Capitol News Reporter allegedly assaulted by Town Clerk

 

By Tracey Khan – Drakes

[www.inewsguyana.com] – A Capitol News Reporter was almost pushed down the stairs of City Hall allegedly by Acting Town Clerk Carol Sooba earlier this week.

Iva Wharton of Capitol News told iNews that Sooba accused her of conspiring with persons to barricade her office door. Wharton explained that on the morning of the incident [Tuesday, August 26] she received a telephone call from a source informing her that Sooba’s office doors were barricaded.

Wharton said she went to the scene when the acting Town Clerk arrived with her personal security guard and upon realizing that she was locked out, Sooba allegedly turned her anger and frustration to Wharton who was filming the scene with her phone.

Wharton alleged that Sooba then rushed towards her and attempted to take away her phone when she physically assaulted her and almost pushed her down the steps of City Hall.

Wharton has since made a report to the police and says she will be following up on the status of investigations.

Meanwhile, the Alliance for Change (AFC) at a press conference today, Friday, August 29 condemned the recent attacks on the Press and cited Wharton’s case.

The Party’s General Secretary, David Patterson also cited another recent case where two reporters from a popular daily newspaper were reportedly assaulted during a press conference hosted by the Guyana Forestry Commission by Phillip Bynoe.

The AFC urges all responsible persons to speak out in the defense of press freedom.