The Commission of Inquiry into the March 2020 General and Regional Elections, received a rather interesting testimony today from former Commissioner of Police Leslie James, who was grilled about his actions following a frantic call from GECOM Chairperson, Justice Claudette Singh.
James had earlier testified that despite the “mayhem” he saw on national television, no one contacted him from the Guyana Elections Commission about security concerns. He then told the Commission that he contacted the Chairperson of GECOM on the night of March 5, 2020, to ascertain what might have been occurring on the ground.
“When I contacted the Chairperson, she said to me that was scared and alone because there were people downstairs shouting that they wanted the Chairperson,” James testified. Despite the Chairperson’s fear, James told the Commission that initially, he did not inquire from her as to where her bodyguards were.
“I assumed that there were maybe outside or nearby where she was but I did not see it necessary to ask where her bodyguards were at the time when she told me,” James said. This part of the testimony immediately raised questions and concerns about the conduct of James. He told the Commission that Justice Singh did not request police presence at GECOM’s Command Center.
James expounded to the Commission that he did not take the Chairperson’s concerns seriously in the beginning because there were members of the Tactical Service Unit and the Special Branch of the Guyana Police Force on the ground at Ashmin’s Building. He was then asked to say if he contacted any members of the Special Branch Unit or TSU to check on the Chairperson.
James said, “Eventually after, I did contact the Commander at the time, Mr. Azore, and gave him specific instructions and he escorted Justice Singh out of the building.” He noted that sending ranks from TSU to the Command Center Center was not primarily for the security of the GECOM Chairperson.
He reiterated to the Commission that his decision to send TSU Ranks to the Command Center was based on his concerns about what was occurring at the Ashmin’s building on March 5, 2020.
Meanwhile, James testified to the Commission that he had suspicions that there may have been one or more persons in the Command Center who were armed. While these suspicions were not substantiated, Commissioners questioned James about whether this concern was handled at the level of his then-appointed Commander. He told the Commission that Commander Azore was not aware of his concerns.
The former Commissioner was then asked by the Commission whether his ranks on the ground were made aware of his suspicions. James told the Commission that he “did not see it necessary” to inform his ranks of his concerns.
