APNU/AFC supporters allowed to flout COVID-19 orders

…Police in NA assist smooth flow of protest

Scores of supporters of the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition have been allowed to flout COVID-19 orders as they gather in the vicinity of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).
The COVID-19 measures, which have been extended until July 2, prohibit large gatherings in public places.

On Thursday, GECOM was expected to make a declaration of the results of the 2020 elections – paving the way for the People’s Progressive Party/Civic’s Dr Irfaan Ali to be sworn in as President.
Meanwhile, in New Amsterdam, about 100 APNU/AFC supporters are once again allowed to gather in large numbers. With banners in hand, they marched the streets of New Amsterdam from the GECOM office at Princess Elizabeth Road to Strand and St Magdalene Street, where the coalition’s regional office is located.

While the Police said that no permission was granted for the protest,

the APNU/AFC protesters were not promptly arrested as done in May when a handful of PPP/C supporters gathered outside the Foreign Affairs Ministry to protest against the Administration’s decision to block the Carter Center from returning to Guyana. They were arrested and charged for not adhering to social distancing guidelines.
Interestingly, in Berbice on Thursday, Police were seen assisting the protesters

in New Amsterdam as they diverted traffic and had a Guyana Police Force (GPF) vehicle driving slowly ahead of the protesters.
In a statement on Thursday, the Police Force said that Police quickly arrived at the location in Berbice and dispersed the crowd. Further, instead of an immediate arrest, the GPF claimed that ranks were able to identify a number of individuals in the gathering and summons were being prepared for charges against them for breach of the national public order restriction.