Some residents of Melanie Damishana, East Coast Demerara, were this morning prevented from approaching the Melanie Nursery School, where President Irfaan Ali and other officials were holding a public consultation on a proposal to transform the community into a model village.
Police erected barricades near the school and residents were required to provide proof that they lived in the community before being allowed through. Persons protesting over the MV Barima disaster and the subsequent charging of three crew members were not permitted to approach the school.
MV Barima Captain Kevin Price, Chief Mate Rondell Dwayne Roberts and Goods Superintendent Delon Granderson have been charged with murder in connection with the July 18 disaster and remanded to prison.
Price’s mother was among those gathered at the barricade. In a live video broadcast on the Facebook page of APNU Member of Parliament Terrence Campbell, she was seen crying as she appealed for her son’s release. She said Price would normally take her for cancer treatment and that his detention had left her without his assistance. According to her, she last spoke to him on Friday and could not believe that he had been imprisoned for carrying out his duties.
Chairman of the Buxton/Foulis Neighbourhood Democratic Council, Walston Martins, was also at the barricade. He questioned whether a two-hour meeting could constitute meaningful consultation with residents about the development of their community.
The protesters called for the resignations of Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill and Minister of Public Utilities and Aviation Deodat Indar, as well as the release of the three T&HD crew.
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