‘We do not encourage that kind of behaviour’- Harmon on attack on PPP/C activists

General Secretary of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Joseph Harmon has condemned attacks on activists of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C). In an invited comment, Harmon said every political party should be allowed to campaign freely.

“We will not encourage that kind of behaviour. We believe in civil campaigning and that is what we have always done.

“We believe that this country needs to be united and unity is our message. We’ve said it on our campaign launch and our campaign rally that unity is where this country needs to go and not in divisiveness,” Harmon told the media at the sidelines of an event at State House on Sunday.

Over the past week, People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) activists were chased out of Sophia and prevented from going through Laing Avenue, West Ruimveldt, Georgetown as they announced the launch of the party’s campaign held on Sunday.

The videos of the incidents were posted on Facebook.

But Harmon said political commentators must be cognizant that their public statements can bring about negative responses.

“[They have] to understand that the statements which they make on the platform and in the communities which they have their support, that it will have an impact on people everywhere in this country,” he noted.

The PPP/C has since written a letter to the Commissioner of Police on the Sophia incident calling for a thorough investigation and appropriate sanctions.

In the letter written by PPP Executive Member Anil Nandlall, he said the PNC/APNU activists blocked the streets and started to hurl missiles at the lorry and its occupants and threatening them with violence were they to continue the announcements within the locality of Sophia.

In the video posted on facebook, there were no clear indications of persons throwing missiles at the truck, however, persons were seen climbing onto the vehicle as it was forced to leave the area.

A report of the incident was made to the Prashad Nagar Police Outpost.

It is contrary to the criminal law for anyone to issue threats, hurl missiles or block public access on public roadways, the PPP executive noted.

He also argued that each political party has a constitutional right to disseminate its message and to campaign for the upcoming elections.