The extension of barriers around parliament was done as a means of strengthening security, the Guyana Police Force said yesterday, in response to an article published in the Stabroek News.
“The Guyana Police Force wishes the Public to know that the barriers were directly related to the security of Parlia-ment,” the press release said.
The police force said that “this enhanced security arrangement has a nexus to terrorists incidents occurring in various countries around the World, some of which are perpetrated by self-radicalized persons.”
The article which appeared under the headline “Barriers shifted to keep protesters away from Parliament-Traffic Chief” stated that Traffic Chief Dion Moore had said they had to secure the area and cater for the protestors.
In the media release, it stated that “Traffic Chief Dion Moore is refuting claims that he told any reporter from Stabroek News or any other that the barriers around Parliament were in response to Protestors.” In fact, Moore spoke to the Stabroek News reporter on Wednesday afternoon, and this newspaper stands by the article it carried in yesterday’s edition.
When the reporter questioned if the extension of the barriers had to do with the recent attack on the British Parliament he responded in the negative. Moore had dismissed reports that the new location of the barriers was because of the recent attack on the British Parliament.
On Monday, there were protests against the closure of sugar estates and the ban on the importation of used tyres.
Meanwhile, Public Relations Officer of the Guyana Police Force Jairam Ramlakhan told Stabroek News that the extension of the barriers would be in place for every sitting of the National Assembly.
The barriers around parliament were shifted from the routine northern boundary on Croal Street to Regent Street, whilst the normal eastern perimeter of the Avenue of the Republic was moved to Manget Place. The western border on Water Street restricting traffic remained in place, while the southern barriers on Hadfield Street were placed one block away on Leopold Street.
The shifting of the barriers resulted in the Route 43 minibus park being moved to High and Hadfield streets, while the Route 42 minibuses were receiving passengers at Leopold and Lombard streets.
Many drivers were unaware of the new arrangements and vented their frustration at the discovery. As a result of the changes, there was a tremendous backup of traffic throughout the city, which extended onto the East Bank Public Road.
