Roads leading to President’s office blocked off following threats – Police

There was chaos around the city on Tuesday morning as Police officers blocked all streets leading to the Ministry of the Presidency without any prior warning.

President David Granger is today meeting with his Cabinet to discuss a possible date for General and Regional Elections following advice from the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) that it will be ready by the end of February.

The Police Force blocked Vlissengen Road between North Road and Homestretch Avenue, South Road between Oronoque and Vlissengen Road, Charlotte Street between Oronoque St and Shiv Chanderpaul Drive and Regent Road between Shiv Chanderpaul Drive and Vlissengen Road.

According to Police Public Relations Officer (ag) Superintendent Shivpersaud Bacchus, the roadblocks were set up as a result of threats that there will be protest action in the vicinity of the Ministry of the Presidency.

“We don’t want to be blamed as in the past,” Superintendent Bacchus told the News Room, referring to last Thursday when protestors ended up in the Savannah Suite, Pegasus Hotel at Kingston, Georgetown where the President was delivering a speech to the business community.

Bacchus said the Police force was only informed of the threats on Tuesday morning and therefore was unable to issue a timely notice.

Police officers also turned out in their numbers on Monday evening at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre were Opposition supporters and members along with a Non-Governmental Organisation –the Association for Democracy and Human Rights Guyana—were holding a candlelight vigil calling on the President to set a date for elections. There, the President was delivering his speech on the occasion the 70th Anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.