Toy gun, improvised weapons seized by Police at Emancipation J’ouvert

Ranks of the Guyana Police Force on Friday evening confiscated several items from patrons entering the Emancipation J’ouvert held at the National Park in Georgetown.
According to the Police Force, there were about 2500 persons in attendance at the event, which ran from 18:00h on Friday to 02:10h on Saturday.
It was noted that full Police coverage was provided for the event and during routine searches conducted at the gate, ranks found and confiscated improvised weapons, scissors, lighters and a toy gun.

Meanwhile, the Police say there were no incidents during the event.
This heightened security at the National Park comes on the heels of an incident there during an event back in May.
Chaos had erupted in the National Park during the “Baderation” Concert back in May after gunshots were fired while dancehall artiste Skeng was performing.
Videos which circulated on social media showed that in the midst of the artiste’s performance, gunshots were fired by patrons attending the concert. There were no reports of anyone being injured by the gunshots, but some persons sustained minor injuries after glass bottles were thrown in the crowd.
There were reports as well of the Banks DIH bar at the event being robbed. Additionally, the Police had also arrested one person who was found with an illegal gun.
Following that incident, Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken had met with the promoters of the event, and had ordered that heightened security be in place for future events.
Moreover, days after the concert, Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn had said “artistes like Skeng” will be banned from performing at public events in Guyana.
This came on the heels of several Guyanese citizens sharing their opinion that the artiste might have influenced the partygoers’ violent behaviour at the concert.
“I have to say here and now, that no artiste like Skeng will ever come again into this country, will not come again into this country under the signature of any person from the Ministry of Home Affairs or from the Guyana Police Force, will not come on a public stage,” he had said.
The Minister added too that these artistes will only be able to perform in enclosed places if possible.
“If they want, they can go into a private club and behave as badly as they want. We will not sign off on any such artiste or any artiste who has a record of promoting vulgar and lawless behaviour including the firing of gunshots in public places,” Benn had stated.
However, there was widespread public outrage over the Minister’s statement, with persons taking to social media to criticise the decision.