NEWS
9
TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM
Shuman challenges Harmon to ‘come clean’ on GECOM meddling P residential Candidate for the Liberty and Justice Party (LJP), Lennox Shuman has called out Director General of the Ministry of the Presidency (MoTP), Joseph Harmon, over claims that the coalition meddled in the operations at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) in order to influence the outcome of the March 2 General and Regional Elections. Shuman, in a video message broadcast on social media yesterday, told listeners that Harmon – an executive of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), the largest coalition member – must “come clean” and “let the people know about the delay tactics being employed by the generals in PNC.” He called on Harmon, to provide an explanation as to the reason low-level GECOM staff would be calling him personally, in relation to anything election-related. Harmon at a press engagement over the weekend had divulged to reporters that on March 11 last, he had received a telephone call from the Deputy Returning Officer (DRO) at Stewartville, who was com-
Businessman arrested for indiscriminately discharging firearm
A LJP Presidential Candidate Lennox Shuman
plaining about a directive received. Shuman in another post also accused GECOM of “doing every single thing that they possibly can to stall, delay or boycott the process of getting the recount done.” He was referring to the agreed to countrywide recount of the votes cast at the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections. According to Shuman, the move to sanitise the Arthur Chung International Conference Centre was, in fact, another delay tactic being employed by GECOM and potentially coalition cohorts.
Retired Singh
Justice
Claudette
Shuman posited a suspicion that Head of State, President David Granger is being pressured by his generals to go down the wrong path. Harmon was adamant, however, that “we do not intervene, neither do we interfere in the work of GECOM” and suggested that when the election process is completed, the coalition will have to get around to working assiduously to pull back opinion that seeks to suggest that as a Government they had a role in any sort of irregularity. Meanwhile, Shuman, the LJP Presidential Candidate, in a brief tirade also called
Director General of Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon
out the Alliance for Change – the second-largest faction of the coalition – and said the party has morphed into the same evil it had fought under stringent circumstances to dislodge. The LJP Leader was also critical of the Working Peoples’ Alliance (WPA) and alluded to the fact that Dr Walter Rodney was assassinated in trying to fight for democracy. He said the current WPA, including the likes of Dr Rupert Roopnaraine have been silenced and have in fact betrayed the principles that their party’s founder leader had died fighting for.
South Ruimveldt, Georgetown businessman was arrested on Sunday evening after he discharged his firearm indiscriminately. According to Police reports, the incident occurred at about 19:56h. Information received revealed that the resident of Congress Drive, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown, was discharging the loaded firearm unsystematically while his wife and two children were at home. As such, the police were summoned and a team from Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) responded promptly. The businessman immediately surrendered to the police and he was taken into custody. A .32 pistol along with several live rounds of ammunition and spent shells were retrieved at the scene. Guyana Times understands that the 41-year-old businessman is an auto dealer and is also a licensed fire-
arm holder. No injuries were reported but the police have launched an investigation into the matter. In January, another businessman was taken into Police custody after he unsystematically discharged a loaded firearm on Broad Street, Georgetown. It was reported that Police ranks were patrolling the La Penitence, Georgetown area when they heard two loud explosions that appeared to be gunshots. They proceeded to the area and upon arrival, they observed the intoxicated businessman holding a firearm in his hands. The man was asked to produce his licence and did so without hesitation. Guyana Times understands that the man was arrested after being told of the allegation. His firearm, a .32 Taurus pistol, was seized and lodged. Two spent shells were discovered in the area.
