What began as a largely peaceful protest outside the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court yesterday escalated into violent confrontations between supporters of the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party and members of the Guyana Police Force, with police opening fire after demonstrators began hurling missiles at officers.
An 86-year-old man was among those reportedly shot during the confrontation, which unfolded in the afternoon hours as Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed was being transported back to the Lusignan Prison following proceedings in his extradition matter.
The demonstration, which began during the morning hours, continued throughout the day as supporters gathered outside the courthouse calling for Mohamed’s release.
Although WIN officials had encouraged supporters to engage in peaceful protest, tensions escalated significantly as the afternoon progressed.
During the morning, protesters remained relatively orderly, with only occasional flare-ups while the extradition proceedings continued before Chief Magistrate Judy Latchman.
One such incident occurred when Head of Special Branch, Senior Superintendent Prem Narine, appeared on a balcony of the courthouse.
His appearance prompted angry reactions from sections of the crowd, with protesters shouting various things at him. The remarks stemmed from the controversial October 12 shooting incident outside Narine’s Kitty residence, during which he discharged his firearm in the direction of a vehicle carrying Mohamed and two other men.
The circumstances surrounding that incident remain disputed, with Mohamed maintaining that he was the target of an attempted assassination.
Despite the heated exchanges, the protest continued without major confrontation for much of the morning.
However, the situation deteriorated during the afternoon as police prepared to transport Mohamed from the courthouse back to the Lusignan Prison, where he remains on remand in connection with a separate cybercrime charge.
Some protesters began throwing missiles at police officers, prompting a response from ranks as the confrontation intensified.
According to accounts of the incident, police officers then opened fire in the direction of protesters, with several shots heard during the unrest.
An 86-year-old man was reportedly struck by gunfire, while other persons were also said to have sustained injuries during the confrontation.
The elderly man’s condition was not immediately established.
The violence subsequently spread into sections of the Stabroek Market area, where makeshift barricades were erected along roadways and several objects were set alight.
Police officers were seen extinguishing flames at different locations, while some demonstrators continued confronting ranks.
At various points, persons were seen charging through the barricades towards police officers, while officers responded as they attempted to regain control of the area.
The Political Director of WIN subsequently urged persons who sustained injuries during the confrontation to urgently contact the Office of the Leader of the Opposition.
The afternoon’s confrontation represented a dramatic escalation from the morning’s demonstration, which had been largely peaceful despite heightened emotions over Mohamed’s continued detention.
Earlier in the day, Chief Magistrate Latchman had refused an application to revoke Mohamed’s bail in the ongoing extradition proceedings, finding that the existence of separate pending criminal charges was insufficient to justify revocation.
However, Mohamed remained in custody because of a separate charge under the Cybercrime Act concerning the alleged unauthorised disclosure of surveillance footage connected to the October 12 shooting incident.
Mohamed and Police Constable Ryan Greene were jointly charged on October 30 and remanded to prison until November 24 after pleading not guilty.
The Opposition Leader’s detention has sparked protests by WIN supporters, who have raised concerns about the circumstances surrounding his arrest, the criminal charges against him and his treatment while incarcerated.
Yesterday’s demonstration was intended to press those concerns while his extradition proceedings continued, but descended into violence following the confrontation between demonstrators and police.
The circumstances surrounding the police’s use of firearms, the shooting of the elderly man and the total number of persons injured remain to be fully established.
At the time of this report, it was unclear whether any arrests had been made in connection with the afternoon’s disturbances.
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