By Daniel Da Costa
Stabroek News
April 25, 2001

A vacation to their homeland by two overseas-based Guyanese children quickly turned into a nightmare within three hours of their arrival in the country on April 18, when the minibus in which they were travelling from the airport was attacked by a mob at Golden Grove, East Coast Demerara.

It is an experience they are unlikely to forget and which has only served to poison their minds against returning to the country that gave them birth.

Their mother, a remigrant who hails from Port Mourant accompanied by four males had picked up her two children, a ten-year-old girl and a five-year-old boy at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri shortly after 2:00 pm on April 18. At approximately 4:00 pm the Route 63 (New Amsterdam/Corentyne) minibus in which they were travelling was stopped by a mob at Buxton. The minibus was among scores of vehicles including four other Route 63 buses travelling to the Corentyne from the airport, which were caught in a traffic jam created by burning blockades on the highway.

According to Kemdas Raghoo, a businessman and an occupant of the bus the mob was chanting "Kill" and "More Fire". "They began throwing missiles at the bus forcing us to turn back and to seek refuge in the yard of a family at Annandale," he told Stabroek News. From there, he said, he called the Commissioner of Police's office, the Tactical Services Unit and the Commander of the East Coast Division seeking some form of protection to travel to Rosignol. Raghoo said the Commander told him that additional police presence at the scene was likely to provoke further violence. They were advised to go to the nearest police station if they felt unsafe.

However, as the occupants of the bus contemplated their fate and their next move a band of men on scooters and motorcycles firing guns in the air arrived on the scene and began threatening the residents who had rescued them. "They told the villagers who were sheltering us and the other Route 63 buses that if they continued to do so they would burn their homes," said the driver of the minibus. "As a result we were forced to leave the safety of the yard and return to the highway." Some 15 minutes later the convoy of vehicles began moving at a snail's pace, after a traffic policeman told drivers that it was safe to continue their journey.

"At Golden Grove we were confronted by thick smoke, burning barricades in the middle of the road and a violent crowd," said the driver.

"Approximately 100 vehicles were caught in this trap," recalled Raghoo, a former policeman. "These included four Route 63 buses which were sandwiched in a four-lane traffic jam. Individuals, he said, were armed with guns and sticks and were chanting "more fire" and "kill them". It was almost dusk and fearful for their lives the occupants of the vehicle closed their windows.

One occupant recalled seeing a well-known television talk-show host in the crowd giving instructions to some persons and filming the proceedings. "I recall him telling the mob to do whatever they wanted to do with us. The mob then attacked our bus with cutlasses and sticks breaking the windows and windscreens."

According to Raghoo the door nearest to him was opened and a knife was placed at his throat. "I was pulled out of the bus by about five men, beaten and thrown to the ground before being relieved of my revolver, US$1,200, $30,000, my wristwatch and eight gold rings."

A plainclothes policeman, who was in the vehicle at the time and who tried to protect the overseas-based woman and her two children was chopped on his hand. The marauding mob then proceeded to relieve the group of six suitcases, their hand pieces, money and a tape-recorder. Approximately US$30,000 was taken from the visitors apart from their passports, jewellery and travel tickets.

According to Raghoo the mob attempted to kidnap the ten-year-old girl who was on her first visit to Guyana but was prevented by the driver who was chopped on his hand with a cutlass and robbed of his watch and $60,000. "One of them then chopped the little girl on her left leg which subsequently required nine stitches."

After enduring the horror for almost half an hour and as darkness fell the occupants were then allowed to proceed. According to the driver who wished to remain anonymous for fear of his life since he traverses the road on a daily basis they were able to reach the Mahaicony Cottage Hospital where they were treated and referred to the New Amsterdam Hospital.

Three other overseas-based Guyanese who were travelling in a wagon were also attacked and beaten. They were relieved of their suitcases, wallets, passports and travel tickets. One man said he was beaten and robbed of US$6,000. Another had returned to organise a religious ceremony for his brother who died one year ago.

According to Raghoo three Route 63 buses were also attacked, damaged and the occupants, who included eight overseas-based Guyanese, robbed of their money and suitcases.

The overseas-based Guyanese who were terrorised, beaten and robbed said it was not likely they would return to Guyana in the near future after their horrible experience. They called on the government to curb the lawlessness and wanton attacks on innocent citizens and on the law enforcement agencies to protect law-abiding citizens from such acts of barbarism.