BLOCKED roads by protesters has left many commuters stranded in both East and West Berbice with many forced to make last minute arrangements on Sunday.

Up to press time, protesters remained in the streets of several West Berbice villages, blocking roads with derelict vehicles, huts and other debris while burning tires and other flammable items in protest over the arrest and subsequent detention of Clairmont Mingo for electoral fraud.

Shouts of “Free Mingo!” ranged through the air amid the smoke as the protesters called for Mingo, who is being held at the Sparendam Police Station to be released. He was arrested on
Tuesday last. Mingo’s attorney, Darren Wade, had filed an application seeking for Mingo to be released from police custody but it was dismissed by Chief Justice (ag), Rishi Singh, on Saturday afternoon.

Mingo is expected to make a court appearance today after police instituted four charges against him on Saturday.

The police, in a strongly worded statement on Sunday, said the protest action was unlawful and that the actions can only cause harm to the well-being of innocent citizens.

“The Guyana Police Force categorically states that these protests are not only illegal but they also represent a threat to public safety due to the riotous behaviour of those involved in the illegal protests,” the statement said.

According to the police, the gathering is in clear violation of COVID-19 guidelines and endangers the lives of many. The police also made it clear that they will use any means necessary to clear the roadways while maintaining that the detention of Mingo is within the confines of the law.

Meanwhile, on the Corentyne, a butcher was, on Sunday evening, busy buying ice to preserve some 2,500 pounds of beef that was en route to Georgetown when he was forced to turn back at Weldaad due to the protest.

Speaking with this publication, the businessman explained that he was forced to utilise the services of trusted family members and close friends from West Coast, all the way to his home in Wellington Park on the Corentyne to help store some of the meat in their freezers while he puts the remainder on ice.

Another resident of Moruca, North West District, Zaleena Yussuf, who was visiting relatives on the Corentyne, had to reschedule her flight on Monday morning to the interior after she was left stranded on the Corentyne.

Yussuf, who was on vacation, was scheduled to return to work today. She is worried that she would not be able to report for work as expected.