Twenty persons who were a part of the cane harvesters’ protest yesterday were arrested after they attempted to block the Canje Turn with wooden poles and structures.
Cane harvesters have been on strike over their planned transfer from the Albion and Blairmont estates to Rose Hall where they had been originally employed before it was closed under the previous administration.
The cane harvesters who have been on strike over the last three weeks have been calling for severance pay or some sort of package despite the option of being transferred back to the Rose Hall Estate being taken off of the table.
Ultimately the workers are willing to return to the Rose Hall Estate as it will cut down travel time for most who live in the Canje and East Bank Berbice areas, but believe they should be compensated.
The workers on strike have been gathering at the Canje Turn each morning protesting peacefully, however, the matter escalated quickly yesterday morning after the protesters used large pieces of wood to block the turn and stop traffic from heading to and from New Amsterdam and the Corentyne.
Police officers who were at the scene quickly formed a line and advanced, some even pushing the protesters out of the way as they removed the wooden barriers blocking the traffic.
The protesters then dispersed to several locations, however, they were informed by the Commander of Region Six, Shivpersaud Bacchus that they should not form groups at the location. As a result, protesters from the line as well as those in groups were placed in the police’s pickup and taken to the station.
In one instance, Denis Kippie, who has been part of the protest since day one, was arrested through the street which leads to the Fort Ordnance Housing Scheme.
In briefing the media yesterday afternoon, Commander Bacchus while calling the protest an “illegal one” noted that the persons were first peacefully protesting and then they started to behave in a disorderly manner breaking tents and using poles and lumber to block the traffic. He said, “They also attempted to light a fire on the roadway by way of newspaper… And police put out the fire.”
According to him, sixteen of the men arrested were cane harvesters, one a labourer, one a car driver, and two were fishermen/carpenters.
According to Bacchus, the police are expected to file charges of obstructing the free flow of traffic, damage to property, unlawful assembly, and an act of terrorism against those arrested.
Meanwhile, Stabroek News was told that workers from the Blairmont Estate who were initially a part of the strike yesterday returned to work.
