Police on Tuesday morning fired rubber bullets and tear gas to break up a protest by a group of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) supporters on Hadfield Street, Georgetown during which retired Guyana Defence Force Chief of Staff, Brigadier Edward Collins and Attorney James Bond were shot and injured.
Riot police maintain a presence around the Square of the Revolution after dispersing a group of protesters – some of whom were shot with rubber bullets and doused with teargas
The police said the demonstration was illegal, but APNU leaders are calling the police’s action “crude” and “barbaric” and are demanding an explanation from the police commissioner.
Members of the coalition grouping had gathered around 09: 00h at the Square of the Revolution in Georgetown to conduct a “Youth March for Change” around the city.
But police say that they were not granted permission for the march.
According to the police, the Youth Coalition for Transformation, an organisation headed by Bond, had applied for permission to “use a noisy instrument at the Square of the Revolution on 4th and 5th December, 2011, with timings.”
On December 5, at about 14: 50h, an application was made for a Youth March for Change around the city, but no date or time was stated, police added. “The group later informed the police that they wanted to march from Tuesday, December 6. This was in breach of the statutory 48-hour notice and no permission was granted to the organisation. This was communicated to Mr James Bond,” a police statement read.
Subsequently, a group of persons headed by retired Brigadier Collins was seen gathering on Brickdam facing west. Despite being warned to desist, about 300 persons marched off west along Brickdam.
An injured Brigadier Edward Collins at the Brickdam Police Station
Police say they then engaged them and the group turned south into Winter Place and then west into Hadfield Street and continued despite being warned again. This is when the police fired rubber bullets at them. Another section of the crowd turned north into Winter Place and several persons were arrested.
However, co-founder of APNU Dr Rupert Roopnaraine said that the actions of the police have thrown the country in a state of turmoil. “What took place [Tuesday] morning was a completely unprovoked assault on mostly young people in the streets of Georgetown. An attack that had to do with the discharging of rubber bullets indiscriminately,” he said.
Dr Roopnaraine disputed claims by the police that the protestors did not have permission for the peace march. He said that to his knowledge, permission was granted. “No one came and announced that the permission had been withdrawn,” Dr Roopnaraine stated.
Protestors were already two blocks along Brickdam with their peace protest when the police issued the warnings to disperse before opening fire.
Dr Roopnaraine said this was the first time that protestors learnt they did not have permission for the march.
“People start running and police run behind the crowd and continued shooting,” Neil Mattis said.
Mattis’ son was injured to the arm and the chest when the police opened fire on the protestors. “We walking with the crowd and whilst walking with the crowd, police – they come and block we off on Brickdam,” Mattis recalled outside the Accident and Emergency Unit of the Georgetown Public Hospital where he waited for his son to be treated.
According to Mattis, after being blocked on Brickdam, the crowd diverted to Hadfield Street “and whilst we walking going up, they stay just suh and start shooting.” Mattis denied being a part of the protest. He also denied that police gave a warning. He said that he was only walking along with the crowd plying his trade. Among those injured were Joan Baveghems, Gary Morris, Bethy Norris, Alana Jobes, Celeste McRay, Kendra Maccalmon, Joan Haynes, and Lorane Mingo.
Police rounded up several persons and took them to the Brickdam Police Station. According to Dr Roopnaraine, an injured Bond and Collins were taken to the police station without being treated.
“Some of the leaders were not only shot and wounded with these rubber bullets, but were then taken into police custody, treated very harshly,” Dr Roopnaraine said.
It is unclear how many persons the police had in their custody but after intervention by party leader David Granger, who visited the station with his team of lawyers, police released all of the persons in their custody without charging them and without station bail.
“What we want to say today is this: that people today were exercising their democratic right to be on the streets of the capital city to protest peacefully,” Dr Roopnaraine contended.
The aim, according to Dr Roopnaraine, was to protest “against GECOM’s stubbornness to produce the Statements of Poll on which they tabulated the results of the elections. The second demand that they were making was to enforce the demand for a government of national unity.” It is very difficult to contain the rage of young people, Dr Roopnaraine said, but he pleaded with party supporters to remain mobilised, focused and militant.
“But they should await instructions from the leaders of APNU. We do not want them to take any initiative that brings harm to themselves and others.” Dr Roopnaraine assured that it is not the party’s intention to “shut the city down”.
This is made clear by the fact that the route chosen for the peace march avoided the commercial centres of the city. “I can say to the general population that they have nothing to fear from APNU supporters, they are not their target; the target of APNU supporters and their protest is the Guyana Elections Commission,” said Dr Roopnaraine.
