THE People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has denounced alleged actions by Georgetown Mayor Hamilton Green on behalf of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU).
PPP/C Executive Member, Clement Rohee, who is also Minister of Home Affairs, charged that, during a recent meeting with vendors in the city, Green is alleged to have attempted to extort funds from those in attendance. Speaking at a media briefing at PPP/C Freedom House, Robb Street headquarters, Rohee said such activities are in breach of the recently signed Code of Conduct for Political Parties.
He said: “It has come to my attention that Mr. Hamilton Green held a meeting with vendors in Georgetown and, at that meeting, efforts were made to extort funds from vendors in exchange for protection, from what was perceived to be anticipated problems following the elections… My reading of the Code of Conduct makes reference to this type of intimidatory behaviour and calls upon the contesting parties to desist from this type of behaviour.”
Rohee reported that the vendors expressed a certain level of “discomfort” in response to the appeal in exchange for protection, to the degree that a number of them actually walked out of the meeting.
“I want to take the opportunity to denounce activities of that nature, especially coming from a person who has higher office in the city of Georgetown and one who, coincidentally, is a candidate for the opposition APNU,” the minister stated.
He took the opportunity to appeal to those persons who have fallen victim to such activity, not to succumb to threats of extortion from whatever quarter and to maintain optimism, in respect to the electoral process and the events after elections.
Rohee said he was also concerned over reports that persons from the Opposition parties have been approaching businessmen from a similar angle and assured that every effort is being made to collect statements so that the relevant authorities can “take the matter forward”.
Another PPP/C Executive Member, Robert Persaud mentioned the extortion matter to the media, as well, and added his condemnation to the reported attempt at it and to instill fear, calling it a “nasty, dirty and vulgar” form of intimidation.
He announced that the identity of the individual responsible for such an act would be revealed to the public within 24 hours.
Meanwhile, Mayor Green, at a press conference at his City Hall office yesterday, said these accusations were “disparaging”, “bizarre”, “completely unfounded” and “absurd”.
Meanwhile, a senior officer at the municipality, who spoke to this newspaper on condition of anonymity, said Green’s action to solicit funds for APNU’s campaign from market vendors last November 14, was a total conflict of interest.
Green did not forthrightly deny that he did entertain market vendors at his complex last November 14 for the purpose of collecting donations for APNU, but he denied that staff of the municipality was used to collect the monies.
According to the official, though, the mayor’s special assistant, office assistant and a clerk were the individuals who were on hand to receive the donations.
The official said Green’s denial was total dishonesty and that such a fund-raising activity should have been held at APNU’s office, and not at the council during normal working hours.
Obviously, persons who were asked to make  donations would have felt compelled to do so bearing in mind that they were under Green’s jurisdiction, the official explained.