– chief-of-staff tells protesters
ALL legal actions necessary will be taken to ensure law and order is maintained, as the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and Guyana Fire Service (GFS) were deployed, Tuesday, to support the police as protest actions grew over the murder of teen cousins, Joel and Isaiah Henry.
This is according to Chief-of-Staff of the GDF, Brigadier Godfrey Bess, during a virtual joint press conference, hosted on Tuesday by Commissioner of Police (ag) Nigel Hoppie and Crime Chief, Senior Superintendent, Wendell Blanhum.
With the continuous blockage of the public roads in Region Five, Brigadier Bess said rubber bullets and tear gas were dispatched at protesters Monday night, as demonstrators sought to continuously block the roadways.
“Our ranks have been working hard to have the roadway cleared, but are exercising extreme restraint in consideration of the circumstances surrounding the death of Joel and Isaiah Henry. Notwithstanding the circumstances, the Joint Service takes, seriously, all acts against public order, and, while acknowledging the rights of individuals to peaceful protest, it can no longer exercise tolerance when protest action degenerates into unlawful acts,” the chief-of-staff said.
He explained that infringing on the rights of other citizens and placing lives and property at risk is breaking the law, and all Guyanese should exercise calm as the investigation must be completed and the perpetrators brought to justice.
Commissioner of Police (ag) Nigel Hoppie urges citizens to be patient as a professional investigation is being conducted.
“We need to be permitted to engage the crime scene which is critical in the investigations,” the top cop said, noting that the blockage of the roadways is also preventing the police from visiting the crime scene.
Crime Chief, Senior Superintendent Wendell Blanhum, also noted that the police are searching for two masked men who robbed one of three persons at gunpoint, during the protest.
“That matter we are treating with priority and we will make sure we make earnest efforts to arrest those individuals,” he said.
