Mr. Roysdale Forde S.C, Secretary of the Institute for Action Against Discrimination (IAAD), Mr. Lelon Saul, trade unionist, Mr. Lincoln Lewis, and Georgetown Mayor Pt. Ubraj Narine have all added their voices in condemnation to the arrest and persecution of Mr. Tacuma Ogunseye.
Ogunseye, executive member of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), last Friday submitted himself to the police station in response to a Wanted Bulletin. The Police last Thursday issued the bulletin citing Ogunseye is wanted for “several serious offences and attempting to excite racial hostility or ill-will on the ground of race, contrary to Section 3 of the Racial Hostility Act, Chapter 23:01.”
But according to Dr. David Hinds, WPA executive member, the police did not seek to connect Ogunseye prior to or subsequent to the issuance of bulletin in as much as he is a public figure, and his contact and address not unknown.
Speaking at the IAAD meeting last Saturday, Forde said “Today we stand with our brother Tacuma Ogunseye who is currently in the lock up, having presented himself to police based on a Wanted Bulletin issued for him. Though some may not agree with statements made by him, we must recall that Mr. Ogunseye sought to explain what he meant, denying a call for violence or intent of violence.
“Notwithstanding that, the Ali government is holding him where he does not stand the chance to leave before Monday. We are living in times where the government is seeking to curtail our freedoms, not only physically but our right to freedom of expression. We give solidarity to our brother and whereas we stand on the side of the law, we all stand in support of freedoms as enshrined in international conventions and the Laws of Guyana.”
Last Tuesday, at the WPA’s press conference, Ogunseye clarified statements made at a 9th March public meeting in Buxton that have sparked outrage by sections of society, notably the leadership of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C). At that press conference Ogunseye said his statements at the meeting were not referring to violence. This was also reported in the state-owned Guyana Chronicle of March 29, 2023.
Lewis stated that he stands with Ogunseye and condemned the treatment meted out to him. He argued there must be better means by which Guyanese facing police charges are treated.
According to the trade unionist, “these are modern times, and our judicial system must put in place systems whereby citizens do not have to be detained longer than is necessary. This must cease. It is time to put in place around the clock service.”
The unnecessary detention in itself is a form of punishment that may be wrong in terms of whether the detainee is found guilty or not, he said, even as he made the call for prison reform and the PPP/C government “to stop using the judicial system to enact political vengeance.”
The trade unionist warned that the locking up of Ogunseye is meant to send a message to other Guyanese that they are not free to express political opinions. “The pettiness of the PPP must stop. We know too well that there are others in society whom the police would dare not even touch even in instances where murders and other serious crimes occur.”
Georgetown Mayor Pt. Ubraj Narine, in adding his voice in condemnation, drew attention to the police not acting on information about corruption allegations involving Chinese businessman Su Zhirong and Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo.
Saul called on Guyanese to stand in solidarity with Oguneseye. He said Ogunseye is being persecuted by the PPP Government and asked that people turn up, in their numbers, at his court date on Monday.
Ogunseye is set to appear before the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court today.
