The People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) took to the streets again yesterday, in a march that was not approved by the police and played a cat-and-mouse game with the lawmen, racing through various city streets to dodge them.
The heavily armed ranks exercised restraint and blared several “final warnings” via a loudspeaker for the marchers to disperse, but this was not heeded and the people made their way to Avenue of the Republic just in front of the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court, where they held placards and walked up and down for about an hour.
Police, in a release last evening expressed the force’s “continued disappointment”, with the actions of PNCR leader Robert Corbin and his supporters, who took part in the unlawful procession, despite no police approval being given for the march and repeated warnings by officers that any such procession would be illegal. The police declared that the action of the members and supporters of the PNCR in staging yesterday’s march “appears to be an attempt to draw the ranks of the Guyana Police Force into a confrontation.” The statement said that however, the police remained professional in their approach and continued to show great restraint in dealing with the protestors.
“The Guyana Police Force will be seeking legal advice with a view to taking action against those persons who have committed breaches of the law in this instance”, the police added.
Yesterday’s demonstration was another in the series of PNCR-organized protests against the rising cost of living. The time of the march had been set for 1 pm with the starting point, the corner of Mandela Avenue and Durban Street. But upon Corbin’s arrival after that time, and his informing the gathering that no permission had been granted, he said that he would be walking to his chambers on Croal Streets, since he had “sent away” his vehicle. Persons in the crowd said that they would walk with him and followed as he began the walk down D’Urban Street.
Shortly before this, at the time fixed for the march, a small number of people had gathered at the location awaiting notification as to whether the march was on as word spread that the police had denied permission.
A few ranks were present and cautioned that no march had been approved and the gathering was illegal.
After this was relayed to a PNCR official, he told the gathering to get back to their buses and they walked in the direction of the large buses that were parked close-by on Mandela Avenue. Corbin had by that time arrived and addressing the gathering said that last Saturday the party’s General Secretary had written the commander of ‘A’ Division seeking permission for a series of marches to be held throughout last week but had no reply on several occasions until the time at which the marches were to have started had passed. He said that yesterday, the party received no communication from the police about the planned march until 12:45 pm, and which informed that approval was not granted to use a noisy instrument, and for a procession and a rally at the John Ford car park.
He said that the reason given was that on the party’s previous march, they had diverted from the specified route and had thrown down police barriers.
Noting the denial, Corbin said that they would not have a procession and it would be pointless to assemble at the John Ford car park and “we will comply with the law”. He reiterated to the gathering that “we do not have a procession” and said that he did not think that anyone can stop them from walking on the road quietly and in the corner. He then headed up Durban Street, followed by the people.
As the noisy group left, they did not keep to the corner of the road and did not walk in an orderly fashion. During the walk up that street, they were alone until a police van; sirens blaring pulled up and informed that the procession was illegal. This did not deter them but after noticing the police van, close to the Camp Street jail, where barriers had been set up, they diverted to Louisa Row and then into Hadfield Street. Here, they were again informed that the procession was illegal.
What followed was akin to a game of cat-and-mouse as the protesters ran and dodged police on various city streets such as South Road, Brickdam and others even as the heavily armed lawmen raced to set up barriers at certain junctions. Some stores in the vicinity immediately shut their doors while passers-by commented on the actions, some positively, others negatively.
As they passed close to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the marchers shouted “5% can’t wuk” and upon reaching Croal Street, they milled around opposite the High Court for some minutes before some were handed placards and almost unnoticed Corbin proceeded to Avenue of the Republic, in front of the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court, where at first silently, then shouting slogans, a picketing exercise commenced.
They sang portions of songs such as ‘Not a blade of grass’ even as the police loudspeaker blared “You are not to pass the police. This is your final warning”. This warning was issued a few times even as the police seemed primed for action.
For just over an hour, the placard bearing picketers walked up and down with phrases such as ‘Locking up youth based on a survey. Shame on you Rohee’, and shouting slogans such as ‘when you protest in peace, the police with the trigger ready to release’
Under a light drizzle, they continued until shortly before 4:30 pm when they dispersed. Yesterday’s march was another in a series of PNCR organized actions to protest against the rising cost of living.
Another last week Friday was held in front of the Office of the President and last week Thursday, another had broken through police barriers to get to the Parliament buildings where an effigy of President Bharrat Jadgeo and mock coffins were burnt. Corbin has vowed that the protests will continue until adequate measures to deal with the rising cost of living are implemented by the government.
