The police say they are investigating an intrusion at the residence of Chief Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire where a man pointed a toy gun at two law enforcers before fleeing.
Police sources last night said that a suspect has been held.
The incident occurred around 2pm. At the time, two police officers, a male and a female were present at the property.
According to a police press statement, the female rank left the guard hut and went into the washroom when she was confronted by the intruder who was armed with what appeared to be a handgun.
The police said the suspect approached the rank and pointed the object at her. He also fired a punch at her but missed.
During the process, the rank called out for her colleague who was in the garage of the building. He was armed with a .38 revolver, the police added.
“The rank having heard the call went out to see who it was when the said (intruder) pointed the object at him causing the rank to take cover,” the statement explained.
The intruder then dropped the object and escaped by scaling the fence. It is unclear what measures were immediately taken by the police to pursue the intruder.
The object that was pointed at the guard was then picked up, the police said.
The incident came just hours before the case management conference scheduled for today for the hearing of the petitions filed by the main Opposition A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) challenging the results of the March 2nd polls.
The Chief Justice will preside over the case management hearing.
The Government of Guyana in a statement last evening condemned the incident while nothing that the police have been advised to ensure that the Chief Justice is provided with all the necessary security.
The Government described the incident as the latest assault on the country’s democracy. “Such actions can only emanate from those who are fearful of the Constitution, the rule of law and sound rulings from the Judiciary,” the statement said.
The PPP/C reminded that in 2015, it filed a petition which is yet to be heard. “The PPP/C has a long record of respecting the Constitution and resorting to litigation, as well as obeying Orders and Judgments emanating therefrom,” the statement said.
“For the record, the PPP/C Government has nothing to fear from either of the two Election petitions filed and we have already stated that they are frivolous, vexatious and as without merit as every other legal proceedings APNU+AFC have filed in recent times,” it added.
Meanwhile, in a statement, APNU+AFC expressed alarm and said that the incident “appears to be a clear attempt to intimidate the Chief Justice”.
As such, the Opposition called on the police to provide heightened 24-hour security to the Chief Justice so as to ensure her safety and protection.
“….And that she is able to proceed with the case management and hearing of the Elections Petitions without hindrance,” the statement noted.
