Tacuma Ogunseye surrenders to Police

Executive Member of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), Tacuma Ogunseye, on Friday morning surrendered to the Police hours after a wanted bulletin was issued for him.

The politician turned himself in at the Vlissengen Road, Georgetown Headquarters of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in the company of his lawyer, Nigel Hughes.

“The WPA see ourselves as defending the dignity of our country and defending the legacy of Walter Rodney and regardless of what they throw at me I am prepared to fight back,” Ogunseye told members of the media outside the CID office.

Police Headquarters on Thursday revealed that Ogunseye, 71, is wanted for several serious offences, including 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.

The WPA has since said it stands by the statements made by Ogunseye.