Wanted bulletin issued for WPA member

The Guyana Police Force on Thursday issued a bulletin for Mutope Tacuma Ogunseye, an executive member of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) who is wanted for “several serious offences.”

Police Headquarters revealed that Ogunseye, 71, is also wanted for attempting to excite hostility or ill-will on the grounds of race contrary to section three of the Racial Hostility Act.

The Police said that the incident occurred on March 9 at Buxton Public Road, East Coast Demerara.

On the day in question, the WPA held a public meeting in the community during which Ogunseye called on Afro-members of the Disciplined Services to ‘turn their guns’ on the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) government.

He also accused the government of deploying discriminatory policies that disproportionately impact some Guyanese.

The country’s Attorney General, Anil Nandall, SC, had called for a full investigation into Ogunseye’s statement, noting that it amounts to several criminal offences, including but not limited to, sedition, seditious libel, inciting riotous behaviour and exciting racial hostility in order to create a breakdown of law and order within the State of Guyana.

Additionally, the Home Affairs Minister, Robeson Benn, had noted that a legal review was being done before any charges were instituted.

Meanwhile, at that same meeting in Buxton, another WPA member, Rhonda Layne made demeaning statements against the East Indian community when she referred to East Indians in Guyana as those who came from the “slums” in India.

The statements from the WPA executive members were met with widespread condemnation from a plethora of politicians, civil society and other organisations in Guyana.

The WPA has since noted that it stands by the statements.