Opposition Member of Parliament Sherod Duncan was arrested today as a number of Opposition MPs and relatives of victims of the MV Barima tragedy clashed with the Police at the Kingston Seawall Esplanade ahead of the King’s visit to that location.

King Charles III was expected to meet with members of the public at the Kingston Seawall as part of his two-day visit to Guyana.

In anticipation of the visit, a small group of protesters including A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) MPs, opposition supporters and relatives of at least two of the MV Barima victims assembled at the seawall.

However, the police accused the group of breaching the barricades, and sought to remove them from the location.

The situation quickly descended into chaos, as the Police attempted to physically remove the protesters from the location.

At one point, Jasmin Cort, the daughter of MV Barima victim Neil Cort, was pushed and shoved by a number of police officers as they attempted to grab her. It was during the ordeal that MP Duncan was arrested as police swarmed the area.

 Jasmin Cort told reporters that the relatives of the MV Barima were present at the location to exercise their democratic right to protest, when she was assaulted by the police.

“We are here today to practice our democratic right to protest peacefully. All we had were placards. We do not have mega phones; we do not have loud speakers. All we have are placards and our voices. We made our way on the public seawall to peacefully protest, and we were met with an army of police officers, who pushed us back, and continued to push us back to say that we had no right to be there, that we cannot be there. We cannot peacefully protest for the missing, and for the dead of the MV Barima,” Cort said.

The young lady said it is now 112 days since the MV Barima capsized and sank off the Essequibo Coast, and grieving families remain without answers.

“It has been 112 days since the MV Barima went down. It has been 112 days since I last saw my father and my uncle. And Juan Edghill and Deodat Indar are still in their position, they are still in their AC offices. They are still attending State events, and it is under their watch a 112 Guyanese citizens went down, men, women, children – the innocent, and we do not have the right to peacefully protest,” Cort said.

Cort explained that she was sitting on the ground holding a placard in the air when three female officers pulled and tugged at her before pushing her to the ground.

Meanwhile, APNU Member of Parliament, Dr. Terrence Campbell said the Opposition MPs were on the ground to call for reparations, and to bring international attention to the MV Barima tragedy, when they were accosted by the police.

“Guyana was a British Colony, and we would have suffered slavery under the Dutch but mainly under the British, and then British Colonial rule until 1966. And in relation to Guyana the greatest debt owed to this country in terms of reparation, is probably from the British, and who better to try to get the message to than King Charles III. So, that was the main reason we were out here,” MP Campbell explained.

He said the actions of the Police were uncalled for, noting that the women on the picket line were treated with excessive force.

As the protesters were kept at a distance, King Charles was provided with a tour of the Kingston Seawall Esplanade, where he met with selected members of the public.

Related posts:

King Charles lll arrives for busy two-day Guyana visit Police announce major traffic restrictions during two-day visit of King Charles III Busy itinerary for King Charles and Queen Camilla’s two-day visit for Guyana later this month Ads and Notices on seawall now require permission and approval of Sea and River Defence Board