PNC Lethem Office dismantled; REO says building belongs to Government

The Office of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) in Lethem, Region Nine was dismantled during the wee hours of this morning.

According to the Regional Executive Officer (CEO) Karl Singh, the building, which housed the PNCR’s Office for more than 45 years, is owned by the State, and several notices were sent to the leadership of the PNCR, for the building be vacated to make way for the construction of a health centre.

Standing in front of the building as it was being torn apart, former REO, Carl Parker, said the move by the current REO represents a dark day for the country.

“We have reached the lowest in the history of Lethem, where the police have been instructed to supervise the destruction of the PNCR office here in Lethem,” Mr Parker said.

Mr Parker said he was informed of the building’s demolition by a party official and upon his arrival, the demolition was in full swing.

“I immediately arrived here, it took me like 15 minutes to reach here, only to observe that the roof of the building was off. The walls are not being dismantled by a known tout of Lethem and he is ably assisted by some Venezuelan immigrants. That is how low we have sank today. It is a sad day in the history of Lethem,” Mr Parker reported.

Alluding to President Irfaan Ali’s One Guyana Initiative, the former REO said it is nothing but a farce.

In an attempt to stop the dismantling, the PNCR tried to mobilize some of its members in the region.

“We tried to mobilize our members but our members are sleeping, and that is another sad occasion, a sad day in Guyana. Now is when we should come out here in solidarity and in force, and stop this nonsense…but it is just two of us out here. If we had come out here with force, the Police couldn’t have stopped us,” he said as he registered his disappointment.

According to him, the Police warned against PNCR members entering the building.

In a statement on Facebook this morning, PNCR Member, Merwyn Williams, who is a former Member of Parliament, condemned the move and laid blame at the feet of the Government.

“Like thieves in the night, the PPP came, sneaked in, under police protection, and demolished the office of the People’s National Congress Reform – PNCR in Lethem, Region Nine, at 1 am this morning. In the process, Venezuelan nationals were used. It will not be surprising to see very senior police personnel and government officials arriving in Lethem later today. This is their “One Guyana,” Mr Williams said.

When contacted by News Source, the Regional Commander, Senior Superintendent Raphael Rose would only say that the Police were not involved in the actual demolition of the building.

“All I can tell you right now is that, that is not true in terms of the police supervising anything. Any other information in relation to that matter I would not comment on it but I know the police was not there to supervise the demolishing of that building,” Commander Rose said.

According to Commander, the Police Force was called in to ensure the peace was kept.

Offering clarity on the matter, the REO told News Source that though the building housed the PNCR office for 47 years, it belongs to the state, and a decision was taken by the Government to repurpose the building.

He said the party was advised on the matter, and asked to vacate the building but to no avail.

“I would have written to the leadership of that party; I would have written to the local leadership right here in region,” the REO said.

He said the party was served with an eviction notice two months ago but to no avail.

“You cannot have a government building being utilized by a political party for political purposes,” the REO said.

Mr Singh said contrary to reports, the building was not demolished. He said the roof was removed so that it could be replaced.

Asked why the exercise was conducted during the wees of the morning, the REO said he would be unable to say, since the exercise was conducted by a contractor.