Skip to main content

FM
Former Member

AFC ‘strips’ protesting to new low

“intoxicated” Councillor ‘peels off’ clothes in front protestors — Police

AFC-Councillor-Naith-Ram

AFC-Councillor-Naith-Ram

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) has denied that police officers stripped Alliance For Change (AFC) Region Two Councillor Naithram, pointing out that the AFC representative was drunk and exposed himself after he was taken from their custody by a group of protestors.

The action occurred during a protest on Friday night after the Police stepped in to maintain control, after residents burned tyres on the road, demanding that millers settle their outstanding debts to them.

Naithram, the Chairman of the Essequibo Paddy Farmers’ Association, and leader of the protest, started the demonstration fully clothed, but reportedly did a “bare all” even before the demonstrations ended.

Guyana Times was unable to solicit a comment from the AFC Councillor who was held by the Police, but party leader Khemraj Ramjattan said he was working to have his comrade released.

The Police in a release said on June 30, the Essequibo Paddy Farmers’ Association applied for approval to hold a protest march on July 4, commencing at 09:30h.

The protest was expected to he held at the Bush Lot New Market, following which a meeting would have been held at the Anna Regina High Bridge.

Imbibing

Approval was subsequently given by Police.

The protest march commenced at 10: 00h, and proceeded peacefully with about 200 persons, mostly farmers.

At the conclusion of the protest march and meeting, about 12: 30h, most of the persons left, but some remained and began imbibing, the Police said.

Rice farmers on Friday set tyres on fire to protest non-payment by millers

Rice farmers on Friday set tyres on fire to protest non-payment by millers

Around 17:15h on Friday, those who were imbibing and some others including Naithram, boarded their motor vehicles, including tractors and trailers, and proceeded to drive along the middle of the main roadway in the vicinity of the villages of Reliance and Land of Plenty, Essequibo Coast, at a very slow rate.

This action, the Police said resulted in a back-up of traffic as other motor vehicles could not pass, and they continued their action despite efforts by Police to get them to drive on the left hand side of the road.

“On reaching a short distance before the Land of Plenty Bridge, at about 1800h, the men continued breaching the laws by proceeding to block the entire roadway with the use of their motor vehicles that included tractors and trailers and to set fire to tyres and other debris that were thrown on the roadway. A utility pole was also used to block the roadway.

“By this time, the crowd had increased to over 400 persons and efforts by the Police to get them to remove the vehicles from across the roadway proved futile. Missiles comprising bricks, bottles and other articles were thrown at Police ranks in their attempt to remove the burning obstacles on the roadway, causing them to cease their efforts,” the Police said.

According to the Police, the Guyana Fire Service at Anna Regina could not reach the scene, owing to the blocking of the road.

No avail

The release explained that the Police continued to appeal to the residents, but to no avail.

“The Police then arrested Naithram, who was leading the protest, at which stage a number of other persons surged forward and accosted the ranks and took him away from the Police. During this incident, his clothing was torn and several Police ranks were thrown into a nearby trench.

“Naithram then stood among the protestors and stripped himself, and several persons took his photograph. He then left the area and later returned dressed in a change of clothing.

“The Guyana Police Force emphatically reiterates that Naithram was not stripped by Police ranks. He took off his own clothing after he had been taken away from the custody of the Police by other protestors,” the release said.

At around 22: 45h, the Police once more appealed to the protestors, informing them that they were in breach of the law, but they steadfastly refused to remove, saying that they will only do so if President Donald Ramotar comes to address their concerns.

The Police then used tear smoke to clear the unruly crowd and 19 men, including Naithram, were arrested. They have been released from police custody.

Two tractors, four trailers, two motor cars and two motorcycles that were among the vehicles used to block the roadway have been seized by the Police.

Police cleared the blockage on the roadway about 10:00h on Saturday and traffic began to flow freely.

The Police said a member in a motor vehicle who was caught up in the congestion caused by the blocking of the road, was assaulted by a number of protestors. He was later treated at the Suddie Hospital.

The Police are continuing to monitor the situation. “The Guyana Police Force recognises the rights of citizens to peaceful protest, but when such protests degenerate into a set of unlawful activities that infringe on the rights of other citizens, the Police will, of necessity, have to take the appropriate action in order to maintain law and order,” the release said.

Replies sorted oldest to newest

Make your judgement! His shirt wasn't torn. His pants and underwear were neatly down. Who took the picture with no police around? Finally, he looks drunk. AFC will have a tough time to swallow this one.

FM

The actions of the AFC Councillor appears to be deliberate, a full investigation should be carried out, when found guilty of trapping in public, he should be charged!!. Point to note....no AFC goon to date had condemned that Councillor indecent exposure. 

FM
Originally Posted by Conscience:

"Mitwah" are you and your fellow goons not condemning the actions of that Councillor strip in the public gaze for a photo opportunity.

The PP/C is forcing the people to take up arms. You should be ashamed of yourself for not condemning police brutality.

Mitwah

The AFC councillor actions for stripping in public should be strongly condemned,no one would deny the residents had a right to protest over late payment for their produce, the police even give them permission, the protest got unruly the Drunken AFC Councillor strip in public and pose for the cameras. 

FM
Originally Posted by Conscience:

The AFC councillor actions for stripping in public should be strongly condemned,no one would deny the residents had a right to protest over late payment for their produce, the police even give them permission, the protest got unruly the Drunken AFC Councillor strip in public and pose for the cameras. 

Mitwah

Calm returns to E’bo…Arrested rice protestors placed on bail but rice worries continue

July 6, 2014 | By | Filed Under News 

 

Calm returned to the Essequibo coast yesterday but rice farmers remained defiant despite the arrest of 19 persons on Friday night. The area erupted Friday night as farmers, protesting outstanding payments, squared off with police who ended up firing several canisters of tear gas as the crowds swelled to around 500 persons at midnight.

Rice farmers and relatives gathered at the Anna Regina Police Station where 16 persons were being held.

Rice farmers and relatives gathered at the Anna Regina Police Station where 16 persons were being held.

Residents were sent scrambling out of their homes at Land of Plenty, a village located not far from Anna Regina, as the tear gas took effect. Residents and farmers used tyres and burning logs to block the road It was an unusual situation as Essequibo coast is a laidback farming area not known for protests. Yesterday, after intervention by Members of Parliament, police released the 19 persons on bail. They will have to report to the police on Tuesday. Last night three of the men were being treated at the hospital for injuries. Rice farmers are insisting that millers owed them hundreds of millions months after taking their paddy for the first crop. Essequibo is heavily dependent on rice but farmers are claiming that a vicious cycle of outstanding payments, debt, poor weather and a lax attitude by Government towards millers have been keeping them in poverty. Yesterday, Leader of the Alliance For Change, Khemraj Ramjattan, was working with relatives of arrested farmers and others who were arrested during the protest actions.  MP Christopher Jones, of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) was also there lending support. Several family members and rice farmers gathered at the Anna Regina Police Station early in the morning calling for the men to be released. Among those arrested was AFC Councillor in Region Two, Naith Ram, who was reportedly left naked after clashing with the police Friday night. Police denied this yesterday and accused Naith Ram of taking off his clothes after he was held. Residents maintained yesterday that the clothes of the AFC Councillor came off after he was manhandled by police ranks. Speaking with Kaieteur News yesterday, several rice farmers spoke of a worrying situation in Essequibo. Over 30,000 acres is targeted for cultivation this crop. Several of the farmers claimed that it has been almost four months and some are still waiting to be paid by millers who they accused of using their monies to conduct expansions, instead of paying them. “We asked the Agri Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, and even the Minister of Home Affairs to visit us but nobody come. The Guyana Rice Development Board and rice producing association held a meeting Thursday that we did not even know about. We complaining all the time but nobody ain’t doing anything. Further when they actually talk, it is some cock-and-bull story about a free market and Government can’t interfere,” one irate farmer said. Farmers claim that two major millers owe them almost $1B each. Essequibo has over 4,000 persons involved in rice cultivation. “We know that GRDB has a law in which farmers have to be paid 50 percent of their money within two weeks and the rest in 42 days. If they fail to pay within the time, the miller got to pay interest. They not paying the interest, but they taking interest if we late in taking fertilizer from them. Plus they robbing us when take our paddy to them on the weight and the grades they give us. You tell me how we can survive? GRDB and the Government not addressing this.”

Anger: Rice farmers and others voicing their concerns yesterday over the situation in Essequibo.

Anger: Rice farmers and others voicing their concerns yesterday over the situation in Essequibo.

According to the AFC leader, he travelled to Anna Regina yesterday after several farmers called him. “We are working to get the farmers out of the lockups. I understand that a few persons arrested were not even part of the protests but were coming from work. People are suffering and AFC will be examining this situation.” According to Ramjattan, he also received complaints from farmers that millers are using their monies to finance the milling operations. “I understand that monies were paid to the millers from their customers, from the Venezuela rice deal, and others, and yet nothing was passed to the farmers. This is a serious situation which has implications for farmers in Essequibo and by extension the country. I fear that the situation may also be the same in other parts of the country.” The situation may be even more serious that appeared at first glance. Farmers have taken loans and owe suppliers like Geddes Grants and millers millions for fertilizers and equipment. With Guyana targeting almost 600,000 tonnes of rice this year, there are fears that too few markets may end up leaving Guyana with a surplus which could push prices downwards. Rice has been the second biggest earner for Guyana, after gold with production breaking records last year. However, as the farmers pointed out yesterday in Essequibo, the production record may be pointless if prices remain low.

Mitwah

According to the AFC leader, he travelled to Anna Regina yesterday after several farmers called him. “We are working to get the farmers out of the lockups. I understand that a few persons arrested were not even part of the protests but were coming from work. People are suffering and AFC will be examining this situation.” According to Ramjattan, he also received complaints from farmers that millers are using their monies to finance the milling operations. “I understand that monies were paid to the millers from their customers, from the Venezuela rice deal, and others, and yet nothing was passed to the farmers. This is a serious situation which has implications for farmers in Essequibo and by extension the country. I fear that the situation may also be the same in other parts of the country.” The situation may be even more serious that appeared at first glance. Farmers have taken loans and owe suppliers like Geddes Grants and millers millions for fertilizers and equipment.

Mitwah
Originally Posted by Spontaneous emission:

Don’t be surprised if the AFC keep their next Congress in the compound of a mental institution….and where one needs the relevant certificate to enter.  

Please keep yours safe. You have been missing for quite some time now. Was it not your dad who used to clean Burnham stables?

Mitwah
Last edited by Mitwah

The AFC is gaining more momentum by the day in GY. Believe me I am not a supporter of the AFC. They are too heavily tied into the crookishness in Guyana and they have many pay masters that will turn them into something worse than the PPP but, they are gaining momentum no one can deny that.

 

They are on track to pick up even more seats away from the PPP.

FM

Add Reply

×
×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×