Opposition parties accuse Government of weaponizing Disciplined Services against political opposition

Opposition parties, We Invest In Nationhood (WIN) party and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), today accused the Government of using the Disciplined Services to threaten and intimidate citizens.

Speaking on the picket line today outside the Office of the President where the Amerindian People’s Association (APA) continued its protest for accountability in the MV Barima tragedy, APNU Member of Parliament, Dr. Terrence Campbell said the presence of the Guyana Defence Force at yesterday’s protest in Linden and the Coast Guard’s intervention this morning in intercepting a boat with the Opposition Leader and some Members of Parliament who were on there way to Morouca, is a clear indication of the state weaponizing the country’s security forces against the political opposition.

“In the past, we were talking about weaponization of the police force, now we are seeing full weaponization of the armed-forces. When the coast guard could step in on behalf of the government to say that the Opposition cannot go out through the mouth of the Pomeroon, that is weaponization of the Coast Guard. Those officers who are there swear allegiance to the flag of Guyana and to uphold the constitution of this country,” Dr. Campbell said.

In a release today, the Guyana Defence Force explained that its ranks were conducting a routine inspection of vessels transiting the Pomeroon River when a vessel was stopped and inspected and the vessel’s captain was unable to produce the relevant licenses and certification and was directed to turn back to obtain the relevant paper work.

The GDF did not specify the occupants of the vessel, but in a video broadcast, Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed complained that the vessel carrying him and his MPs was singled out and stopped.

Dr. Campbell said the presence of the GDF on the protest line yesterday in Linden was also worrying.

“We are now seeing the weaponizing of the army of which the Coast Guars is a part, we are seeing the weaponization of the Guyana Defence Forces against the citizens of this country which is a violation of Articles 147 & 148 of the constitution,” Mr. Campbell said.

Meanwhile W.I.N Member of Parliament, Durate Hetsberger, also condemned threats to the freedom of citizens.

“Everyday our constitution is being trampled upon by this regime and we can see a full surfacing of dictatorship in this country where the state is using the disciplined services as their tool to intimidate and victimize the Guyanese people and we have to stand up to them,’ Hetsberger said.

Meanwhile the Opposition parties are continuing to press for accountability for the MV Barima tragedy saying the Government appears tone-deaf to the concerns raised by Guyanese.