The Guyana Police Force and the PNCR have both denied that instructions were passed by the latter for the arrest, detainment and charging of Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, in relation to comments made at Babu Jaan.
“The People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) strongly condemns the gross misinformation contained in a Peoples’ Progressive Party (PPP) press release dated, April 15th 2019. In that release, the PPP erroneously and mischievously stated that the Guyana Police Force (GPF) was instructed by Congress Place and the Office of the President to arrest, detain and charge Opposition Leader and General Secretary of the PPP, Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo with criminal offence(s) under the Racial Hostility Act Chapter 23:01, Laws of Guyana for willfully exciting or attempting to excite racial hostility in relation to a speech delivered at Babu John, Port Mourant, Corentyne, on the 11th day of March, 2019,” the PNCR release stated.
While it denied issuing the directive, the party acknowledged that they had condemned the statements made by Jagdeo at Babu Jaan, stating that his call for citizens to engage in behaviour that can result in a breach of the law was deplorable and worthy of condemnation.
“While Guyanese have become accustomed to the disgraceful utterances of the Leader of the Opposition on public occasions, his statement at Babu John had serious implications for peace, race relations and national security, particularly in an Election Year…The PNCR condemns the PPP campaign of lies and Mr. Jagdeo’s attempts to create racial division in Guyana,” the PNCR stated.
Furthermore, the party also added that it is not in its culture, whether in or out of government, to “issue directives to the Guyana Police Force (GPF) or interfere in the day-to-day operation and administration of the GPF”.
Meanwhile, the GPF, also refuting the statement, asserted that is a professional organisation, and noted that its actions, both in the past and currently, have always been pursuant to legal advice obtained or as a result of investigations carried out.
“The Guyana Police Force wishes to clearly refute such statement and to inform all and sundry that the Ministry of the Presidency, the People’s National Congress- Reform or A Partnership for National Unity have not given any such instruction or advice,” it said.
Stabroek News had previously reported that Jagdeo, addressing supporters during the PPP’s commemoration of the birth anniversary of the party’s founder, Dr, Cheddi Jagan in March, stated, “Here in Berbice and right across Guyana, when the ministers or (President David) Granger or (Prime Minister Moses) Nagamootoo come here after the 21st of March, you say to them, walk behind them, chase them out.”
Following news reports recounting the statements, the government and opposition have traded accusations.
