The Joint Services last evening announced that they had secured the approach to Linden and vowed to keep the corridor clear even as residents continue to place roadblocks elsewhere as protests continued for the 12th day yesterday in the wake of the killing of three protesters by police.
A planned visit by President Donald Ramotar to the community on Saturday had to be called off after protesters resisted attempts by the Joint Services to remove the blockades.
“The Joint Services of Guyana, having been directed by the Commander-in-Chief President Donald Ramotar, has secured the approach to Linden via the Kara Kara Bridge and roadway,” the police announced in a statement last evening. It said that in an operation commencing at 4am yesterday, Joint Services ranks moved into the location, dislodged the protestors mobilized on site and took control of the bridge and roadway.
“Earth moving equipment was deployed and commenced the removal of logs and other debris from the bridge and roadway. By 05:45 hours the Joint Services had completed clearing the bridge, opening the road corridor and informing the Commander-in-Chief,” the statement said. “The bridge and roadway have been secured by a detachment, but small pockets of debris may still be encountered. The Joint Services will however continue to clear as they are in place, in order to maintain the site open to vehicular traffic to and from the Linden community,” it said.
“The Joint Services will, as instructed, maintain the road corridor open for the use of the Linden community,” it added.
However, while the key Kara Kara Bridge was cleared, just beyond it, the road remained blocked with logs and other debris making it impassable. Other roadblocks put up by residents, including on the Wismar side of the community remain and traffic to interior communities like Lethem and Mahdia is still at a standstill. Those communities, as well as miners in the vast gold-mining interior, are facing fuel and other shortages as supplies run low.
Yesterday was Day Twelve of the Linden protests which started as one against the hike in electricity tariffs but has since grown to encompass the three men fatally shot by police on July 18 when the protests began.
There were reports yesterday that Regional Chairman, Sharma Solomon, had requested a meeting with President Donald Ramotar and the president was planning to visit Linden today but the Chairman denied requesting a meeting or any knowledge of the President visiting Linden today, when he was contacted last night. “I didn’t request anything,” he said. And in relation to a visit by the President, he said: “I am not aware of that.”
Yesterday morning, the police and army accompanied by the water cannon swooped down on the Kara Kara bridge and other blockades and removed them but residents began barricading the road again.
There were two separate operations by the Joint Services. One detachment descended on the protest camp at Kara Kara early yesterday when there were only a few persons there and dispersed them. They then removed the blockade which had become the iconic symbol of the protest.
“We were definitely outnumbered. There was nothing we could have done but to jump up and run,” said one of the men who was at the camp.
He said that he was certain that they were going to be taken advantage of and even arrested if they had stuck around. “We saw them advancing and the grader behind and that sent a clear message,” he said. The squad cleared the bridge uninterrupted. While the grader returned to the Mackenzie police station, the officers stayed on guarding the bridge.
Another detachment came up the Linden-Soesdyke Highway with a bulldozer, the much talked about $20M Water Cannon and two trucks and cleared the blocks at Bamia and those along the Amelia’s Ward Highway. At one of the blockades at Amelia’s Ward, women threw themselves prostrate along the road wailing and crying ‘Wah we do suh, all we want is jobs for we children, we need justice for we men wah deh murder, we need Justice.”
The Joint Services ranks then moved down to the Kara Kara Bridge where they remain. Reports had originally stated that the water cannon was used on the protesters but sources have since said that an attempt was made to use it but it did not work.
One man complained that following the clearance of the Kara Kara Bridge, ranks were forcing persons to head in the direction of Amelia’s Ward. “That was utter nonsense we had to stand up to them and let them know we going to the other directions and they eventually allowed us to go our free way.”
As word spread throughout the community persons started coming out, some converging at the Kara Kara Bridge while others went to the Wismar/Mackenzie Bridge. A blockade was put back at the Amelia’s Ward main road with burning tyres and scrap iron.
The presence of the water cannon in the town drew a large number of persons to the Kara Kara Bridge where the machine was being tested. The machine left the scene shortly before six yesterday afternoon.
`The struggle’
Emotions yesterday were mixed with regards to what some termed “the struggle” and others called “the fight for justice” and as they passed through barricades, groups of soldier and TSU police, many vented their feelings. “Is what this president really trying to say to the world? Why can’t he just come and say something to us and let’s get to move on with our lives. Donald Ramotar is only playing with the emotions of people. He is showing that this PPP Government really have a problem with Linden, it doesn’t matter if we
did or didn’t vote for the PPP,” were among the comments heard.
“He is the president of this country and has the right to treat Lindeners with the same respect he is showing people in Tain and other parts of this country,” another said. “I want this nonsense to stop now. Y’all ain’t see Ramotar ain’t got no time with y’all? Why y’all don’t come off deh damn road and done this nonsense. I need my life back I understand the cause of this struggle and I respect it but I need my life back,” said another. “Prayers is a powerful thing. This God don’t sleep not for a second and he will give us the victory but faith without works is dead so that’s why we out here and we ain’t giving up.”
Meantime, relatives of the three men could not confirm up to press time when the funeral for the trio would be but said that as announced by Solomon on Friday night, it would be tomorrow or Wednesday with a service at the Wismar end of the bridge then burial at the Christianburg cemetery. The region plans to foot the full cost of the funeral and for the construction of a monument in their honour. Ron Somerset, Allan Lewis and Shemroy Bouyea were the three Lindeners killed.
