EXECUTIVE Member of the PPP, Anil Nandlall, has formally written acting Commissioner of Police, David Ramnarine on behalf of other PPP members, who believe they are at risk of being killed or harmed because of comments made by Eric Phillips – an employee of the State Assets Recovery Unit (SARU).

In a two-page letter, Nandlall explained to the Commissioner that Phillips’ comments, which were made on Facebook, have caused his clients to now be “exposed to being killed or suffer grievous bodily harm”.

Phillips has been critical of the former PPP government, which he has accused of being corrupt. Just recently he said that 15,000 ounces of gold was stolen from the country under that government. This prompted Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo to respond to Phillips at a public outreach in Berbice – one of the PPP’’s strongholds.

Subsequently, Phillips shared on his Facebook profile, sentiments which did not sit well with members of the opposition. He indicated that Jagdeo has been pushing a narrative which makes him (Phillips) appears to be racist and that could put him (Phillips) and his family at risk of being harmed. The post was made on March 11. In light of this, Nandlall, filed a formal complaint with Commissioner Ramnarine, whom he asked to thoroughly investigate the matter and institute charges, if necessary.

Nandlall stated that Article 146 of the Constitution guarantees freedom of expression of every individual, but pointed out that it predicated on the following caveat: “Freedom of expression in this article does not relate to hate speech, or other expressions in whatever form, capable of exciting hostility or ill-will against any person or class of persons”. The letter was also sent to President David Granger, Public Security Minister and 14 other persons, including foreign dignitaries.