Fake News brings, protest, racial hostility, looting, robbery and violence to ECD

BY Leroy Smith

It was Chaos and confusion in parts of the East Coast Demerara as persons from the community of Golden Grove reacted to a misleading report by Guyana Daily News that the policeman who shot and killed 25-year-old Quindon Bacchus three weeks ago was released from Police Custody.

As the protest started, those taking part walked from Golden Grove to Mon Repos, where they uprooted roadside stalls and other debris and placed them in the middle of the road where they were set alight.

That caused a standstill in the traffic flow and resulted in traffic diversions onto the Railway Embankment.

At Mon Repos Market, vendors were beaten, robbed, and had their property destroyed by the protestors who also looted their stalls.

The vendors at Mon Repos took to the streets to protest the beating, robbing, and damage to property to them by the protestors and, in turn, began a protest of their own where they too lit and burned debris and also uprooted stalls.

The vendors then began an open racial offensive against police officers at the location to prevent further blocking the roads and throwing missiles.

The policemen who stood stall as racially hostile comments were made to them by Mon Repos Market vendors

President Irfaan Ali then showed up on the ground where he committed to compensating those who lost items and called on them to desist from blocking the road, a call he made via a video message to the nation.

President Ali also, while at Mon Repos, warned that those who caused the protest to degenerate into the destruction and damage to property would be held accountable.

President Irfaan Ali speaking to a market vendor at Mon Repos Market

Once finished there, the president, who was also accompanied by the Commissioner of Police, moved to Buxton, where he spoke with the residents there.

President Ali speaking with a resident of Buxton

On his way back to Georgetown, protestors temporally blocked the president’s convoy at Mon Repos. Still, after some efforts, the president was taken to safety while residents began hurling glass bottles, wood, and other items at the other vehicles that were part of the president’s Convoy, which were still stalled at the blockade.

A team clearing the road to facile the president’s convoy to pass Mon Repos

Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn also had to seek coverage from missiles that were being through.

Shortly after that, several persons were arrested for the throwing of missiles and are expected to be prosecuted.

Persons who were captured after throwing bottles and debris at Home affairs Minister Benn and vehicles from within the president’s convoy

During the day, the Guyana Press Association Condemned the post by Guyana Daily News and said that it does not recognize the entity as a bonified media house.

The statement from the Guyana Press Association

Guyana Daily News issued an apology admitting that the report was misleading.

The entity, in its initial release, said that it terminated the services of its Editor in Chief Ronald Singh. However, in an altered release on the entity’s Facebook page, it’s stated that Ronal Singh was not terminated but instead suspended.

The original release from Guyana Daily News says Ronald Singh’ services were terminated

The revised release now shows Ronald Singh has only received a slap on the risk suspension for causing public unrest and mayhem

The Ministry of Home Affairs has since warned that the road from Enmore and beyond heading east has been closed to vehicular traffic.