Police last evening escorted Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Manniram Prashad from the New Campbellville Secondary School after he entered the compound of the polling place around 6 pm.
Residents objected to his presence there and police back-up was quickly dispatched to the polling station and he was escorted out of the compound. Efforts made to contact Prashad for a comment proved futile.
This was the second time that Prashad was escorted out by police yesterday, according to residents gathered at the school. Earlier yesterday, this newspaper was told, Prashad arrived at the polling station with members of the community police.
“They were going in passing the Gecom clerk,” a female party agent who did not want to be identified, said. “He went in and took a seat. I spoke up and said that no minister has any right in the polling station. Where was his letter of appointment from Gecom?” She identified the polling station as 413233 – B
Police came and removed Prashad from the polling station.
Meanwhile, up to the time Stabroek News left that polling place last evening, security was tight and while some law enforcement officials urged the residents to return to their homes, a number of residents vowed to remain until the votes were counted.
Some two hours later, PPP/C representative Juan Edghill attempted to enter a polling station at the Redeemer Primary School also in Campbellville and was riotously chased out by residents in the area.
No police were summoned in this instance and several
residents picked up large rocks with which they threatened to stone Edghill’s vehicle as he quickly drove off.
