Tacuma Ogunseye granted $100k bail

Seventy-one-year-old Tacuma Ogunseye, an Executive Member of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) on Monday appeared at the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court, East Coast Demerara, charged with attempting to excite hostility or ill will on the ground of race.

Ogunseye appeared before Magistrate Fabayo Azore and pleaded not guilty to the charge. Particulars of the offence state that on March 9 at a public place, that is to say, Railway Embankment, Buxton, ECD, Ogunseye attempted to excite hostility or ill will against a section of the public on the ground of their race by words spoken by him contrary to section 2 (3) of the Racial Hostility Act.

The WPA member was represented by attorney-at-law, Nigel Hughes; he was granted $100,000 bail and is set to re-appear in court on April 6 where further legal arguments will be made.

The Prosecution, however, opposed bail on the grounds that an investigation is ongoing, the seriousness of the offence and the significant penalty attached to the offence. The case is being prosecuted by Police Legal Advisor, Mandel Moore.

Hughes, in his submission to the court, pointed out that Ogunseye was charged under the section of the Act that only sets out the penalty of the offence and not the specifics of the offence. He argued that the specifics of the offence are actually listed in sections 2 (1) A and B.

As a result, both sides will return to court on April 6 to make their submissions on this legal point.

The politician remained in Police custody at the weekend after he surrendered to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on March 31, a day after Police Headquarters issued a wanted bulletin for him.

Police Headquarters noted that he was wanted for “several serious offences” including attempting to excite hostility or ill-will.

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.