Opposition condemns violence, criminality, unnecessary use of Police force- calls for upholding justice, liberty & rights

Yesterday’s protest, which turned bloody, was sparked by persons on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) seeking justice for Qunidon Bacchus, of Haslington ECD, who was reportedly shot and killed by police, Kristoff De Nobreg, on June 10 in an alleged police sting operation.

The main Opposition, the A Partnership of National Unity and Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) said it joins with others in condemning all acts of violence and criminality, and that such acts only serve to undermine and distract from the legitimate aims of the protest action.

During the protest, which started at Golden Grove, saw peaceful demonstrators walking through several villages incident free. But this was shattered when people approached the Annandale/ Mon Repos area.

Chaos erupted around the Mon Repos market area where there was damage and loss of property, and persons physically assaulted. There is a view in some quarters that the protest erupted based on a false report by another media house that De Nobrega was walking free, as others feel those who caused the damage were planted agent provocateurs.  There is also report of  demonstrators being verbally assaulted with derogatory names when they were passing through some areas.

The villages between Golden Grove and Mon Repos are Haslington, Enmore, Paradise, Enterprise, Melanie, Coldingen, Bladen Hall, Strathspey, Vigilance, Friendship, Buxton, Annandale, Lusignan, Good Hope. Some of these villages are predominantly African, Indian and mixed races, and there was no reported untoward incident until around the Lusignan area.

The Opposition Leader has also urged law enforcement officers and ranks to exercise restraint and good judgement, saying the unnecessary and excessive use of force will only exacerbate an already volatile situation.

Ranks of the police force in an attempt to disperse the crowd opened fire and tear gas in the villages, inflicting injuries to persons including those not associated with the protest. Two of those persons shot at and suffered injuries to the body were Stabroek News Assistant Editor, Samantha Alleyne, and her son who were on their way home.

The Opposition further noted that though these protests are linked directly to the police execution of Bacchus, the outpouring of persons on the streets is driven by the deep and persistent grievances many Guyanese feel in light of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic government discrimination and bad governance.