Tacuma Ogunseye charged for attempting to excite racial hostility

…granted $100,000 bail

Executive Member of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) Tacuma Ogunseye was released on $100,000 bail on Monday after denying a count of attempting to excite racial hostility.
The 71-year-old appeared before Magistrate Fabayo Azore at the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court, East Coast Demerara (ECD).
The charge read that on March 9, 2023, at Buxton, ECD, he attempted to excite hostility or ill-will against a section of the public on the ground of their race by words spoken by him.

The charge was filed under Section 2 (3) of the Racial Hostility Act.
After denying the allegation, he was released on bail and ordered to make another court appearance on April 6. He was represented by Attorneys-at-Law Nigel Hughes and Darren Wade.
Police Legal Advisor, Attorney-at-Law Mandel Moore, who is prosecuting the case, raised serious objections to Ogunseye being admitted to bail. In so doing, he relied on the fact that the defendant is still under investigation, and the serious nature and penalty attached to the offence.
His objections were, however, overruled by the presiding Magistrate.
After posting his bail, Ogunseye told reporters gathered outside the courthouse that the State does not have a “real case” against him.

Wanted bulletin
Ogunseye, who surrendered to the Police last week Friday, several hours after a wanted bulletin was issued for him, was kept in custody over the weekend. That bulletin had stated that the man was wanted for several serious offences, including attempting to excite racial hostility or ill-will.
Accompanied by his lawyers, Ogunseye walked into the CID compound just after 10:00h on Friday. The senior WPA Executive did not have much support, except for a few members of his party.
He was arrested and escorted to the Police Force’s A Division Headquarters, located at the Brickdam Police Station.
Speaking with reporters, Hughes disclosed that he advised his client to invoke his constitutional right to remain silent, and noted that offences contrary to the Racial Hostility Act are bailable.
On March 9, Ogunseye made several damning remarks on the Buxton Public Road, East Coast Demerara, while he was addressing a public meeting held by his party. Among other remarks he made at the meeting, the WPA member declared that “the first objective is to get the African team in a state of battle readiness… the Afro-Guyanese Police and soldiers… would stand with Afro-Guyanese in resisting mainly Indo-Guyanese supporting the PPP/C.”
He said: “The reality is the army, the Police are majority African Guyanese. My sisters and brothers, once we organise the people and once we begin to fight, we will ensure that our brothers and sisters in uniform will do the right thing. And if they do the right thing, this matter is over in days, not weeks. So, the struggle doesn’t necessarily have to be long. It has to be strategic.”

Widespread condemnation
The statements made at the political party meeting have faced widespread condemnation from a wide cross-section of civil society and Government, including some Opposition members, such as Geeta Chandan-Edmond, Ganesh Mahipaul, Daniel Seeram, and Georgetown Mayor Ubraj Narine; as well as Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo and other members of the PPP/C.
Although Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton had questioned Ogunseye’s choice of words, he had defended the politician’s right to free speech and said that he supported his message.
During a recent virtual press conference, Ogunseye, with the support of the WPA members, said there is “nothing to apologise for or retreat from”, while noting that he was ready to defend any charges brought against him by the Police.

Act impartially
Meanwhile, at a recent press conference, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo called on the Police Force to take action once it determines the law was breached. While he pointed out that the Police often get intimidated in cases that involve political players, he maintained that the Police have to act impartially.
“If they [politicians] breached the law, then the Police have to act swiftly on these matters that can cause a rift among our people. We have to fight racism with every bit of tool that we have in this country. That’s the only way this country can have a sustainable future,” he declared.
“We have to fight racism. We’ve equipped the Police with the tools: they have the Racial Hostility Act; they have a whole range of tools at their disposal. They have to move swiftly, and not be intimidated, and have to prove that they’re acting impartially or partially,” Jagdeo posited.
He went on to say that some politicians deliberately accuse the Police of being partisan so that the Force becomes cautious and would tiptoe around taking condign action against them. This way, he noted, these individuals are allowed to perpetuate their illegalities. (G1)