The youth-led “We the People” movement has announced a second protest outside the Office of the President today, following an inaugural demonstration last week that drew about 300 participants demanding accountability for the MV Barima tragedy.
According to a poster circulated by the group, the demonstration is scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m.
The poster states: “We demand accountability, Edghill must go, and repression and intimidation must end.” It further says: “This demonstration is not organized by any political party. It is a people’s initiative. Let’s unite to demand justice for all the victims of the MV Barima tragedy.”
The group’s Facebook page similarly describes the movement as being “created by the people for the people,” while stating that it is “not affiliated with any political parties” and “not influenced by any political parties.”
The planned demonstration follows last week’s protest, where organisers sought to distance themselves from claims that the movement was politically motivated or acting on behalf of opposition parties.
Speaking to Kiskadee Watch in an invited comment, 23-year-old Alliyah Simon dismissed criticisms that the protest was politically driven. “I would tell critics that if they don’t have anything good to say or if they don’t have any advocacy in them or basic humanity, then they should shut up,” Simon said.
She explained that she learned about the protest through social media, particularly posts shared by the Amerindian Peoples Association (APA), and stressed that no political figures encouraged her to participate.
“I needed to go to ensure that I play a part in raising awareness to what has been happening to Indigenous people especially. I realised that Indigenous peoples are really treated as second to nothing in this country,” she said.
Simon added that her participation was motivated by personal conviction rather than politics.
“People are so selfish. This is not about going against the government; this is basic humanity. If you’re silent about it, you’re just selfish and you don’t care about what happens to others,” she said.
Another participant, 23-year-old Jose Roberts of Bartica, also rejected suggestions that the protest was linked to any political organisation. Roberts, a content creator, said he attended to represent young people and because he personally uses Guyana’s river transportation system.
“It could have been me or my relatives. These people are literally crying out there asking for things to be done and nothing or little to nothing is being done,” he said.
He also said he wanted to highlight the concerns of Indigenous communities. “Our Amerindian people are the first people and we always say we take pride in whatever they have to contribute, but when they cry out and have concerns, most times they go unheard,” Roberts said.
The first demonstration attracted around 300 participants, many of them University of Guyana students and members of Generation Z, who gathered outside the Office of the President carrying placards demanding accountability over the sinking of the MV Barima on July 18.
Although supporters and representatives from opposition parties, including the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), as well as members of civil society, attended the protest, organisers repeatedly maintained that the movement was independent and non-partisan.
The protesters called for the resignation of Public Works Minister Juan Edghill and Minister of Public Utilities and Aviation Deodat Indar, arguing that the government must accept responsibility for oversight failures within the country’s river transport system.
Participants also observed moments of silence in memory of the 73 people who lost their lives in the MV Barima tragedy and called for reforms to improve river transport safety and prevent similar disasters.
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