The situation on the East Coast of Demerara remained tense yesterday as villagers continued their protest action to press for more decisive action on the part of the security forces to eliminate criminals who were allegedly responsible for the slaying of 11 persons in Lusignan on Saturday.

The residents continued to block the two main roadways along the coast, despite the presence of heavily armed police and Guyana Defence Force ranks.
Two bridges at Lusignan and Mon Repos have been damaged.

 

However, the one at Lusignan has already been repaired and Minister Robeson Benn was in the area examining the extent of the repairs needed on the bridge at Mon Repos.

But even as the minister was examining the bridges, residents were vowing to damage them again.
This led to the deployment of several security ranks at the approaches to the bridges yesterday to prevent further damage.

The previous night, it took a contingent of police ranks using minimum force to disperse a crowd at Mon Repos, injuring a few in the process.
This was after they had set several tyres afire, blocking traffic for hours.
Kaieteur News understands that the security forces were under instructions to refrain from the use of force against the protestors.     

  
“We protesting fuh we safety and de police come up and beat we,” said a young Lusignan resident.
Even a visit to the East Coast by President Bharrat Jagdeo again yesterday did not prevent the residents from carrying out their activities and they demanded that he address the problem immediately.
The President met with residents at Mon Repos and Lusignan and assured them that all necessary actions will be taken to deal with the criminal elements who have been reigning terror in the community for the past five years.
The Guyanese leader explained that the criminal elements do not care who they target since they do not know half of their victims.
The residents are also angry with the police for what they described as a 'callous approach' to reports of armed attacks by the criminals.
“Whenever we call the police about a shootout, they don’t come but if you call them when you neighbour playing music, they reaching very quick,” one woman told the President. 
Several questions were posed to the President including the apparent delay in the execution of condemned criminals.
“You’re talking about condemning criminals, let me tell you, I signed death warrants since 1999. You know what happened? The courts blocked them,” the President stated.
He urged the residents to remain vigilant at nights and called on them to resuscitate the various Community Policing Groups in their areas, suggesting that the criminals appear to be getting desperate.
“If they come one time, they could come again. That is exactly why I am saying that we’ve got to start preparing. We can blow the steam here today, during the day but at night time we need the protection,” the President said, adding that the government cannot put a soldier in every home.
While the President was meeting with residents at the Lusignan Mandir, residents from other areas took to the main road demanding that he meet with them on that turf.
This action kept Colonel Bruce Lovell, police Commander Leroy Brummel and his deputy Roland Alleyne busy in permitting limited flow of traffic.
Opposition Leader Robert Corbin also visited with the massacre victims’ relatives and offered his condolences.
At about 15:00 hrs, the protest intensified after a minibus, BKK 3724, apparently hit four protestors at Lusignan, East Coast Demerara.
According to residents, the police in the area reportedly told the driver of the bus to drive through the crowd and in the process the persons were struck.
When Kaieteur News arrived at Lusignan yesterday afternoon, the minibus was driving at full speed with a truckload of men in hot pursuit.
“The police tell he drive, drive and he drive and hit down the people,” one resident said.
Among those that were injured was 13-year-old Andrew Danraj. He was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GHPC) where he was treated and sent away.
The protest continued into early yesterday evening when the still agitated resident lit several small fires along the East Coast corridor.
According to the residents, this action will continue until something tangible is done to provide security for them.

Monday, January 28, 2008