Guyana: Police use tear gas and pellets to disperse protesters in Demerara-Mahaica and Mahaica-Berbice regions September 7

Event

Police used tear gas to disperse violent protests in Demerara-Mahaica and Mahaica-Berbice regions on Monday night, September 6. The unrest was sparked by the death of two teenagers whose mutilated bodies were discovered in Cotton Tree, West Coast Berbice (Mahaica-Berbice region), on Sunday, September 6. Protesters set up roadblocks in several communities across the regions, causing major disruption to traffic, including in and around the capital Georgetown (Demerara-Mahaica region). Police deployed tear gas and pellets in Hopetown, West Coast Berbice, after they received reports of several robberies occurring during the protests. The opposition coalition A Partnership for National Unity and the Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) stated that several of its activists were injured as a result of police dispersal methods. The APNU+AFC released a statement calling for police to stop using violence but also for protesters to stand down.

Further unrest is possible over the near term and will likely result in further clashes and disruption to overland transport. A heightened security presence is also expected in Demerara-Mahaica and Mahaica-Berbice regions over the coming days.

Advice

Members in Demerara-Mahaica and Mahaica-Berbice regions are advised to monitor developments to the situation, avoid all demonstrations and political gatherings as a precaution, and adhere to all instructions issued by local authorities.