One day after a protest over the police killing of Quindon Bacchus became violent, the police continued to face criticism over their handling of the fallout, which saw civilians being injured as law enforcers tried to clear the East Coast public road.
At the Golden Grove Market yesterday, a group of Bacchus’ family and friends, numbering 10, continued to protest for justice. They also condemned the violence and robberies that took place on Tuesday. They stated that they were protesting at Golden Grove Market demanding Justice for Bacchus before other villages joined and some persons took a course that was contrary to the protest.
They also stated that they were on their knees crying out for justice when the Joint Services arrived and fired off rubber bullets and live rounds on Tuesday evening. One woman stated that children were on the road at the time as some were making their way home from school. A number of persons were injured with rubber bullets. Teargas was also fired.
Some residents stated that in the process of police trying to clear the road, persons were injured in their yards by the police. “The protest was on the road. How they meet through the streets and shooting at people? We got children,’’ one person declared.
Ray-Ray Lilly, a member of Fruit of the Cross Ministries, stated that the church was ransacked on Tuesday evening by the police, who thought persons were hiding there. Spent shells and rubber bullets were found inside the church. Persons were reportedly shot inside of their shops and some were also counting losses due to damage caused by the force being used by the police.
Among those injured after the police opened fire and used tear gas was Stabroek News’ Assistant Editor Samantha Alleyne, who was with her 10-year-old son. Alleyne and her son were at the time walking back towards their vehicle, after seeing her sister off in a car at Nabaclis.
Stabroek News observed that members of the Joint Services were present at the Golden Grove Market and Haslington yesterday patrolling the area and monitoring the traffic.
The police have been criticised for their response to Tuesday’s protest, which grew out of control after some protestors blocked the East Coast public road, attacked and robbed persons and damaged property.
Meanwhile, some vendors at the Mon Repos market were still counting their losses yesterday as a result of the attack there.
When Stabroek News visited the East Coast of Demerara market, vendors had still to resume their operations, while the signs of the devastation that occurred remained as some of pieces of broken stalls were lying at the side of the road.
Nandranie Meusa, who sells chemicals, fertilisers, seeds and household items, stated that she was still traumatised after the looting. Meusa recalled that 10 minutes before, they received a warning from the police, who told them to pack their things and leave immediately. The woman explained that by the time she was finished packing, a crowd was already there.
Meusa stated that her bag with cash and her cellphone and other valuables was snatched by someone. “Everything gone. Me ain’t know where to start from. Me is a daily vendor at the market here,” she said.
A fruit vendor, Nalini Roopnarine, also spoke with Stabroek News and explained that she had been renting the stall that she was operating from. “It is not easy to lose that amount of thing. We get rent to pay,” she said.
Following the looting and destruction of property at the market, President Irfaan Ali had assured the vendors that they would be compensated.
