Police denies sugar workers use of loudspeaker in protest
The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) on Wednesday expressed its concern and perplexity at the recent decision by the Guyana Police Force to disallow the use of a noisy instrument during its protest march.
On Tuesday, hundreds of dismissed sugar workers and their families along with
Some of the sugar workers and their families at Tuesday’s protest
Union representatives marched from the High Bridge at Rose Hall to the Canje Junction and back while demanding that they be paid their severance packages.
GAWU said they wrote a letter on January 4, 2018, to B Division (Berbice) Commander Lyndon Alves, requesting permission to use a noisy instrument during the march and that permission was granted on January 8.
“On this occasion though, just prior to the commencement of the march at 07:00h, we were informed by the Police that the use of a noisy instrument during the march was not permitted. We immediately objected and drew to the officers present the Union’s, as well as the Police Force’s correspondences. Despite what we view as a clearly approved application, the officers insisted we could not proceed to use the noisy instrument,” the Union said in a statement.
The Union further stated that following the march, they met with Commander Alves who indicated that he did not grant approval for the use of a noisy instrument. The statement added that the Union has since penned a letter to acting Commissioner of Police, David Ramnarine, expressing their concern.
“Our Union is at a loss as to the cause for the sudden denial. We cannot help but wonder whether there was any undue influence in an attempt to derail our activity. Not only were similar approvals granted to GAWU by the Police Force but we are aware that other organisations have, generally, been granted similar permission too,” the statement added.
