Assistant Commissioner of Police and current Head of the Presidential Guard Unit, Edgar Thomas appeared on the Elections COI witness stand for a third time today as the public hearings resumed.

The Assistant Police Commissioner presented his call log for the period covering the early stages of the 2020 Elections including March 5 when pandemonium broke out at the Guyana Elections Commission’s (GECOM) Command Centre at the Ashmin’s Building.

At the time, Mr Thomas was the Regional Commander, and was expected to oversee the Police operations at the Command Centre but according to former Commissioner of Police, Leslie James, calls to his number were left unanswered as his colleagues struggled to maintain peace and order.

Today, the Assistant Police Commissioner rubbished the allegation, telling the Commission that Mr James is a stranger to the truth.

“Maybe, the Commissioner [of Police] at that stage is a stranger to the truth. The evidence presented before you indicate that I was in constant contact with the Administration of the Guyana Police Force, including the Commissioner. I have it here,” the Assistant Commissioner said as he held up a copy of his call log.

At the time, he was responding to a question put to him by former Chancellor (ag) of the Judiciary, Justice Carl Singh, who is among the three Commissioners presiding over the Inquiry.

Last month, the former Commissioner of Police told the COI that the Regional Commander could not be reached on the radio or via telephone. He was eventually told to stand down and was replaced by his Deputy, Phillip Azore.

But Mr Thomas told the Commission today that he was in communication with the then Police Commissioner and his Deputy from 2:00hrs on March 5 2020 up until 21:00hrs that same day. He is maintaining that there was a steady flow of communication.

He told the Commission, at no time on March 5, 2020 was he asked to standdown.

“Commissioner, the evidence before you shows that I was in command even at the time I was granting bail to persons who would have allegedly committed any offence during that period,” he said.

Mr Thomas said Senior Superintendent of the Police Phillip Azore had attempted to assume command on March 5 but upon seeing him, he left the GECOM Commander Centre.

Mr Thomas also maintained earlier claims that former Deputy Chief Elections Officer, Roxanne Myers had ordered him to clear the Command Centre.

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