PPP/C submits evidence of inciting social media comments to Top Cop

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has submitted to Police Commissioner Leslie James evidence of racially-aligned statements posted on social media with the intent that an investigation be launched and possible prosecution follows.

A high-level team from the Party, comprising of Presidential Candidate Irfaan Ali; Prime Ministerial Candidate, former Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Chief of Staff Brigadier Mark Phillips; General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo and Executive Member Anil Nandlall, met with the Top Cop on Wednesday last, and the social media posts were brought to his attention.
James had requested the Party officials to provide evidence of the posts. As such, Nandlall compiled a list of relevant posts which was submitted via a correspondence dated June 11.
Besides the Top Cop, a copy was also forwarded to the Ethic Relations Commission (ERC).

The posts were taken from social media platform Facebook, and depicted racially hostile remarks or threats against Party members. Nandlall pointed out to the Commissioner that the extracts were “worthy of attention, investigations and appropriate actions.”
After Wednesday’s meeting, Ali shared that while his party does not want to deny anyone their constitutional right of ‘freedom of expression’, the expressions must not aim at racially dividing Guyana and its people.
“Freedom of expression does not mean spreading hate and making racist statements and trying to divide our people, making mischief in our country. That is not freedom of expression; that is trying to destroy the fabric of our society and create havoc in our country,” Ali argued.
He further posited that a lot of persons on social media who are behind these acts are actually Guyanese living overseas, who appears bent on creating mischief. Ali contended that those persons must be dealt with condignly.
On Sunday last, after the last ballot box had been recounted, the PPP/C Presidential Candidate pleaded with Guyanese to “act in a responsible manner” as the country awaits a formal declaration from the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) of the official results; and further, he pledged to govern the country for all citizens, regardless of their race and/or political affiliation.
At that time, James had reassured that the Police were monitoring the conduct of people on those platforms, and that a list of breaches was already sent for legal advice.
“The Commissioner responded that he has systems in place. They are actively monitoring what is happening, and they’ve compiled a list of breaches and they’ve sent that list for legal advice in relation to the statements made on social media inciting people and so on,” Ali stated.
Under Article 212D of the Constitution of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, the ERC has 24 functions, one of which is to investigate complaints from citizens across the country in regard to acts of alleged ethnic discrimination having been committed. The Commission is Also mandated to enforce the Racial Hostility Act and the Representation of the Peoples (Amendment) Act.