–WIN says Mohamed must answer
-by Celestine Chacon
The We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party faced tough questions at a press conference on Wednesday over Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed’s presence near the home of a key witness in his ongoing extradition proceedings around midnight.
While party representatives defended Mohamed and criticised the Government’s handling of the incident, they offered no explanation for his presence at the location, insisting that only the Opposition Leader could provide those answers.
A late-night encounter near the residence of Senior Superintendent of Police Prem Narine has placed the Opposition Leader’s actions under intense scrutiny, with questions mounting over the circumstances that led to his arrest.
At Wednesday’s press conference, WIN representatives were pressed to explain why Mohamed was reportedly near the home of Narine, who is a key witness in the extradition proceedings against him.
Member of Parliament Duarte Hetsberger said that explanation would have to come directly from Mohamed.
“As it pertains to what the leader of the opposition was doing, we will wait when the leader has an opportunity to speak to that issue, because only he can answer that question,” he said.
The scrutiny extended to allegations of police brutality, with reporters demanding medical reports, video recordings or other evidence to substantiate claims that Mohamed was assaulted during his arrest.
WIN representatives maintained that Parliamentarian Vishnu Panday witnessed the alleged incident but said supporting documentation would be provided later.
Meanwhile, the Government of Guyana has rejected what it described as attempts to misrepresent the circumstances surrounding the incident.
In its statement, the Government highlighted Narine’s role as a key witness in the extradition proceedings and pointed to his previous testimony that he feared for his life and the safety of his family after photographs of him and his relatives appeared on Mohamed’s Facebook page.
The Government maintains that the incident raises serious concerns about witness safety and the integrity of the ongoing judicial proceedings.
Mohamed and others were arrested on October 13 following an incident involving reported gunfire near Narine’s residence at Barr Street, Kitty, Georgetown.
The Opposition, on the other hand, has expressed disapproval of what it considers prejudicial statements of the incident, stressing that Mohamed has not been convicted of any offence.
However, the circumstances surrounding his presence near the witness’s residence remain unexplained, with WIN indicating that Mohamed will address the matter at a future press conference.