Red Thread takes protest against Linden shooting to OP

Jul 21, 2012 News

The protest mounted in solidarity with Linden yesterday continued as demonstrators moved to the Office of the President.
Scores gathered with political leaders and social activists to “stand up” against what they referred to as uncalled for and unacceptable brutality.
The protest was initiated by Red Thread which supported the view that Lindeners should not have seen a hike in electricity tariff and the brutality displayed against them.

A Section of the gathering

The general call on the protest was for the Minster of Home Affairs to step down or be removed. Also, the demonstrators called for the Commander who ordered ranks to open fire to be dismissed.
Wintress White, in representation of Red Thread, said that as grassroot women who survive everyday by “pinching and stretching our dollars we are saying what happened in Linden should not have occurred.”
The woman said that even though there are some jobs in Georgetown, “it is still hard”.
White said that the government’s attempt to divide and conquer should not be allowed to prevail. She referred to one of the theories used to justify the hike which is that Georgetown is paying and so should Linden as a way to have the people of Georgetown stand down and “allow injustice to prevail.”
White said that her organization is willing to stand in solidarity and protest for the just cause as long as possible.
“It is murder; it’s cold blooded murder. Dem shoot a man in he back and when he fall, dem shoot he in he face,” shouted Heston Bostwick, Chairman of the Justice for Jermaine Committee.
He said that his organization pledges support to “the end” which is only when justice is served.
The man said that after the incident during a protest on December 6 with the shooting of persons with rubber bullets, an inquiry into the matter was promised. However, nothing has been concluded.
“That is telling the people you only bluffing them.”
Columnist Frederick Kissoon said that he and a number of other persons who have been monitoring what has been going on Wednesday, know that the officer in charge in Linden was corresponding “all day” with Georgetown officials.
He said that around 4:00pm, the officer “began to change…we have evidence that the order to shoot came around 5:00pm after a meeting at the highest levels in this country.”
He said that a “meeting of minds” is needed with all influential groups in Guyana to plan what is next for the people as leadership plays an imperative role in the move forward.
Faced with the question of how it is that Linden seems to be able to support parties, yet protest the electricity hike, Kissoon said that one should not compare an episodic event with a monthly imposition.
Duane Edwards, President of the University of Guyana student body, displayed a poster which read, “I am a Lindener; will you shoot me?”
Edwards said that the University of Guyana Campus has persons of different views.
“There are some who understand the struggle while there are others who feel that it doesn’t affect them therefore they don’t care.”
“I understand the cause and will support till the end.”
Three are dead while some 24 were injured as police ranks opened fire on a large group of protesters in Linden. The town had made public its preparation for a five-day shut down to protest the hike in electricity tariff.