Police deny permission for GPSU rally
Stabroek News
December 12, 2002
Police are expressing surprise at the Guyana Public Service Union’s (GPSU) continued plans to hold a rally tomorrow afternoon in the vicinity of St Andrews School on Brickdam despite not being granted permission.
A release from the Police public relations office yesterday said, the union’s President, Patrick Yarde along with General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Lincoln Lewis had been told at a meeting on Tuesday at the Brickdam police station that permission for the rally was denied.
However contacted subsequently on the matter, Yarde denied that such information emanated from the meeting, rather it was recommended that a letter be written to Commissioner of Police (ag), Floyd McDonald seeking a response to the request for a review.
A copy of the letter dispatched to the commissioner dated December 10, requested a review of an earlier decision by the force not to grant permission for the holding of the rally.
This response had been sent to the union by letter dated December 7.
Permission for the rally was refused, according to the police release, due to several circumstances including “the time of day, the current situation and the need for the police to ensure that the free flow of traffic is maintained in that area, at that time.” But Yarde pointed out that if parliament had to be held or treason accused, Mark Benschop was to appear in court the police would have to restrict traffic in that area anyway. “We don’t want the roadway blocked....but intend to ensure that traffic is allow to proceed by maintaining a channel,” Yarde said.
He said the union is still awaiting an official response to its correspondence from the police commissioner with respect to the request for a review.
