lying on the ground with two riots officers towering over him.
Benn claims that he suffered from an injury to his left arm and torso and was advised to visit the hospital by his colleague, Dr. Frank Anthony.
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