…coalition condemns move, urges end to psychological terrorism of members
Chairman of the People’s National Congress/Reform (PNC/R), Volda Lawrence has been called in for questioning by the Guyana Police Force, the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) disclosed on Saturday even as it registered its objection.
Lawrence was contacted by the Criminal Investigations Division (CID) and told to present herself at 16:15hrs today, Saturday, at the CID Headquarters, Eve Leary. It is likely that the PNC/R Chair is needed for questioning in connection to the ongoing investigation into allegations of electoral fraud. “This sudden and unnecessary demand for Ms. Lawrence to present herself at the CID Headquarters, late on a Saturday afternoon, must be seen for what it is – psychological terrorism against the APNU+AFC leadership, activists and supporters,” the coalition said.
It was keen on pointing out that the PNC/R Chair was previously charged by the police and placed before the court, and has since been placed on bail for charges which the party describes as baseless, spurious and trumped up.
“It is evident that there is a plan to detain Ms. Lawrence as others have been detained previously,” the coalition said. The CID’s request comes one day after the Deputy Chief Elections Officer, (DCEO), Roxane Myers called placed before the court and charged with two counts of misconduct in public office. However, ahead of her Court appearance, Myers was detained by the police, and made to sleep in the lock-ups.
APNU+AFC said the unmistakable intensification of the psychological terrorism on the leadership of the APNU+AFC Coalition by the PPP regime and their complicit agents in the Guyana Police Force will not be tolerated.
“This latest devious and abominable action by the PPP regime further crystallises that they are horrified and frightened by the APNU+AFC Coalition’s elections petitions which they know they will lose and will result in their removal from government which they temporarily occupy. They are attempting every desperate tactic to thwart the hearing of the election petition,” the coalition said.
It further stated that the actions of the PPP/C Administration and its agents in the Guyana Police Force are intended to incite the APNU+AFC supporters and the wider Guyanese public. “Their actions are meant to cause public strife and discord and are part of a clear plan to attack, intimidate, persecute and oppress Afro-Guyanese who are perceived to be supportive of the APNU+AFC Coalition. The PPP is instigating and fuelling ethnic strife and confrontation in Guyana,” the coalition said while noting that those taken into custody is of one ethnicity.
The coalition warned that a continuance of this physiological terrorism could have serious consequences, and the PPP/C should desist with immediate effect. “The APNU+AFC Coalition demands that the PPP immediately desist from these actions and should it fail to adhere to our demands it will suffer the consequences of retaliatory measures which the APNU+AFC Coalition will be left with no alternative but to pursue,” the coalition said.
It is also calling on Guyanese, CARICOM, the United Nations and the international community to take note that Afro-Guyanese are under attack in Guyana by the PPP/C. The coalition said the regional and international communities cannot turn a blind eye to the manner in which the Government has weaponised the Guyana Police Force against the APNU+AFC leadership, activists and supporters.
