PEOPLE’S Progressive Party (PPP) Member of Parliament (MP) Juan Edghill was on Tuesday arrested and later released after breaching law-enforcement barriers in an attempt to enter Parliament from where he has been suspended for four days.

When Edghill arrived prior to the commencement of Parliament, he was denied entry at the barricades at the intersection of Brickdam and High Street. He quickly enquired about the whereabouts of the senior official who gave the instructions to prevent him from entering the Parliament’s precincts. The MP was annoyed by the fact that he was, upon arrival, being addressed by a traffic rank instead of the officer in charge.

“I’d like to comply with the law and I would like to be told under what law and under what statutes I’m prevented from entering the National Assembly of which I am an elected representative of the people,” Edghill said.

As groups of civilians noticed the commotion and began to gather around the roadblocks, the PPP MP told the media that he and his family had been under surveillance from around 07:00hrs on Tuesday and that he was obstructed several times on his way to Parliament on Cemetery Road.
“You know how long I’ve been trying to get here? They’ve had vehicles following me, that are cutting in front of me, parking, I have to sit and wait…these are unmarked vehicles,” Edghill explained.

He went on to comment, “If I have committed a crime, please arrest me, charge me and prosecute me for that crime and until such a time, as I have not committed a crime, I am prepared to stand as an elected representative of the people and defend the people of Guyana.”

Shortly afterwards, the opposition representative was approached by Police Superintendent, Anthony Vanderhyden and third in command of ‘A’ Division, Phillip Azore, who told the MP that it was a direct instruction from the Speaker which prevented him from entering the Parliament or its precincts. The PPP MP proceeded to question the officers on whether the Speaker had indeed given them this order, after which he proceeded to give the media his recount on what had transpired on Monday.

During the recount, Edghill commended his fellow party members for their backing on the matter and further stated that he was not afraid to do what he needed to do in order to make his way into Parliament. “All my colleagues must be commended, they stood with me yesterday [Monday] because they know exactly what is the game plan, they know the government wants to avoid scrutiny and I have the assurance of all of my colleagues,” Edghill said.

He continued: “Many of them have been in conversation with me because their vehicles were being searched this morning on their way into Parliament as if Edghill will come to sneak into Parliament.” “I am not a sneaker! I’m a public figure who has been in the public eyes for more than two decades. I cannot hide and I will not hide. I will do what I have to do.”

When asked to expound on what exactly he plans to do as the Parliament session was about to begin, Edghill told the media that he would proceed into the building with his belongings, as per usual. “I am here and I’ve asked the police in charge to remove the barricade that I can enter. The next step I will do is that I will park my car peacefully somewhere, I will pick up my briefcase and my books and I will make my entry into the Parliament.”

This is exactly what the PPP MP intended to do as he strutted past the barricades, only to be stopped by more police officers, after only covering a few feet from where he previously stood. The MP told the officers who surrounded him, “I cannot be arrested! I have immunity as a Member of Parliament in the House of the Assembly; I have not committed any crime. And if any police officer is going to arrest me, at minimum, they must tell me what [is] the crime I have committed or what is the law I have broken.”

At this point PPP MP Anil Nandlall came to the defence of Edghill who was now being asked by Superintendent Azore to enter the police vehicle on arrest of breaching the barriers of law enforcement.

Edghill refused to enter the vehicle despite multiple requests and exclaimed instead, “I will walk voluntarily to the Brickdam Police Station.” The MP did as he declared. He then walked to the station surrounded and secured by law-enforcement officers as members of the public watched on. Edghill has since been released from custody at the Brickdam Police Station.