APNU protest police ‘harassment of youths’

TIMES INT'L

The A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Tuesday hosted a peaceful picketing exercise at its Region Three office, in protest of police violence and harassment of youths in Pouderoyen, West Coast Demerara.

APNU MP Joseph Harmon at the picketing exercise held on Tuesday

APNU Member of Parliament Joseph Harmon said it has become a habit of police ranks to randomly pick up youths and harass them. Harmon said this has been happening over the past few months and youths in Pouderoyen continue to be arrested for loitering.
“We are not against the police, but we are against police actions which are calculated to suppress and kill in, some cases, our youths,” Harmon stated.
The APNU member of parliamentarian is calling for reform of the Guyana Police Force, saying unless such occurs; ranks will continue to display high levels of aggression towards civilians.
“Some of these officers are resorting to their weapons too quickly. Some of the reports we have is that they whip these people using their guns. When I was in the army… my understanding is when you take out your gun is to shoot and they are resorting too much to using their guns,” he declared.
The APNU executive believes that there is some level of indiscipline on the part of police ranks. He said that this has been a longstanding issue that gravely concerns the party. Harmon suggested that the government take swift action to address this issue and help to protect youths from harassment.
However, Region Three Chairman Julius Faber said he is not aware of any harassment of youths in the Pouderoyen area. He noted that the area is known to have many youths who loiter and get themselves involved in “petty mischief” on many occasions.
Residents in surrounding communities echo the regional chairman’s sentiments, saying that the area is known to have many youths who are involved in criminal activities and the abuse of drugs and other substances. It was reported that youths from Pouderoyen would go into nearby communities such as Malgre Tout and Plantain Walk, a situation which troubles the residents in those communities.

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