GEORGETOWN – The Guyana Parliament was on Friday dealing with a “serious security breach” after a woman dressed up as Santa Claus walked into the Chambers as Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo was delivering his response to the GUY$267.1 billion national budget.
She was carrying a gift of a dictionary and a bell, passed security and calmly walked into the Parliamentary Chambers.
Clerk of the National Assembly Sherlock Issacs described the action as a “serious security breach” telling reporters that he could not recall an incident of this nature ever happening before.
“They told me that apparently the person came in properly dressed and changed his/her clothes in the MPs washroom,” he said.
Media reports said the “Santa Claus” made his way into the Chamber using the entrance which is only used by government legislators and Parliamentary staff and began ringing a bell before announcing that she had a gift for the Opposition Leader which was a dictionary.
The woman was apprehended by the assistant Sergeant of Arms, who is the internal security of the Assembly but there are reports that the person had been able to escape.
“What I was told by the police at the Public Buildings is that a stranger snatched the person and whisked them out of the compound,” Issacs said.
Former home affairs minister Clement Rohee said the main opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) believes that the “Santa Claus” is a supporter of the coalition government.
“How the assailant bypassed the elaborate security arrangements including TSU guards and the scanners on the ground floor of the parliament building is highly suspicious and questionable,” Rohee said, adding that the Opposition has formally written to the Clerk of National Assembly.
He said the opposition legislators have also called for an urgent meeting of the Parliamentary Management Committee to investigate the incident and that the breach extends to an attempted physical assault on Jagdeo. (CMC)