I read the article in the Guyana Times published on March 28, 2015 titled “APNU-AFC forbids opposing views” and I can without hesitation say that the reporting is incorrect.
I was there at the APMU/AFC campaign event at Narissa Palace in Queens, NY on March 22, 2015 and was personally involved. The facts are as follows:
I was about 15 feet away from the elderly gentleman mentioned in the Guyana Times article, who was sitting close to the back of the room when I heard someone in a raised voice saying “this man is interrupting the meeting and is a PPP supporter.” I immediately approached the gentleman and told the three or four persons who were agitated about his comments that I would handle the situation and that it will be ok.
I then asked the man to please be respectful of everyone’s right to hear the speakers, and that although he had on opposing view, it wasn’t right of him to infringe on others by disrupting the meeting and preventing audience members from hearing what the program speakers were saying.
As I was speaking with the gentleman two police officers, one male and one female approached him in my presence and told him he had to leave. I then asked the officers if he could remain providing he was not disruptive and they obliged cautioning that if he became disruptive, they could be summoned and they would remove him as appropriate.
I again asked the gentleman to be mindful of everyone’s rights and reminded him that although it was a public meeting he was in a private place and could be asked to leave if he became disruptive.
At no time was Messrs. David Granger or Moses Nagamootoo involved, notified or aware of the incident. It did not warrant any escalation because the elderly gentleman posed no risk to anyone.
At no time was “the man was physically manhandled and yanked from his seat and pushed outside.” He was never removed or asked to leave by me or anyone of the security detail at the event during my presence.
The man at no time in my presence commented or displayed and untoward behavior and after about two minutes he calmly got up and left the building of his own accord.
Those are the facts provided here not as hearsay but from first-hand knowledge having been personally present and involved. At this stage in the path to the elections, it is important that we all maintain level heads and respect the process, we don’t have to agree but we can agree to free, civilized speech.