Williams long wanted to lead in the PNC, defends unrest, blames ‘traps’ at Melanie rally

Paul Williams, the former Deputy Commissioner of Police, says he has long dreamt of stepping forward as a leader in the People’s National Congress (PNC)-led A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) — ambitions he says caused him to be stifled when he was overlooked for the top police job.

Speaking at APNU’s rally in Melanie on Sunday, Williams, who hails from Beterverwagting (BV) on the East Coast of Demerara, told supporters he is ready to prove the opposition still has strong leaders.

“I was waiting for the opportunity to finish my service and now to step up to show that we have leaders,” Williams declared to loud cheers.

Williams framed his move into frontline politics as a sacrifice for ordinary people, adding, “What I’ve sacrificed myself for… what I’ve gone through — it’s for the people.”

But the former deputy top cop proceeded to defend recent unrest linked to protests in different parts of the country, suggesting criminal behaviour was provoked by deliberate schemes.

“They want to lure you to traps… that is what happens to our brothers and sisters who are jailed. They call them criminals and thugs — we need to get sense,” Williams argued, pointing to recent violent flare-ups in Georgetown and on the East Coast.

Williams accused the very top police brass he served in of deliberately allowing protests to escalate into looting and violence, claiming it was part of a plan to criminalise communities and discredit the opposition.

“They want to lure you to traps,” he told supporters, insisting the authorities knew exactly how crowds would move and failed to prevent damage and arrests.

He pointed to the Golden Grove protest and unrest in Georgetown, claiming police “could have stopped you even before you left,” but instead allowed marchers to reach key areas where, he said, “they had a scheme plot to create that situation.”

Williams also claimed private security and police failed to protect businesses intentionally, adding: “They knew people would head to Regent Street. Why did they not keep security in place?”

He urged supporters to “get sense” and stop falling into what he described as traps meant to brand them as criminals and thugs.

Williams is one of the new faces unveiled on APNU’s slate weeks ago as the opposition ramps up its campaign.