Press Release from the Office of Balwant Persaud
I support the call by Mr. Muhammad of the USA for an apology from the Guyana Government for wrongful arrest.
I am also asking the Guyana Government and Mr. Clement Rohee, the Minister of Home Affairs for an apology to me for the following wrong doings on their part:
Placing trump up charges against me two years ago which were all dismissed in the Magistrate’s Court.
Depriving me of my freedom by arresting and questioning me earlier this month for a refugee case I won in Canada.
Many Guyanese are in the same position as myself and Mr. Muhammad but are too scared to come forward for fear of more victimization. The State is abusing its powers by arresting and even charging innocent people before carrying out a proper investigation. The police and ruling politicians are just acting on rumours and hearsays. They should investigate a complaint thoroughly before depriving a person of their liberty.
In my case recently, the Home Affairs Minister, Clement Rohee publicly threatened me of an arrest in the media and he did carried out his threat. Like Mr. Muhammad I did not commit an offence or breach any laws in Guyana, yet I was deprived of my freedom at the command of a politician.
It is time we put a stop immediately to this abuse of powers by the ruling politicians and the police or Guyana would be heading for sad state of affairs that we would not be able to control.
Who knows which innocent citizen will be next?
I am awaiting an apology from the Government of Guyana, the Guyana Police and the Home Affairs Minister.