Normalcy returned to the East Coast Demerara corridor yesterday following three days of heated protest action by residents against Saturday morning’s massacre at Lusignan which claimed 11 lives.

Armed joint services ranks patrolled this volatile corridor all day, ensuring that peace prevailed. Absent were the burning tires, road blockages and the traffic build-up from previous days.

Small groups of young men congregated at several locations between Mon Repos and Lusignan on the main highway and even threatened to resume protest action. However all remained quiet up to press time last evening. The presence of the armed forces was heaviest on the Lusignan market road and heavily armed ranks were present at every street corner.

At the railway line, there was an army vehicle filled with soldiers as well as several policemen. This newspaper noticed no other form of patrol from that point up to Mon Repos.

Persons had taken to the streets in protest mere hours after a large gang of armed men descended on the small farming community.

The residents ripped up bridges, blocked roads with vehicle parts, wood and burning tires and caused a huge traffic build-up. The joint services were deployed to the area, but residents persisted.

On Monday morning, the atmosphere was tense but by nightfall the protest had subsided and the area was being patrolled.