A night of terror

Satiricus was an old line liberal. For him, individual rights – including the right to protest against the government – trumped everything. He’d been posted to cover a story in Berbice and missed the protests in Agricola. Last he’d heard, the three policemen accused of shooting the kid in Agricola had been charged – with murder. Two had evidently fled the jurisdiction, as they (the police) say and the third was going to be appearing in court.
“Budday!!! If deh already charge de fellas who dem seh shoot de bai, wha mek dem gat fuh protest?” Cappo sounded mightily aggrieved, and stared hard at Satiricus, who he knew had this thing about “rights”.
“Well maybe they think the magistrate will favour the police?” replied Satiricus. “They’re on the same side of the fence, you know.”
“Nah!! They said they protesting because the police bring the one of they own charged in the front seat of the prison van,” explained Hari.
“Yeah Sato!! The right to protest!!!” yelled Suresh. “People should protest just because the police show some courtesy to one of their own?”
“Yeah!!” agreed Kuldeep, just as angrily. “And don’t forget the police didn’t hesitate to send the man files to the DPP to charge him!”
“But yuh should see how dem protestors behave at de court,” pointed out Bungi. “The mother try to tek out de policeman photo in court! De magistrate had to throw she out.”
“But Sato, I gon tell you something,” said Suresh sombrely. “My son and daughter were trapped in that madness near Agricola. No child should have to go through that.”
“What they said?” asked Hari, as the entire table, including Satiricus, leaned forward.
“They saw the smoke from the burning tyres first,” Suresh said, “And only figured out what was wrong when the police, fire trucks and TSU rushed up.” “Did they call?” asked Satiricus.
“Only after that,” replied Suresh, “and we spoke to the driver and advised him to return to Stabroek Market. We figured they could take the speedboat to Vreed-en-hoop, take a taxi to the bridge and then back to Peters Hall.”
“Me daughter bin at de stelling,” said Cappo. “In de pushing at de gate fuh get in, nuff nuff people get rob.”
“Even more of them get robbed when some cars try to get through the back roads on East Bank,” supplied Hari. “It was a night of terror!”
“So, Satiricus,” said Teacher Samad who’d been listening quietly as usual, “what you think about the right to protest now?”
“Well, you’re supposed to protest peacefully, you know,” he said as quietly. “You’re not supposed to rob people and trap them on the road.”
“But Sato, you know all this protesting got nothing to do with the poor boy that got shot?” asked Hari.
“Well, I know  that is only after NoGel Huge and Naga “Shut-yuh-so-an-so-mouth” Mootoo tell the government to fire Rodee in 48 hours, all of this start!” butted in Kuldeep.
“You see, none a dem pickney gat fuh pass Agricola dat night,” muttered Cappo bitterly. “And dis na de end. Ah only de beginning.”