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Dear Editor
Black Lives Matter Guyana has taken notice of the actions by certain elements of the Guyana Police
Force (GPF) that are aimed at targeting Afro-Guyanese members of the Guyana Elections Commission
(GECOM) with an unfair investigation which at the most basic level cannot be serious about investigating
electoral fraud at the last elections. Any serious probe devoid of narrow and racist political aims would
be thorough and would certainly implicate more statutory officers who are of different races.
It is obvious that the actions of the Guyana Police Force are deliberate and methodical to defile, demean
and demoralize black staff of GECOM. It is blatant racial profiling with a subtle mental abuse on the
psyche of Afro-Guyanese who dare to confront and challenge the current government whose legitimacy
will be challenged before the High Court by an elections petition.
In less than one month the Guyana Police Force hierarchy has descended from a professional security organisation to a political apparatus doing the biddings of the government of the day. We have observed, the wanton abuse of citizens’ rights with arbitrary detention, illegal and prolonged arrest, meritless criminal charges with no credible evidence, high and unconscionable station bail, the unlawful denial of the right to access and be questioned in the presence of one’s attorney, and the inhumane treatment of persons based on their medical condition and need for food.
This is the image of the new Guyana Police Force in modern times. This is the image of the Guyana Police Force in 2020. It is ugly and monstrous.
The silence is deafening by the hierarchy of GECOM on the profiling and treatment of its own staff. The silence is deafening from all the civic and human rights organizations. The silence is deafening of political leaders whose role is to keep our political system, security services and the government in check.
The citizens of Guyana are beginning to see signs that defined the “dark days” when the Guyana Police Force was a threat to the masses with rampant extra judicial killings and police brutality. WE WILL NOT HAVE IT.
Black Lives Matter Guyana urges ALL GUYANESE and especially the black community to be militant and vigilant against misconduct and inappropriate actions by rogue elements and political agents within the Guyana Police Force. Do not allow rogue elements of the Guyana Police Force to compromise your rights. Do not allow rogue elements of the Guyana Police Force to racially profile, defile and demean the black community.
Stand strong in your black pride and black excellence. Always exercise your right to protest against any attempt to harm or maim you or someone you know. Weaponise yourself with the law and the right to legal representation and legal redress to the courts. Black Lives Matter Guyana is not against any entity’s claim of electoral fraud. We are totally and categorically against the wanton onslaught and targeting of GECOM staff of black extract. Based on revelations during the elections recount, allegations of numerous electoral fraud can be attributed to staff across all ethnic divides. We should not buy into any mischaracterized narrative of black people being corrupted based on the witch hunting expedition by elements of the Guyana Police Force at the directions of political agents of the government.
Black Lives Matter Guyana calls on the Guyana Police Force to be professional in its execution of duties and apply fairness in its investigation and desist from targeting black professionals. A continuation of the status quo will significantly erode public confidence and support for the Guyana Police Force and compound an unhealthy political climate in Guyana.
Regards
Black Lives Matter Guyana
