IDPADA-G’s statement on the recent occurrences on the East Coast, Demerara

The International Decade for People of African Descent Assembly-Guyana (IDPADA-G) condoles with
the family of Quindon Bacchus and all of the aggrieved on the death of their son, brother, parent, and
friend; and the villagers of Golden Grove, a community forced to suffer added pain, where civilians were
pelleted through the unrestrained behaviour by those who should serve and protect and those trained
only for combat. We likewise empathize with the victims who suffered losses from the terror of robbery.
We regret that on Tuesday, 28 June 2022, the hitherto peaceful exercise of the right to protest and
petition the Government for alleviation and redress was hijacked by misguided elements and descended
into unacceptable riotous conduct. We forthrightly and unreservedly condemn the destruction of
property of our fellow Guyanese brothers and sisters mostly of East Indian descent, in the vicinity of the
Mon Repos market. The values, aims and objectives that inform IDAPADA-G and the inherent virtues it
embraces in respect to human rights, are directly opposed to any such conduct.

IDPADA-G is concerned about the state of ethnic relations in our country and calls upon those in
authority, inclusive of the organs and institutions of the State to acknowledge the schisms of ethnic
relations in Guyana; admit the historical origins; and resolve to confront these ethnic tensions collectively
and nationally.

While the recent events on the East Coast, namely Golden Grove and Mon Repos, clearly point to
institutional deficiencies and distrust in the operations of the Guyana Police Force and the justice system,
they can be traced primarily to the underlying socio-economic conditions and resulting inequities which,
if not addressed, provide the environment for escalation of ethnic tensions.

We urgently call upon Government to recognize the endemic socio-economic and political factors
prevailing in African Guyanese communities and the challenges they continue to face at the hands of law
enforcement as we have been reminded by the media and social commentators. These issues require
genuine and urgent attention.

The International Decade for People of African Descent Assembly-Guyana was declared based on the
need for reparative justice for the people of Africa Descent in response to the historical wrongs meted out
to them, and continuing injustices up to this day. A reality internationally recognized by the community
of Nations, which in the form of the United Nations collectively declared a decade for the People of African
Descent under the theme: Recognition, Justice, and Development.

We believe that persons witnessing equitable governmental interventions and imbued with hope and
confidence in the institutions of State will adequately play their part in development of their communities
and country. We are confident that collective economic progress will rid the Guyanese society of the
scourge that rears its ugly head ever so often.