43 remanded on terrorism charges after public terror in Guyana

Forty-three individuals from across Guyana have been charged and remanded to prison on Wednesday in connection with widespread acts of terrorism and looting during coordinated unrest that erupted nationwide on Monday. The incidents followed the post mortem examination of 11-year-old Adrianna Younge, whose lifeless body was found in a hotel pool at Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo. A post-mortem later confirmed she had drowned.
What began as calls for justice escalated into chaos as protest actions were hijacked by criminal elements who ignited roadways, looted businesses, and terrorised communities across Georgetown, East Bank Demerara, West Bank Demerara, East Coast Demerara, Berbice, and other areas.
Following swift police operations and nationwide arrests, dozens of accused individuals have appeared before various magistrates, including Senior Magistrate Fabyo Azore, to face indictable charges of terrorism under the Criminal Law (Offences) Act.

Several men have been charged in Georgetown for allegedly looting a Chinese-operated supermarket located on Cemetery Road between Toucan Street and Middle Road, La Penitence. Among those accused are 39-year-old self-employed vendor Kerwyn Baksh, 22-year-old porter Devon Lewis, 26-year-old taxi driver Randy Benjamin, 19-year-old unemployed youth Alex Atkinson, 21-year-old construction workers Aidan Cuffy and Jason Hardy, 21-year-old porter Tyrese Hassanah, 23-year-old delivery rider Faizal Kennedy, and 25-year-old mechanical engineer Jumal Singh. They allegedly broke into the establishment and stole approximately $6 million in groceries, alcohol, phone cards, snacks, and hardware supplies belonging to Chinese nationals Gin Bao Lin and Tian Chi Lin.

Emmanuel James, an 18-year-old tradesman of Independence Boulevard, and Jamal Small, a 27-year-old fish vendor of James Street, Albouystown, have also been charged in relation to a separate break-in at the supermarket’s Hunter Street location, where they allegedly stole about $500,000 in goods and set fires on the roadway, an act captured in viral social media videos that showed dense smoke and debris blocking public roads.

In the area of Sussex and Hill Streets, Sherwain Nelson, a 20-year-old who does odd jobs and resides at Lot 775 West Front Road, Georgetown; Desafio Harvey, a 20-year-old former military officer of Lot 135 King Edward Street, Albouystown; and Qulient Elgin, a 53-year-old vendor of Albouystown, were also charged for allegedly placing and igniting debris on the roadways, creating terror and destruction in the community.

Meanwhile, in Durban Backlands, three construction workers: 34-year-old Kevin James, 19-year-old Antonio Lawrence, and 27-year-old Vincent Trim, were arrested and charged for setting fires in their neighbourhood during the unrest. They reportedly blocked the roadway with wood and other objects before setting them alight in an effort to incite fear.

Additional arrests and charges were laid in other parts of the country. Among those charged are 42-year-old Quacy Gittens, 48-year-old Jeffon Trotman, and 29-year-old Andel Weeks, all of Parika, East Bank Essequibo.
Also charged are 30-year-old Euclid Wright of Leonora, West Coast Demerara; 39-year-old Dilon Caleb of Vergenoegen, East Bank Essequibo; 28-year-old Wayne Wright of Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo; 27-year-old Lenna Lopes of Patentia Housing Scheme, West Bank Demerara; 36-year-old Tremain Frank of Swan Street Squatting Area, West Bank Demerara; and 20-year-old Melville Thomas of Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara. From Bella Dam, Pouderoyen, 31-year-old Arvin Persaud and 27-year-old Clevon Hudson have also been charged.
In Berbice, 26-year-old Nelson Bristol of Kildonan Village, 18-year-old Quel Lyte of Nurney Village, and 20-year-old Emmanuel Davis of Limlair Village, Corentyne are among those remanded for their alleged roles in the violence.

Further charges have been filed against five others: 20-year-old Samuel October of 47 Friendship, East Coast Demerara; 24-year-old Arnold Junior of Lot 69 Glasgow Housing Scheme, East Bank Berbice; 20-year-old Kemuel Abraham of Lot 19 Tucville, Georgetown; 22-year-old Leroy Sealey-Yaw of A26 East La Penitence; and 21-year-old Shamol Ram of Lot 1305 ‘B’ Field, Sophia.
Also remanded are 34-year-old Kevin Rodney and 18-year-old Leon Albert, both of ‘D’ Field, Sophia; 18-year-old Hassan Muhammed and 31-year-old Keon Akeem Hope, both of ‘C’ Field Sophia Squatting Area; 49-year-old Omadath Bridgemohan of First Street, Pattensen, Turkeyen; 53-year-old Ron Mitchell of ‘C’ Field Squatting Area, Sophia; and 19-year-old Shem Howard of ‘B’ Field, Sophia.
27-year-old Mark Williams of Grove, East Bank Demerara failed to appear in court, and is now the subject of a wanted bulletin issued by the Guyana Police Force.
The majority of these men appeared before Senior Magistrate Fabayo Azore in her Georgetown court, during which many of the accused denied participating in the acts of violence. Some claimed they were bystanders or were present to call for peace. A few wept in court, while others alleged they were beaten in custody.
The magistrate denied bail in all cases, due to the gravity of the charges and the threat posed to public safety. The cases have been adjourned to later this month as police continue their investigations and review surveillance footage and witness accounts.
Police used closed circuit television (CCTV) footage and social media posts to identify looters and those inciting them.
According to the Guyana Police Force, over 100 persons have been arrested in relation to the unrest, and more individuals are likely to be charged in the coming days.

Prison time
Under the Act, persons can be fined no less than $500,000, and would be imprisoned for no less than 10 years nor more than 15 years.
Under the law, anyone who conspires or attempts to commit; or advocates, aids and abets; or advises or incites; or knowingly facilitates the commission of a terrorist act, or commits an offence, shall be punished for the offence as if s/he had been guilty as an offender.