Opposition Member of Parliament, Sherod Duncan, was arrested this midday for allegedly operating a drone close to the site where families and others waiting to identify victims of the ferry tragedy, are gathered in Charity, Essequibo.
Duncan said his drone was providing coverage of the recovery boats offshore and the nearby areas. However, while he was operating the drone, as he has been doing over the past few days, a Police officer demanded that he discontinued his operation. As he complied while expressing his disapproval with the way the officer approached him, two senior Police Officers turned up and told him that they were only following instructions.
A third senior officer later showed up and told the Member of Parliament that he would be taken into custody for operating a drone in a restricted area. The entire incident was captured on camera by Members of Parliament, Saiku Andrews and Juretha Fernandes.
The Police Officer told Duncan that he would have to confiscate his drone also. As Duncan objected and explained that no one was informed of any restricted area, the Officer insisted that he be taken into custody and his drone be confiscated.
MP Andrews and Fernandes explained that earlier in the morning the Police removed them from the site where they were meeting with family members after a Government Minister noticed them in the area. The Opposition MPs have been in the area since Sunday meeting with family members of victims of the tragedy and survivors.
Duncan was eventually taken into custody, but was not allowed to make a phone call to his Attorneys, according to his colleagues.
The Opposition MPs said they believe the Government was clearly behind the arrest. They said when they were removed from the area earlier in the morning, they did not object although they noticed a number of other persons being allowed in the same area where families were gathered.
The MPs said at a time when the nation has found itself facing a national tragedy, Police resources ought to be better managed, other than to be tracking and harassing Opposition MPs.
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