Police probe live radio threat on Wickham’s life

A threat on the life of pollster and talkshow host Peter Wickham, made Tuesday on live national radio, is now the subject of a police investigation.

The ongoing political tensions in Guyana appeared to boil over on Voice of Barbados radio while Wickham was presenting the Down to Brass Tacks call-in programme, apparently drawing the ire of a caller about his comments on the post-election impasse.

The caller said: “I warned you before sir to stay out of the affairs of my country and you still meddle into it.”

Wickham asked: “You are Guyanese?”

The caller did not reply but said: “Now I know that you are travelling soon from now, make your peace with the Lord before your leave.”  The call ended.

Wickham, a Director of the Caribbean Development Research Services, which conducts public opinion polling across the Caribbean had expressed concern about the process in Guyana.

A week after the March 2 regional and general elections, the winner is yet to be declared after the electoral commission released unverified results from the populous Region Four, prompting the Opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic to file an injunction asking the court to bar the declaration of a winner while the court reviews the case.

Wickham suggested that the data published so far favours the Opposition PPP/Civic and the party was likely to be declared the winner.

Today, Chief Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire ordered the Guyana Elections Commision to restart or continue the verification of the results for Region Four by 11 a.m. on Thursday.

Wickham, who described the call as a threat, confirmed this evening he had lodged a report with the police and that an investigation had begun.

On his Facebook page, he also invited anyone with information about the caller to provide any information they could.

Wickham also made it clear that he would not be intimidated.

A defiant Wickham said: “I should also add that I remain committed to my work in the region and promise to continue offering professional opinions whenever the opportunity arises (as long as I am in this business).

“I do appreciate that my comments will often delight and sometimes offend, but such is life!”