Simona Broomes is now facing pressure from several high-ranking officials within the Peoples National Congress and the A Partnership for National Unity Coalition to offer an apology to the two security guards who were detained for close to 16 hours last Sunday after she allegedly misled law enforcement officers about an altercation with them.
“Our congress is scheduled to take place next month; and frankly, our party executives and congress committee are not at all happy with this entire incident and how it is playing out in the media,” a Central Executive member of the PNC/R told Guyana Times on Friday evening under anonymity.
The executive said that while Broomes may not be a card-bearing member of the
Simona Broomes
party or an insider thereof, she still has to abide by the PNC/APNU rules and traditions as far as conducting one’s self within a particular code is concerned.
“She may be serving at the pleasure of Comrade Leader Granger, but she is serving on the strength of the PNC/R, and in one of our seats. She is duty bound to conduct herself properly. I, like many party members, do not care what took place at New Thriving. What we do know (is) that somebody is being dishonest and attempting to justify their rash and insensitive behavior; but it is backfiring,” the executive said.
Asked why the party members are pressuring Broomes and have not confronted her about the incident, the executive said everyone is focused on the Congress, and frankly, no one wants to get muddied by “Broomes Saga”.
“Comrades Volda and Ally have spoken, and we support the tone and the letter of what they have said. Broomes could descend into the gutter, but she will not be taking the PNC with her. Many of us have seen the CCTV footage, and we have our opinions. Broomes can test her popularity and support within our party by turning up to make any controversial declaration at our Congress. This is not the PPP; this is a no-nonsense people party”, the executive said.
The source has also said that were Broomes not to take the hint and deal with the matter condignly, she could be sanctioned at the level of the Cabinet if the Police investigation vindicates the security guards or results in both parties being charged.
“Of course the latter is a far stretch, but there are those at Cabinet who will not stand by and allow this second infraction which breaches our code of conduct…remember, the first time was the Boom out incident,” the executive said.
On Thursday, Broomes declined to speak to media operatives about the saga, telling them she did not know what they were talking about when she was confronted by questions.
Following her response and those of her colleagues: Joseph Harmon, Amna Ally, and Volda Lawrence, the Junior Natural Resources Minister faced more blistering criticisms in the media.
Broomes had claimed that she and her driver, whose name has to date not been officially released to the media, were the victims of verbal assaults and threats by the two security guards, who were attempting to bar her from parking in a specific section of the establishment.
No stranger to controversy, Minister Broomes had even alleged that one of the guards had pointed and “crocked” a firearm at her and the driver of her SUV vehicle at some point during the incident.
She claimed she was fearful for her life and safety as a result of the actions of the guards, who, following the incident, were arrested and detained by Police ranks before being released on their own recognisance.
However, since the release of CCTV footage on Tuesday, it has become clear that the version of the story told by Minister Broomes is different from what was depicted on camera, thereby forcing a tidal wave of criticisms and attacks against the APNU/AFC official on social media, with Guyanese accusing her of high-handedness and dishonesty.
There have also been attacks on her integrity as more support and sympathy poured in on Wednesday for the guards, who arguably were “simply doing their jobs”.
Asked whether the Police have found any proof to substantiate the claims made by Minister Broomes that a gun was aimed at her during the ordeal, Crime Chief Paul Williams has declined to make any definitive pronouncement as he dodged the issue.
Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo believes that the minister’s behaviour, if true, was atrocious and should not be allowed to continue.
He said that the incident also pointed to the fact that sometimes people rush to judgement, referring to the unwarranted arrests of the two security guards at the Massy Store over the incident, without properly investigating the issue thoroughly. He believes that the Police should be held responsible, given that they had acted unprofessionally.
