Some residents of the three East Bank Demerara villages that suffered massive flooding after a Koker gave way in early October, protested in front of the Office of the President yesterday as they called the $11 million flood relief proposed by government an insult.
The small gathering yesterday stood at the western entrance of the Office of the President holding up placards expressing their disapproval saying that government’s earmarked $11 million relief is an insult to the affected residents of Peter’s Hall, Nandy Park and Providence.
They then proceeded south on Shiv Chanderpaul Drive where they stood and expressed their disapproval saying that it was a waste of time and would not suffice when divided among over 400 residents.
One protestor who identified herself as “a hurt resident” said yesterday that the government is spending money on a dead man’s case when they should be spending it on living persons who have been suffering.
“This is a callous government, man. What $11 million can do? They spending one set ah money on a dead man. This flood was because of negligence, this is an unhuman government,” she said.
Another protestor, a resident of Providence who also requested anonymity, said that since the flooding there hasn’t been any positive response from the government and even though letters were written to the President they are still awaiting word from him.
Several minutes into the protest, they were approached by a rank of the Guyana Police Force who asked them to proceed beyond a barrier if they wanted to continue their protest.
Present at the protest was social activist, Mark Benschop who informed the rank that it was a peaceful protest and they will not go beyond any barrier but remain where they were.
After several refusals by the protestors, a senior rank approached the gathering and once again asked that the protestors go beyond the barrier but once again, they refused to move.
“We will move if you say to us what law we have broken then we can move, but to say that you’re asking us to move without any form of justification, is a violation of our rights and because of that, we are refusing to move,” Benschop told the officer.
The officer then pointed out that there were no armbands or any other attachments displaying “peaceful protest”.
After a few minutes, the protestors began their walk towards the eastern gate of the Office of the President where they continued to protest. They later dispersed.
