APNU Members of Parliament, Juretha Fernandes and Sherod Duncan reported today that they have received complaints from persons who have been engaged in protest action over the MV Barima tragedy that they have found themselves being victimized by the state.

At a Press Conference today, MP Fernandes said, one of the protesters being stopped by the Police and identified as a protester.

She said there are serious concerns about the right to peacefully protest not being respected.

“I have had reports from the young people that have had their silent protest from the University of Guyana, who are just standing there in front of the Office of the President, with their placards and saying nothing, but exercising their democratic right to protest, I have had reports from them that they have been victimized after that,” Fernandes said.

Fernandes said there is also a pattern of Police Officers turning up at protest scenes and taking photographs of the protesters.

She said the issue is becoming a serious matter that needs to be addressed.

“The problem that we are having now is not the people, not having finances or being enticed by financial incentives. The issue that we are having in this country, is that the government requires you to be a party member, they require you to be submissive to their will be and used for their photo-op in order to make a living in this country, the issue is not the individual but the PPP administration and how they operate in this country,” MP Fernandes noted.

Meanwhile, MP Sherod Duncan shared similar concerns.

“We have some very very strong concerns about the tracking of individuals for state purposes because they don’t want dissent, but we are going to continue with our protest, because we will continue to say Edghill and Indar must go,” Duncan said.

He also raised concerns over persons, seen as being supporters of the Opposition parties, being blocked from attending the President’s model village consultations.

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