Following the dismantling of what used to be the regional office of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), the Guyana Police Force said it has prepared a file to be sent to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP). Shalimar Ali-Hack today for legal advice on the grounds of illegal occupation of the structure.
On social media, a post by PNCR Member and Attorney-at-Law Darren Wade, showed tents established in what appeared to be inside of the partly demolished building. The caption read, “I thought it was important for me to sleep in our Congress House and not my Hotel at Lethem. We will not be bullied by the PPP!”
But from all indications, the police will be taking action to prevent Wade and possibly others from occupying the building. In a statement, the police said on March 1, 2023, at about 23:50 hrs, police ranks in Regional Division #9, acting on information, went to the government building where they met Regional Executive Officer (REO) Mr Karl Singh and six men.
Guyana Standard understands that the REO had indicated to the ranks that he had given the “six men” permission to enter the building and take off the roof.
“The contractor completed the task of taking off the roof at about 01:25 hrs on March 2. At about 02:30 hours that morning, a motor pickup bearing license plate # GRR 1100 driven by Carl Parker and minibus bearing licence plate #BYY 755 driven by George Nicholson arrived at the area where they started to ‘video’ the building. The contractor Dale Kennedy and two of his workers were inside the building at the time,” the police said.
The force further noted that Parker entered the compound and the building, where he started “behaving disorderly and chasing the contractor and his workers”. The police claimed that the contractor and his workers then refused to move.
“However, the ranks intervened and told Parker to maintain the peace. He became annoyed and entered three other times, where he continued to video the building and workers,” the force said.
According to police, the following day at about 16:00 hours, the REO went to the Lethem Police Station, where he made a formal report that “PNC officials namely Mr Darren Wade, Ms Dawn Hastings-Williams and others came and broke off the lock from the gate of the compound and damaged the fence.”
Further, it was reported that the team then entered the compound, “abused the contractor and his workers and chased them from the building, telling them to leave.”
It was further revealed that the REO had served the APNU/AFC Chairperson and General Secretary a Notice to vacate the premises as well as reminders to hand over the keys to the building.
Detectives will now await the advice of the DPP on the way forward.
