As protest action into the barbaric killing of two teenage cousins, Isaiah Henry, 16, and Joel Henry, 19, from Number Three Village, West Coast Berbice intensified yesterday, there were more reports of vicious physical attacks, robberies and damage to vehicles and properties.
A pitbull minibus smashed and ransacked
This was a continuation of protest action that started Sunday after the boys’ mutilated bodies were found in a backdam.
In Region Six, while the roads were cleared by police on Tuesday after protesters burnt debris and blocked the road at Number One Village and at least nine locations in New Amsterdam.
The homes of several persons were stoned at Fort Ordinance Housing Scheme, East Canje, a barbershop was burnt in Region Five, a home was burnt to the ground, and several persons of East Indian descent reported racially motivated physical assaults. The assaults, this publication was told, occurred while persons were still in vehicles or were making their way by foot out of the crowd.
A bus driver by the name of Dhaniram Persaud posted pictures of his bus with all the windows shattered and compartments ransacked. He said that a baby was on board the bus. The attack from the protesters, according to the man, forced his passengers, who merely wanted to get home, to exit the vehicle and walk to their respective destinations. Another woman, Anjanie Bacchus, posted pictures showing injuries her uncle sustained after he was beaten and robbed by protesters at Cottage, Mahaicony. She stated that his bus was also set on fire during the violent protest.
Meanwhile, Bobby Ramroop, who was also caught in a traffic jam as a result of the protest action, had his vehicle damaged by protesters who hurled objects and bottles at it. As a consequence, Ramroop suffered injuries about his shoulder, neck and chest area.A relative disclosed that Ramroop was stuck in Bushlot since Monday after he came out of the backdam but the Hopetown Public Road was blocked and he was forced to turn back. He, however, decided to take a chance to head home after he heard that soldiers would be escorting traffic through the blockades.” After he joined the line and the soldiers were in front when he reach Hopetown, these guys were like off the road but like hiding under a tree and they just pelt the car,” the relative said. The car windscreen was damaged and Ramroop suffered injuries before he eventually made it home to Bath Settlement, this publication was told.
to last evening, protesters were said to be on the roads at Number Three Village, Number 26 Village, Cotton Tree; Cottage, Mahaicony; Hopetown and Number Five Village. The roads were also blocked at several locations. When contacted, Berbice Commander, Edmond Cooper, said he was not aware of any blockades other than at Bath Settlement. However multiple persons claimed they were caught in traffic jams at Hopetown, Cottage, Mahaicony and Number Five.
Blocked roads during Mahaicony protest.
(GDF) directing traffic and escorting commuters at Hopetown.
Other stories of attacks included that of Rajendra Dasrat of Golden Fleece, West Coast Berbice, who was chopped on his hand and was beaten on his back after he was pulled from his employer’s vehicle which was later set alight.
“He and another worker were going to the rice field and they pull he out and beat he because they said he’s Indian and they left the other guy that is black. He say they go fuh chop he in his face and he bar with he hand so come he hand get bad chop and he back,” a relative disclosed.
The house of Mr. and Mrs. Jaffarally.
Meanwhile, over in Region Six, the home of the NDC Chairman of the Number 38/Ordinance/Fort Lands Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), Roy Jaffarally, came under attack Tuesday night by what is believed to be rogue elements among those protesting for justice for the murdered cousins.
Jaffarally said he was in his living room with his wife and children, ages 10 and 4, when they heard loud smashing noises on the roof top of their house. “We are so shaken, my girls are terrified, the impact of the stones on our roof was so loud,” he said. Subsequent checks were made on the home and vehicles that were parked in the yard and, according to Jafarrally, there were several dents found. There were huge bricks found in the yard and a bottle of engine oil. “I don’t know if they were trying to burn my house,” said Jaffarally, who is also the chef and owner of Grill Master Berbice and has been actively involved in assisting the needy in his community.
According to the man, he has since taken security measures to secure his home to keep his family safe. At least two other persons reported that their homes were stoned too.
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Man beaten to death at Bath Settlement after firing shots at protesters – Police
Prettipaul Hargobin
The Police say they are investigating the murder of Prettipaul Hargobin, age 34 years, of Block BI Bath Settlement, WCB which occurred about 15:45 hrs today 2020-09-09 at Bath Settlement Public Road, WCB.
Inquiries, police say, disclosed that the victim was in his motor vehicle on the Public Road at Bath Settlement when it was observed that he exited the vehicle with a shotgun and discharged one round into the air before discharging three rounds towards a crowd of protestors who were about 60 meters away.
As a result of his actions, the police say that he was attacked by the crowd and beaten. The police who were some distance away having observed the commotion “rushed to the scene where they discovered the victim lying on ground with several injuries about his body. He was subsequently picked up and taken to the Fort Wellington Hospital where he was pronounced dead by a Doctor on duty. Body is currently at the hospital”.
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“I am calling on my people to end this carnage”- PNCR Chairman Volda Lawrence… Now, your turn Irfaan Ali
Posted by: Denis Chabrol in Demerara Waves – September 9, 2020
Chairman of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), Volda Lawrence on Wednesday called on her supporters to end more than two days of violent unrest and in exchange she is calling on President Irfaan Ali to take similar action.
“As a leader, we have to call a spade a spade and, as I speak, I am calling on President Irfaan Ali to call on his people too. I am calling on my people to end this carnage, to end the way in which they are grieving and I am asking him to do likewise. As our people pull back so he must call on his people too to pull back,” she said on Attorney-at-Law James Bond’s Facebook page.
Ms. Lawrence issued the call “to every single” PNCR member “irrespective of your status” to “stop the carnage” in keeping with her party’s track record of always governing for all Guyana in pursuing the good life. “We all would have our likes and dislikes but we certainly can display our grief in a better manner. We certainly can empathise in a different way and so I am calling on the President,” the PNCR Chairman said.
The PNCR Chairman sounded her appeal on the same day that Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon said the protests were not about Afro-Guyanese and Indo-Guyanese but it was about the struggle against the illegitimate People’s Progressive Party-led administration and injustice. “I am calling on all of Guyana to recognise that this is not a struggle between the races.
This is a struggle against oppression, is a struggle against fraudulent government and we must stand united against that,” he said.
She remarked that the PNCR has governed for all Guyana and the good life that her party wanted to continue giving uyana was for everyone and so there was no need to damage each other.
“I am calling on every single member of the People’s National Congress Reform, irrespective of your status, I am saying that we cannot continue .
This carnage must stop.”
Warning that Guyana’s problems would get deeper and wider and people were being regarded as barbarians, she added her voice to the need for an independent police investigation that would lead to be the perpetrators to be charged. Ms. Lawrence acknowledged that relatives, friends and other supporters were ripped with anger, fear, vexation and hurt at the loss of two sons, but she appealed to supporters to stop blocking the West Coast Berbice public road. “We are asking for justice, we are asking for peace, we are asking for us to stop.
Pull away the things from the middle of the road . We can do things differently, we can send our message differently, It doesn’t mean that we are weak,” she said.
The PNCR Chairman lobbied community influencers, Hindu and Muslim leaders to help return life to a semblance of peace. “I am here, I am troubled as a leader and I am here I am calling on your people to stop just as I have called on my people to stop, as the Chairman of the great People’s National Congress Reform,” she said in her call to President Ali.
Killed on Wednesday were 17-year old Haresh Singh as he was heading to his farm at Number Three Village, West Coast Berbice. Police said 34-year old Chatterpaul Harripaul called Roy of Bath Settlement was beaten to death when he opened fire on a group of protesters at Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice
So vulgar is admitting to inciting’her people’ to commit violence
In the previous two years under the coalition government. Things were very quiet and safe during my last visit to Guyana in the fall of 2018. President Ali’s speech of yesterday failed to present ways to calm the violence. Crime in Guyana is out of control. No day passes without reports of slain people. Just terrible to watch.
Yes I agree it is time for Calm and Peace. Let level heads prevail on both sides agree 100%..
Now Let’s be calm and stop pointing fingers.
In order for us to move on yes call a Spade a Spade.
Now Let’s see and be real and fair where and how did we got here.
History teaches us to learn from the Past.
For those with a short memory rewind to the last 5 months,The longest delay in political history to declare the winner of an election.
This will never be forgotten in history of Guyana.
Remember all the cheap tactics used and the deliberate mathematical error on the vote count the world and Guyanese people wittiness and saw clearly what was going on so finally it was agreed by Guyana High court and all international bodies involved that the PPP won the Election and that the PNC and the Collation party must concede and hand over the reigns of Government to PPP Party.
Remember all the delays using the constitution as a skape goat to hold on to power.
So now the PNC & The Collation Party are angry and embarrassed so the only thing to save face for its supporters is to start a protest deeming the legality of the PPP Government.
Calling a Spade A Spade so far.
Protest started and in no time it became a bunch of Robbers, Looters, Hooligans
Blocking Traffic on main arteries, Setting fires and Burning Tires on main roads Vandalising state and private property.
Is this what so called peaceful protest is all about and what Black Lives Matter is all about.
This is shameful and disgraceful.
Then came the Gruesome death of the Henry’s boys,So called Protesters went Ballistic continue Blocking roads,abusing,beating innocent citizens this is the PNC Party in full force condoning Violence.
At this stage investigation is going on for the death of the two young teens instead of greaving with the Henry family and help with their grief and loss the PNC Hooligans continue to Beat, Loot,Burn and destroy.
Folks this is how we got this far and where we are now.
Anger, Jealousy, Greed and Hatred Prevails,
I ask where are the Church Leaders and Cool level Headed People?
What happened to free loving Christians, love thy neighbour as thy self.
What happened to the ten commandants.
Thou Shalt Not Kill, Thou not Steal,Thou Shalt be True and Honest To Thyself.
The PNC and it’s Supporters needs to Calm down and go back to Church as Your Chairman Volda Lawrence calling for calm on both sides a little too late but yes I agree.This madness must stop.What kind of human beings are we? Look in the mirror.
Our Politicians must not incite violence for they all have a responsibility to the Guyanese people.The Guyanese people are watching and you the politicians will be judged at every election cycle. .
As usual Maraj you are going in a political direction and blaming APNU for this situation. For you the PPP can do no wrong. That is the kind of rhetoric that has brought this situation to an explosive end. You talk about the past election that will go down in history??? Whether you and other PPP supporters want to admit it there was more in the mortar than the pisel with the election. U want to get political well then you should go back and read the history of 23 years of PPP rule, 12 of which Jagdeo was the President and you will see what went down during that time in history and how much of that has contributed to what’s happening now. You are a racist and it’s types like yourself that is going to make life very bad for your people in Guyana. I think that Afro Guyanese is sending a strong message to the government of the day that marginalizing Afro Guyanese and systemic racism of Afro Guyanese will no longer be tolerated. The ball is now in Jagdeo’s court as he’s calling the shots, not Ali.
Watch out Curtis, don’t rile up Jaggy, he may regroup the death squad.
Kman the first person that Jaggy sending the Phantom Squad for is YOU. He don’t like STUPID!!!!
Many comments fail to deal with the real issues… Guyana is in trouble and things could really explode. This is really because of Jagdeo and they know his record. If you do not know about his record then study it.
Curtis has nailed it on the head in his comments to Mr. Maraj. Maybe they are wasted on him as he is still talking about the past elections.
Guyana is in real trouble. I am living here and I have to live through it.
I am 43. I stand between the young 20’s and the old 60’s generations. To truly understand Guyana you have to live here or keep up with the daily news over the years.. .. and not just at election time.
First of all, the killings of the two boys were not the first ones in that area. Just previous to that and Afro-Guyanese was killed by two Indo-Guyanese – throat slashed -as he walked home with his Indo- Guyanese friend. Two men have been charged for this. The gruesome killings of the two boys is what sparked the outrage. This was a political killing that was intended to send fear in Afro-Guyanese – the X on their heads was and the butchering (read the autopsy reports) says it all. Social media has shown the photos of the bodies… This is 2020 and things can explode quickly.
The persons demonstrating at the location of the villages have not attacked or robbed persons. I have seen videos of protesters escorting Indo-Guyanese past the road blocks. The attacks were further west where the traffic was stopped. The behavior of these persons cannot be condoned. However, as we well know persons take advantage of protests for their own gain.
These were young boys and the young people today are NOT listening to politicians, most especially the Afro-Guyanese politicians. They will take things in their own hands and seek revenge…. and more… by closing the country down.
These youths feel that economic pressure or the fear of social breakdown is the only way to gain respect and let the Indo-Guyanese know that they will destroy the country if they are being butchered by Indo-Guyanese. You and I may not agree but that does not matter to them.
Many of them also feel that the Afro Guyanese politicians have let them down by not opposing the dictatorial behavior of Jagdeo from 2000 to 2015. They feel that under the APNU-AFC this atrocity would not have occurred and that we were returning to the days of the Phantom squads financed by drug lord Roger Khan. “We Pon Top now” the Indo-Guyanese are saying even though the PPP won by a plurality of 6500 votes, even with the ballot box stuffing on the East Coast of Demerara that was exposed in the recount.
These young people, many uneducated and unemployed, will utterly destroy Georgetown – and even the country – like they did in the past, if things get out of hand. They not praying and going to no church as Mr Maraj asks.. they are barely surviving. When you have nothing you have nothing to lose.
The army and police will not be able to prevent the ensuing mayhem.
My father remembers the early 1960’s riots when Indians and Africans had to move to safe havens. He fears that there could be a repeat now that there is oil money flowing with the Afro-Guyanese feeling that they will continue to be marginalized by this Indo-Guyanese government who will continue to steal Guyana’s wealth as they did in the past.
I live here and feel the vibrations– I hope for the best but am prepared for the worst.
So how do you believe the Indian educated youths were feeling when Burnham was dictator in chief?
This is a problem that go way back, and some in Guyana is stoking fear and violence.
It seems like we have a mini race war going on here, no other way to describe a situation where large numbers of Africans are rioting, burning houses and stoning houses, pulling people out of their cars and buses and heating them, killing innocent people, all of the victims being Indians. Other Africans are demonstrating and demanding justice for the killing of two African youths, a very strange thing since they are getting justice. Three men have been arrested for the killing of the two youths,which by any definition would seem to be justice on the way. What do you call it when people clearly unconnected with the murders are being targeted because of their race? You got it. Race war. Similar to the events of 1964 when the rumour of a black youth being killed by Indians and the explosion deaths of black people on board the Sun Chapman boat was attributed without evidence to be the work of Indians. What followed was the Wismar Massacre when over 3,000 Indians were forced out of their homes, many homes were burned and looted, hundreds were injured and an unknown number killed. Other assaults on Indians and burnings of their businesses and homes took place by Africans, and like now, the police and army were helpless to do anything to control these African lawbreakers and rioters. We’ll see how this one plays out,but the prospects are not good.
Interesting how the violent episodes you mentioned always seems to have evidence pointing to “Africans”……by the way they’re not Africans….they’re Afro Guyanese but the ones done by Indo Guyanese never seem to have evidence. Seems to be two kinds of laws in Guyana….one for the Afro Guyanese and one for the Indo Guyanese.
Every-time, the PNC lost an election they riot, loot and kill using Hoyte’s famous “mo fiah, slow fiah’ brand of violence. When does it stop? What’s the answer? anyone?
It was not the PNC that lost the election. Everytime the black man in Guyana tries to stand up for his rights, the Indians brings up the PNC and Burnham. That is ancient history….beating the same dead horse over and over again. The answer is for the PPP to get rid of Jagdeo if it really has the best interest of their supporters at heart. That man is toxic for the party, the country and most definitely the black people.
If we forget history and do not learn from it then we are doomed to making the same mistakes.
I wonder if these protesters were around when the Mackenzie massacre took place and olive stood around watching? Indians were murdered, raped, beaten, etc. Their possessions were robbed and houses burnt. This was witnessed by young Indian children.
I wonder how Justice was served. I know nothing happened.
I wonder if those shouting and destroying other people property and holding many communities fearing for their lives.
Where was these black lives matter people.
I think that some group or the other is inciting violence. The lndians won’t take this abuse much longer and l fear what could happen.
And by the way, for those who are misinformed or dumb: ALL LIVES MATTER
Kman
This not about the Mackenzie “massacre” .. four people dies in that. ..while 47+ died when the Son Chapman was bombed by the PPP as revenge as it was going up to Mackenzie.,
I am 43. My father told me what happened in 1962-64. That was a massacre with equally dead Afro and Indian Guyanese… and then the massacre of the hundreds under Jagdeo’s cocaine financed Roger Khan’s private army of Phantom squads where hundreds, mostly Afro-Guyanese were killed.
You are correct ALL LIVES MATTER. Tell that to Jagdeo.
The fact is that the Afro Guyanese took most of the abuse under Jagdeo and they will not take it any longer.
What those people did to the two youths was a racial hate crime.
It was aided and abetted by people like you who have an engrained hatred for Afro-Guyanese, forgetting that in the past it was these same Afro-Guyanese whose forefathers taught your grandparents and their parents to read and write.
This is 2020 … with social media .. The Indians have been stirring up racial hatred for the last five years… They hated a black man running Guyana… just like they hate it in Trinidad as well. However, Guyana will not survive if Indo-Guyanese think they have right to always rule Guyana. They are 39% of the population and will further decline as the sparks start flying.
The airports are closed due to COVID so they cannot leave yet – but they will unless they change their attitude.
They have the economics under control but as things collapse as they are now and with COVID they will see things differently. Either we live in harmony or we go down together. Time is running out for them.
I do not condone the violence— but remember who started it this time.
Go to hell with your Mackenzie massacre talk.
Jagdeo has let us down. He could have been a young dynamic leader we all respected but all his projects failed or were to put money in his friends or his pockets eg Skeldon “White Elephant”; Sugar Estate US235M; Berbice Bridge, Marriott, Amelia Fall Hydro, Fibre optic cable to Brazil etc . He and his friends are super rich now.
Hope all gets well for Guyana but I have my doubts with this racist leader in charge.. who said “We want our country back”. He may have it back, but in shambles.
Douglaman
I won’t reply to your opinion, all l can say is that you can lead an ass to water, but you can’t make him drink!
Well I guess that’s what the black Guyanese people are doing …..learning their history from 22 years of PPP rule and making sure that the kneeing doesn’t happen again to them. The person responsible for incitement is Jagdeo when he said in one of his many East Indian village speeches “We Taking We Country Back”. Guyana does not belong to him and the East Indian people. Whatever happened to One People, One Nation, One Destiny. You should fear what could happen alright if the government does not make the right moves. There will not be a trading of one Massa for another….those days are OVER!!!
Kman
I notice your answers or queries are just one sentence. Are you a troll?… OR
Is this because of limited intelligence?
If you cannot contribute to persons’ comments intelligently you are proving like you said ..” you can lead an ass to water, but you can’t make him drink!”
Douglaman
I am not going to get into a battle of words with you, as this solve any problems. Maybe we are both contributing to a bad bad environment without even realizing it.
Right on Dougleman. That man is one empty vessel!!!!
It appears the world of mankind has gone crazy, absolutely overboard it has. Wherefore this mutual striving for dominion over others? From where has it emerged? Even those from whom one might expect respect for humankind have become sunken in the mire.This fiery furnace is catching on all over the planet, thanks to the media. Wake up people! When one person decides rather to demonstrate love and understanding, maybe one by one others might choose to go that route; a return to sanity!
Curtis and Dougleman, hope you take heed
This spring I had planned a visit to the homeland with my two children (ages 15 (boy) and 22 (girl)) who have never been to the land of their father’s birth. They were super excited about the idea.
In early January when I was considering the decision, the much-delayed March 2 general election was announced. Based on Guyana’s troubled history of race riots in the 1960s and beyond, and the ever-present threat of violence and mayhem (existential), I aborted the idea and instead booked a week’s spring-break in serene Costa Rica. I promised the kids we’ll wait till after the election and when it’s safe before booking Guyana. Now, I am not sure if or when that will be.
We arrived in Costa Rica Sunday, March 8. It is a beautiful resort, 5* all-inclusive right on the Pacific coast. The whole time, while the kids blissfully enjoyed fun in the sun, I kept up with the news – on what was going on with the coronavirus and the situation in Guyana — on Guyanese Online and various Guyanese newspapers.
My daughter and I booked a day trip to neighbouring Nicaragua to the north, two days before we were to fly back home. My son opted to hang out by the poolside for the day. It was a memorable vacation. (I may provide details later.)
Before the WHO declared the virus a pandemic, a lady in her 50s, visiting from New York, became Guyana’s first COVID death. It was a wake-up call. On January 11, the WHO declared a global pandemic. The situation was becoming tense.
We had contemplated extending our vacation by a week but quickly cancelled the idea after the announcement was made and opted to fly back to Canada on schedule — on Sunday the 15th — or risked getting stranded indefinitely. It turned out to be the right decision. The border was closed down the very next day after we landed.
The news of the savage murders of the Henry boys and the retaliatory slaughter of young Mr Singh and Mr Hargobin, and the concomitant looting and arson, reinforces our worst concerns. I am sure the vast majority of Guyanese at home and abroad want lasting peace in the homeland.
It is our collective duty to encourage peace, trust and mutual respect. It can’t be any other way. After all, we are all Guyanese, no matter what the colour of our skin. We are not black, brown or white. We are Guyanese!
Respectfully,
Ron Saywack.
We are all hoping for stability in the country and for a fair and equitable distribution of the proceeds from our natural resources to enrich the lives of the citizens of a nation that has endured one ordeal after another from inception.
Bernard