Private sector complains to Top Cop about threatening protest outside Duke Lodge

-tells him to do his job

The Private Sector Commission (PSC) has written to Commissioner of Police Leslie James voicing concerns about a recent gathering by APNU+AFC supporters in Kingston during which threatening language was targeted at its Chairman, Gerry Gouveia.

The PSC called on the Top Cop to do his duty amid the growing political instability.

In the letter of yesterday’s date addressed to James, the PSC Secretary, Ramesh Dookhoo described the occurrence as “unpleasant and disturbing” in nature. He said even though the crowd was in violation of the COVID-19 restrictions and law, there was no police presence.

According to the letter, a “crowd” of about one hundred persons, dressed in the governing coalition’s colours gathered on Friday outside of Duke Lodge, Kingston which is owned and operated by Gouveia.

The PSC said the crowd was “behaving in a loud disorderly manner, shouting threatening and insulting remarks at the Chairman”.

The incident, the PSC said has left its staff, customers and guests “extremely frightened”.

“We wish to inform you that the staff, customers and guests of Duke Lodge were extremely frightened, in fact, terrified at this threatening, dangerous and completely illegal behaviour, most especially, as there was absolutely no police presence upon which they could rely for protection. We have since seen information that this crowd was allowed to behave in an equally threatening manner outside the Embassy of the United States of America and to make abusive and threatening remarks aimed at the US Ambassador. Again, there was no visible presence nor any attempt of the police to enforce the law,” the letter explained.

As such, the PSC is calling on James to maintain law and order and protect the citizens amidst the present “growing political instability” in the country.

“It is our expectation that, as Commissioner of Police, given the growing political instability threatening the country at this time, you would do your duty to maintain law and order and

protect us against this increasing threat of violent behaviour to the security and safety of our citizens generally, and the Chairman of the Private Sector Commission specifically,” the letter further noted.

Efforts made by this newspaper to contact James for a comment proved futile.

The PSC said that it is willing to provide the police with surveillance footage which captured the incident.

“We have camera footage of this incident which we will be pleased to make available to you. You will note that there was absolutely no police presence. Further, you will see from the video footage that the demonstrators were crowded together in total violation of the COVID19 safety regulations and the law,” the letter added.

APNU+AFC supporters also gathered and behaved in a raucous manner that very day outside the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court where Chief Election Officer Keith Lowenfield appeared to face three private criminal charges.