Corentyne residents yesterday staged a demonstration along the Number 45 Village Public Road to protest a recent upsurge in criminal attacks, including the murder of farmer Pamela Kendall, who was killed during a home invasion.
Shortly after 3.30pm, residents burned tires and blocked a section of the road with solid objects, including tree trunks and abandoned utility poles, to vent their frustration over the apparent rise in crime across Berbice.
The residents called on the new government to address the crime situation in the area immediately and urged an increased police presence in the communities along the Corentyne. The protestors claimed that every night a family is a victim of some sort of criminal attack. “Bandits have been causing havoc in their community with innocent people losing their lives at the hands of these fearless perpetrators,” said one of the protestors.
The residents voiced their frustration for over an hour before the police arrived on the scene and managed to pacify them. The residents cooperated with the police and ended the protest but indicated that they would return if they do not see any progress.
Kendall, 56, of Lot 19 Number 45 Village, Corentyne, was fatally shot by an intruder on Thursday night during a blackout. A source close to the investigation yesterday said one person was taken into custody by police in connection with the killing.
A family member, who was part of the protest, noted that the community is made up of hard working people who work for “an honest dollar” and that it was wrong for bandits to just prey on them and without any regard for the police. “Something needs to be done!” she exclaimed.
Kendall was in her house around 6.30pm on Thursday when a bandit approached her back door and shot her in her face. She died while being transferred to the Skeldon Public Hospital. The bandit escaped empty-handed.
After being shot, Kendall ran over to her brother’s house for assistance. She called out to her nephews and then walked to the car, where she fell unconscious.
