The Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) yesterday called on the Joint Services to ensure the restoration of order on the East Coast and West Berbice corridors.
At various times since Sunday, protests have erupted over the gruesome murder of Isaiah and Joel Henry. These protests have also seen attacks on commuters, robberies and a choking off traffic along the thoroughfare. The ERC in a statement yesterday said that it is cognisant of the challenges and complexities that resulted in protest actions that followed the deaths of the Henry cousins and Haresh Singh and Prittipaul Hargobin.
“The Commission congratulates the Joint Services for exercising considerable restraint while encountering rising adversity in its efforts to restore normalcy. However, the ERC remains deeply concerned at the atrocities being committed during those protests which have been unhelpful to efforts of improving race relations in Guyana”, the ERC added.
It said that worthy of praise are the public appeals made by both President Irfaan Ali and Volda Lawrence, Chairman of the PNCR and the father of one of the victims against the spiraling cycle of violence and destruction which have claimed more lives.
“The ERC believes the efforts of the Joint Services can reassure citizens of their safety and well-being while serving to reduce tensions and hindrances to the Police conducting investigations. The Commission also calls on the hardworking men and women in uniform to urgently conduct more effective patrols along the affected roadways including aerial reconnaissance of the situation on the ground”, the statement said.
The ERC said it empathizes with the grieving families in their calls for justice and reiterates that it will take the necessary course of action, within the confines of its constitutional mandate, to aid in the de-escalation of tensions.
