The Executive Chairman of the Working People’s Alliance, Tacuma Ogunseye appeared in Court this morning and was charged with one count of attempting to excite racial hostility.

After listening to the Prosecution’s case, the presiding Magistrate at the Vigilance Magistrates’ Court granted bail in the sum of $100,000.

The Prosecution objected to bail, but Mr Ogunseye’s Attorney, Nigel Hughes argued that the offence is a bailable one and is far less serious than other offences that persons have been charged and got bail.

“We of course applied for bail and demonstrated to the court that there were offences such as attempted murder, rape, assault causing grievous bodily harm, all of which carry life imprisonment, and which people are entitled to bail at the Magistrate’s Court. The Magistrate then admitted Mr Ogunseye to bail in the sum of $100,000,” he explained.

Ogunseye will make his next Court appearance on Thursday.

Moments after he was granted bail, the political activist said it is clear that the State has no case against him.

“I feel vindicated that the State really don’t have any case against me. I think they are scratching at straws; I have been in public life over half of a century and speaking on numerous public meetings throughout the years, and I think I understand the parameters of public discourse and I try myself to stick within those parameters. So, I don’t believe they have anything of substance but obviously the court will have to decide,” Mr Ogunseye told reporters, even as his feet were still in shackles.

Speaking to the press for the first time since his arrest last Friday, Mr Ogunseye said he was not ill-treated while detained at the Brickdam Police Station over the weekend.

“The police were very professional and although we attack them when they misbehave, I think we have to give them credit when they act professionally,” Mr Ogunseye said.

Given the call by the WPA for Guyanese to engage in civil disobedience and non-cooperation, Mr Ogunseye said he invoked his constitutional right to remain silent during questioning by the Police.

He said the struggle is not personal, and he will defend his position to the end.  

“It is not personal. Whatever sacrifice as a political activist or a political leader you have to make for your people, you have to make it,” the political activist said.

The Leader of the Opposition, Aubrey Norton was among a number of opposition members and supporters, who stood outside of the Court House to offer their support to the long-time political activist.

Mr Norton told reporters that the Guyana Police Force has developed a trend of arresting politicians in the opposition before conducting any proper investigation. He said it is clear the Police Force is following political instructions.

“It is a pattern. You accuse somebody of something, you issue a wanted bulletin. I assume you issue a wanted bulletin after you have investigated and there is enough evidence to bring some criminal charge against the person but in all of these cases we have seen so far, they are arresting people, they are abusing the 72 hours incarceration, keeping them in there for 72 hours, and then when they are out, you are still investigating. The PNC has a good bit of members who they have charged for all kinds of things and until now a case cannot be called,” he said.

The Opposition Leader said the Police Force has been cherry-picking issues.

“Where is Mr Hicken and the Police Force? They are taking political instructions and because they are taking political instructions there is a selective use of the law. Now, in a democratic society, you cannot have the selective use of the law, and so, it should be clear to all that this is not about maintaining law and order, this is a political witch hunt aimed at intimidating Guyanese of all strata of life once they oppose the Government,” the Opposition Leader said.

He maintained that while he did not agree with Mr Ogunseye’s choice of words, he supports his message that Guyanese are being discriminated against every day and it is the Government that is leading that discrimination.

Related posts:

Ogunseye likely to appear in Court today to face incitement charges WPA Activist Tacuma Ogunseye invokes right to remain silent after surrendering to Police investigators WPA consulting with Attorneys over wanted bulletin for Tacuma Ogunseye Mayor Narine and MP Duncan granted bail over incitement charges