Ex president of Guyana charged with inciting racial hatred ahead of national elections
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (AP)_ A former president of Guyana has been released on bail after being charged with inciting racial hatred.
Bharrat Jagdeo was not required to enter a plea at the Monday court hearing before a magistrate in the southeastern Berbice region of the South American country. He led Guyana from 1999 to 2011.
The accusations against Jagdeo are linked to comments he allegedly made during campaigning for the party he once led ahead of May 11 general elections.
He allegedly said Afro-Guyanese opposition activists were “beating drums” while urging citizens to throw out “coolie” members of the People’s Progressive Party dominated by people of Indian descent.
A multiethnic coalition defeated the People’s Progressive Party in the vote earlier this month.
Guyana is made up mainly of people of Indian and African descent.
www.inewsguyana.com
Alwin Marshall-Squire is the Editor-in-Chief of S-Q Publications Inc., overseeing editorial strategy for GTA Weekly, GTA Today, and Vision Newspaper. He leads the publications’ mission to deliver bold, original journalism focused on the people and communities of the Greater Toronto Area, Canada, and the global Caribbean diaspora.
Also writes for GTA Weekly and GTA Today.
