Tensions flared on Friday during a community outreach by presidential candidate Azruddin Mohamed of the We Invest in Nation-hood (WIN) party, as a crowd of supporters of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) disrupted the event with loud protests, hostile chants and vulgar taunts.
According to Mohamed, the protest appeared to be orchestrated. In a video posted to his official Facebook page, he alleged that more than 50 ten-day contract workers were transported to the Belle West, Canal No 2, West Bank Demerara location using a minibus and a pick-up registered to the Region Three Regional Democra-tic Council (RDC).
“PPP transported over 50 ten-day workers in minibus and RDC registered pickup to disrupt A Mohamed’s meeting, wasting taxpayers’ money,” Mohamed wrote in the post’s caption.
He further stated that a WIN government would “not tolerate the mistreatment of ten-day workers,” adding that his party is committed to improving their wages, working conditions, and overall treatment.
“Presently, these workers are taken advantage of by their employers, who force them to attend and disrupt meetings held by political parties other than the PPP,” Mohamed said, citing the incident at Belle West as a clear example of such exploitation.
The video posted to Mohamed’s page captured an increasingly volatile scene. Protesters could be seen waving a banner bearing a Reuters news headline referencing U.S. sanctions on Mohamed.
Chants of “We don’t want no sanction man, Mohamed must go!” echoed through the gathering, with some individuals shouting, “My future president is Ali and Jagdeo. What you think you are? That’s a public embarrassment!”
One protester was heard calling Mohamed “a threat to the country,” while others, including several elderly women, shouted derogatory remarks and profanity at the WIN team. At one point, a woman directed an obscenity-laced threat toward members of the WIN entourage.
A vehicle carrying young men later arrived on the scene, blasting the song Chi Chi Man by dancehall group T.O.K., along with other expletive-filled tracks. The confrontation grew increasingly disruptive, obstructing the roadway and impeding the flow of traffic.
Tensions escalated further when observers questioned why individuals in the vehicle appeared to be consuming alcohol and driving. In response, an elderly supporter of the PPP/C defended their actions with more indecent language.
The standoff, which resembled a block party more than a political protest at times, drew sharp criticism from Mohamed. He concluded his statement by urging Guyanese to uphold democratic values and reject political intimidation.
“We believe that in this democratic nation, everyone has the right to choose whom they want to support without being victimized or discriminated against,” he said. “This must stop, and it’s time for these workers to wake up and take a firm stance for what they believe in.”
