– small city protest was ‘wake-up call’
PNCR Leader Robert Corbin yesterday announced the launch of a national campaign to force the government to account for its alleged involvement with drug trafficker Roger Khan, as the main opposition took to the streets in protest.
Corbin said that this issue was not one between the PPP and the PNCR but one that affected
all decent-minded citizens in the country. He said the party will be collaborating with other parties and stakeholders to decide the way forward. He declared that the struggle will be for the “long haul” and announced plans to hold “a mighty demonstration”.
He said that the party is making a collaborative effort to have an international tribunal conduct an inquiry into the matter since the government and the police force could not be relied on to conduct a proper inquiry. Corbin said that if the government was serious about getting to the root of the matter, nothing could have prevented it from collaborating with another government to conduct a proper investigation.
Corbin said the party will continue its protest action today in front of the Public Buildings adding that it was time for all Guyanese to stand up and be counted. He described yesterday’s protest as “a wake-up call” to Georgetown and vowed to take the struggle all across Guyana.
Co-Chair of the PNCR Volda Lawrence told the gathering “this is the beginning of our struggle against a government that has brought all Guyanese shame and disgrace.” She announced that “tomorrow [today] will be the people’s Parliament.” Lawrence then urged all supporters to tune in to last evening’s edition of Capitol News to hear the latest as it related to the ongoing trial in the US.
The protest
Prior to the rally at the Parade Ground, the main opposition party arranged a protest which attracted a small but vocal turnout. The protestors, who could be counted by the score, assembled at the corner of Mandela Avenue and Joseph Pollydore Street before engaging in a two-hour march across the city.
Around 10.30 am, the protest moved west along Joseph Pollydore Street. Led by a vehicle with a loud speaker which had an effigy of Health Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy attached to it, the chanting protestors went to the south of the city passing through Charlestown and Albouystown before heading to the heart of the city. The protestors moved north along High Street, continued along Avenue of the Republic into Main Street. From here they headed east along Quamina Street, north into Cummings Street, west into Middle Street before finally assembling at the Parade Ground for the rally.
There was a strong police presence throughout the march and no evidence of any disorderly behaviour. The march attracted a lot of onlookers, some of whom openly voiced their support for the protestors without joining them, despite being encouraged by some of the protestors to do so.