PPP, AFC in tiff over visit to home of man beaten in Agricola unrest

The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) last evening accused the AFC of trying to intimidate one of its members who reported that he was beaten during Thursday’s disturbances on the East Bank but AFC executive Gerhard Ramsaroop said he was only trying to commiserate with the man.

In a statement, the PPP said that Ramsaroop was yesterday observed with two unknown individuals “stalking” the home of Majeed Hussein while in a vehicle.

Hussein, according to the PPP, had reported on Friday that he was severely beaten by thugs during Thursday’s unrest on the East Bank. The PPP has blamed the opposition, particularly the AFC, for what transpired.

The PPP release stated that Ramsaroop exited his vehicle and confronted Hussein who was at the time at home with his family. It added that neighbours have reported that they observed one of the individuals with Ramsaroop filming the home and surroundings.

Asked about this, Ramsaroop told Stabroek News last evening that he attempted to visit Hussein only to commiserate with him after being informed that he had been involved in an incident during Thursday’s protests.

“We were close during the 1992 (election) campaign. Close even before then so I simply went to let him know that the AFC does not condone violence and robbery… to ask him what was his injury and so but he was very hostile. He just asked me ‘what is it, what is it?’ you want to interview me?’” Ramsaroop told Stabroek News. Ramsaroop had been a member of the PPP before he moved to the AFC.

Ramsaroop added that he is surprised that the PPP would have such a negative outlook on a good faith visit and to further transform it into an “ugly confrontation”.

“During this entire thing, he (Hussein) did not yell or anything. He just turned up his face and he clearly did not want to speak to me,” the AFC executive noted.

Hussein has spoken out publicly about the attack and robbery he was subjected to during Thursday’s protest outside of Agricola which led to a five-hour traffic jam. During this period, gangs of thieves attacked those trapped in the traffic.

The PPP said it is also “encouraging all law abiding citizens and civil society organizations to speak out” against what it said was a terror campaign by the AFC.

The party said a report on yesterday’s incident will be made to the police as soon as Hussein “overcomes this latest terrifying ordeal at the hands of the AFC”.