…for allegedly breaching COVID-19 measures

Two A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) supporters were arrested by the police for allegedly flouting the COVID-19 Orders, that prohibit public gatherings of more than five.

The two female supporters were part of a group gathered at the junction of High and Lamaha streets, where the Guyana Police Force had erected barricades, in an attempt to safeguard the headquarters of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). Another group of supporters was seen a short distance away, occupying sections of the Avenue.

From all indication, they were awaiting a decision of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) on the results of the General and Regional Elections, and had been in the area for well over two hours.  Just after 15:00hrs, a bus load of police officers arrived at the location to supplement those already there. The officers, some of whom had batons, were seen approaching the supporters, who were at the time occupying the avenue, and as they did, the APNU+AFC started to disperse.

However, there were those who expressed their dissatisfaction while contending that their rights to a free and fair election had been trampled upon. At around 15:30hrs, a female supporter was seen escorted by two female officers in the presence of Superintendent Walter Stanton – Third in Command in Division Four A, along Main Street.

When asked from a distance what she was being arrested for, the woman said she was standing up for her democratic rights, when was taken into custody. “I just stand up; I just stand up for my democratic rights,” she shouted while being whisked away by female ranks. She was taken into a police bus.

Along Main Street in the vicinity of the Prime Minister’s Residence; another supporter was seen lying on the ground.  At the scene, the Police, in particular, Superintendent Stanton appeared to have been agitated that the incident as being recorded by the press. A female police officer, in fact, told the Guyana Chronicle operative, that she should desist from recording.

A Division, Commander Phillip Azore, when contacted, told Guyana Chronicle that the APNU+AFC supporters were repeatedly asked to remove from the location. Failure to adhere to instructions of the police, he said, resulted in further actions being taken.

In a statement, and in direct response to a report filed by an online news outlet, the Police Force made it clear that no permission was granted for anyone to flout the Covid-19 Orders.

Referencing to an incident earlier that day, the Police said a group of persons had gathered along Main Street, New Amsterdam, Berbice in an attempt to conduct a protest march but they were soon dispersed. “The police quickly arrived at the location and dispersed the crowd having been told by the Deputy Commander via “loud hailer” that they had no police permission to conduct such activity,” a police statement read.

It said the Police were able to identify a number of individuals in the gathering and summonses are being prepared for charges against them for breach of the National Public Orders Restriction.