Hundreds of persons yesterday assembled at the Square of the Revolution in Georgetown as a show of solidarity for the families of cousins Isaiah and Joel Henry, who were found dead at Cotton Tree Village, West Coast Berbice on Sunday.
Eden Corbin, an executive member of the Black Lives Matter Guyana movement, told Stabroek News that the silent protest was organised to take a stand against the injustices done to the Henry teens.
Corbin said as a group they wanted to do more than just express how they felt on social media, hence their decision to take a bigger stand and show Guyana that they stood in solidarity with and supported the persons in Berbice who took to the streets in protest.
He added that he was heartened by the turnout in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic and was happy to see persons from diverse ethnic backgrounds coming out to show support.
Corbin estimated that close to 500 hundred persons assembled for the one-hour protest, which began at 12pm.
Shenica Haynes, another member of the Black Lives Matter Guyana movement, stated that it was impossible for any rational thinking human being not to understand the injustices that took place in regards to the killing of the teens.
She explained that the representatives present at the protest were there to show that they will no longer stand by and let injustice continue.
Haynes said Black lives were being increasingly disrespected.
She noted that the organisation’s intention is to gain additional information and address similar issues that took place.
She concluded that the protest was a peaceful one, where people from all walks of life came out to provide support because they understood the importance.
She called on all Guyanese to stand in solidarity to ensure a similar situation never happens.
Meanwhile, People’s National Congress Reform Chairperson Volda Lawrence, who was also present, told Stabroek News that she turned out to be a part of the protest because she was hurt by what took place.
She also charged that the parents of the teens killed, community members of West Coast Berbice and citizens of Guyana were not seeing the type of leadership that she believe should be shown coming from the administration.
Lawrence also said Police Commissioner Nigel Hoppie needed to be more transparent about the police force’s investigation.
She said in prior investigations more information was shared with the public as it relates to releasing the identities of the suspects involved and added that the public wanted to know what was happening as she called for the matter to be treated the same way as other high profile cases.
Lawrence also called for that the Commissioner to withdraw the Joint Services “and stop militarising black villages,” as she urged that they understand that people are hurt and scared.
“Will it be my son next? My nephew? My neighbour?” she asked as noted that persons are seeking justice.
Naomi Waddell, a teen who came out to join the protest, told Stabroek News that the protest was a peaceful one to show support for the Henry teens and Orlando Jonas. Jonas, a 26-year-old labourer of Lot 500 Number 1 Road, Corentyne, was fatally attacked by two armed men along the Albion Public Road on Saturday evening while returning home from work.
Colson Roberts, a young man who also joined the protest, told this newspaper that it felt great coming out but he believed that the one-hour allotted for the demonstration was not enough.
Roberts explained that while being stationary gets the message across, he believe a walk would have allowed more persons to be informed and understand that they were passionate and serious about the situation.
He added that racism was a prominent issue in Guyana, and explained that being a part of the demonstration gave him a feeling that suggested the beginning of change.
He also noted the diverse set of persons who came out to show their support. (Readawne Henery)
