Acting Police Commissioner Leroy Brummel on Friday said the force got no directive from any political personality or minister of government regarding its policing of the volatile Linden community, which has been on tenterhook since last week when lawmen shot and killed three protesters during a power hike demonstration.
In a statement clearing the air on the issue, police said: “Cognisant of rumours circulating among concerned members of the public, the Guyana Police Force wishes to categorically state that at no time was any directive or instruction given to the police, either verbally or in writing, by any political personality, including ministers of the government, in relation to the policing of the protest demonstrations that have been occurring in the community of Linden since Wednesday, July 18, 2012.”
Police said the maintenance of law and order in the country is within the mandate of the police force and the force’s administration, inclusive of divisional commanders, has been unilaterally dealing with all administrative and operational aspects involved in the situation at Linden.
Among the dead are: Alan Lewis, Shemroy Bouyea and Ron Somerset. Meanwhile, organisations continue to condemn the violence while calling for peace. The Guyana Manufacturing & Services Association (GMSA) said in a statement that it is deeply disturbed over recent events in the mining town of Linden and especially over the loss of lives on Wednesday.
“To the families of the deceased, the GMSA extends our heartfelt condolences, and wish those who were injured a speedy recovery. We recognise the complexities of the situation, and so we encourage continued dialogue among the key stakeholders in order to quicken an amicable solution and return the community to normalcy.”
The GMSA said it stood firmly with all business support organisations, including the Linden Chamber of Commerce, in offering support to any public education programme, and all efforts to ensure the safety of the residents and their places of business.
Additionally, the Linden Chamber of Industry, Commerce and Development extended sincere condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives, as a result of protest action at the Wismar-Mackenzie Bridge. “The chamber condemns the use of deadly force by the police against the protestors and appeals for restraint. The Linden chamber has already initiated a call for dialogue between the government and stakeholders.
We take this opportunity to reiterate the call. We call on the community to desist from any acts of violence that would further hurt us.”
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