– four killed during clashes with police
– several buildings set ablaze
– gov’t orders full probe
Four persons were killed and several others injured when police and Lindeners, who were protesting a hike in their electricity tariffs, clashed in an ugly affair late Wednesday in the bauxite mining town. By 21:00h the situation had deteriorated with outraged residents setting fire to the roadways and also several buildings, including the People’s Progressive Party office.
The casualties undermined what was thought to be a peaceful day of demonstration which saw residents occupying the Wismar-Mackenzie Bridge – one of the main arteries to the interior for almost the entire day. Police said that they were provoked by protesters who threw missiles, including bottles and other objects at them as they attempted to clear the bridge late Wednesday afternoon.
In an initial statement, which made no mention of the fatalities, police said at about 10:40h approximately 450 persons marched from the Wismar Community Centre ground to the Wismar-Mackenzie Bridge, where they remained blocking the bridge and preventing motor vehicles from crossing. Subsequently, several of the some 1000 protesters erected tents on the bridge, and also placed derelict vehicles and logs across the bridge at several points.
According to the police, the protesters remained on the bridge and refused to move despite efforts by ranks under the divisional commander who continuously pleaded with them to remove. At about 18:00h, the officer-in-charge of the police riot unit which had arrived on the scene warned the protesters to move as they were blocking the bridge and were in breach of the law. The protesters, however, remained on the bridge, chanting that they will not move and will not pay any increase in electricity tariffs.
According to reports, the police again told them that they were breaking the law and that they should remove from the bridge, but they again refused and began hurling bottles, bricks, and other missiles at ranks of the police riot unit. At this stage, the officer-in-charge of the unit again told the demonstrators hat they were unlawful and read the warning proclamation to them.
The protesters continued hurling missiles at the police and began advancing towards the ranks who used tear smoke in a further effort to remove the protesters. Some of the protesters dispersed, but a large number of persons still remained on the bridge and began setting fires on the bridge, while continuing to chant and throw missiles towards the police.
The police discharged shotguns in the direction of the crowd resulting in a few persons being injured.
Reports say, the protesters then moved from the Wismar/Mackenzie Bridge and proceeded to block the Washer Pond Road, Mackenzie, and set alight the GRA building on Washer Pond Road. Personnel from the Guyana Fire Service responded, but were prevented from going into action by a number of persons who threw missiles at them and their vehicle.
They were subsequently removed by the police, so they proceeded to the ‘Five-corner’ area at the junction of Sir David Rose Avenue, Mackenzie. Roving groups of protesters also destroyed a truck transporting fuel which was set afire at Wismar, damaged an excavator, and set fires along the roadway at Half Mile and One Mile, Wismar.
The Wismar/Mackenzie Bridge is now clear and traffic is now traversing the bridge, as police remain present. Additional police ranks have been dispatched to the community to assist the ranks already on the ground. The Joint Services will be patrolling the area and are appealing to residents to remain calm.
Was peaceful
According to Linden Utility Services Co-op Society Limited (LUSCSL) Chairperson Valerie Adams Patterson the protest was peaceful until the Guyana Police Force’s riot unit appeared on scene. “I was sitting at the toll booth next to the bridge at Mackenzie when a police van and a truck pull up with the riot squad saying something on a sound system; we assumed that they were saying move off the bridge.”
Patterson said within seconds the ranks began to teargas the crowd moving closer to the bridge. “They starting shooting these pellet bullets, even at the protesters who were running off the bridge to save themselves.” It was at this point when one of the ranks shot a live round. “This created pandemonium in Linden,” the LUSCSL chairperson lamented.
She said that more than 20 persons were severely injured after being shot in the chest, face, back and legs. But this did not go down well with the irate protesters who moved to burn the Wismar- Mackenzie Bridge. But it was the Linmine Secretariat General Office situated a short distance from the bridge in Mackenzie that suffered the worst; at approximately 20:00h, it was burnt to ashes. The Guyana Revenue Authority Linden branch and other neighbouring buildings in close proximity to Linmine were also set ablaze. The protesters had also threatened to burn down the National Communications Network Linden branch and other key government buildings in the town.
Meanwhile, APNU Member of Parliament Vanessa Kissoon told Guyana Times International that all did not go according to plan. “We were supposed to end the protest at the Toucan’s Connection Call Centre; however, as we approached the bridge we were informed that the people became very tired and decided to stop on the bridge for a while.”
At approximately 18:30h, police ranks in an effort to clear the bridge where hundreds were gathered reportedly discharged several rounds of bullets into the air and at protesters along the bridge, resulting in the death of three persons and injuring a number of others.
Large tyres which acted as barricades across the bridge were reportedly set afire just minutes after police opened fire and persons began running from the bridge. Scores of protesters, including men, women, and children, were seen running in an attempt to avoid being hit by police ranks.
After the incident on the bridge, many protesters decided to venture into their homes, while others remained on the street of both Wismar and Mackenzie and placed large tyres and wooden planks along the roadways.
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