Thousands of Guyanese yesterday took to the streets of Georgetown to protest against extra-judicial killings and PNC/R Leader Desmond Hoyte set tomorrow as the deadline for government to disband the controversial police Target Special Squad (TSS).

The march was organised by the PNC/R following Saturday's killing of Buxtonian Shaka Blair by the TSS.

Blair was shot by member/s of the 'Black Clothes' squad in his Buxton home. According to a police press release the young man was shot dead after he fired a gun at law enforcement officers. The release said he was wanted in connection with the recent spate of car hijackings, particularly on Easter Monday night and it was because of this the police visited his home. But Blair's reputed wife refuted this, stating that her husband never had a gun and was not in any way linked to the crimes, since that was uncharacteristic of him. She maintained that he had operated a bar on Easter Monday night and arrived home after the robbery occurred. Other residents of the village also testified to this reiterating that they had seen Blair on the seawall late that evening.

The protestors, throughout the two-hour walk yesterday, maintained discipline displaying their placards peacefully and chanting to the accompaniment of tantalising rhythms. Some of the protesters also gyrated to the music. The march commenced at about 1 pm and before that the protestors gathered at the Square of the Revolution where they were briefed by PNC/R Chairman, Robert Corbin. In a long train, with police outriders followed by motor and pedal cyclists and a few cars and minibuses the procession left the square headed up Brickdam. It made a brief stop in front of the Brickdam Police Station where the marchers shouted for the disbanding of the 'Black Clothes' squad and the arrest of its members. A little further up, in front of the Ministry of Home Affairs the demonstrators again protested for a while before moving on.

A section of the procession then turned right into Avenue of the Republic, while another group went to Parliament Buildings and aired their grievances before rejoining the others and heading up Main Street. By now, more protestors joined the throng, which had started off at the Square. Among them were schoolchildren, old women and men, teenagers and adults. Some government employees were seen leaving their places of work while others opted to remain inside and watch the proceedings as they unfolded.

On Main Street the procession caused a heavy build up of traffic and even with such a massive protest only one police rank was seen directing the traffic while the others sped along the street on motorcycles and in pick-up trucks. Off Main Street, the protestors moved along smoothly up Carifesta Avenue, blocking all approaching vehicles coming from the East Coast that use that route. For a little over half an hour they chanted in front of Police Headquarters, Eve Leary and were carefully watched by ranks who stood guard with batons and guns. Numerous derogatory remarks were hurled at the ranks by the protesters but they maintained their cool.

The crowd seemed intent in directing taunts at the head of the Target Special Squad. From Eve Leary they moved up Camp Street with the same order and discipline. When the procession reached Regent Street more than 20 stores had already closed their doors as has become the norm during protests of this type. In the past protesters have attacked and looted stores that were open and closed.

The protestors kept their lines and marched until they arrived at the Square where Leader of the PNC/R Hoyte and Corbin addressed them.

Hoyte thanked the protestors for participating in the march noting that their response was admirable given the short notice. "Comrades we are on the march again, but we will not cease until our calls are answered and justice prevails in this society. It is the duty of all Guyanese to put an end to this foul operation of the Guyana Police Force. Shaka's murder was a murder that was most foul and it must be laid fair and square at the feet of the PPP/C Government."

Hoyte said that after being informed of Blair's death his party's General Council met and two delegations were formed -- one to visit Buxton and the other to meet acting Commissioner of Police, Floyd McDonald and Home Affairs Minister, Ronald Gajraj. He said both of these were successful noting that the delegation that visited the commissioner and the minister on Monday was able to put forward the party's position with regard to Blair's shooting and proposals for the reformation of the GPF. The opposition leader insisted that their quarrel wasn't one that was directed against the GPF, but against delinquents who sheltered under the name of the force and committed heinous crimes much to the displeasure of most Guyanese.

Hoyte argued: "[President Bharrat] Jagdeo and Gajraj must be ultimately held responsible for the murder of Blair," so we are going to give them until Thursday midnight to do something about the 'Black Clothes' and the Guyana Police Force in general." He urged them to bury Blair, who will be laid to rest on Monday, honourably.

Moreover, according to Hoyte, the march was not only for Blair, but also for all those who were killed by the 'Black Clothes' squad under controversial circumstances.

He cited the deaths of Junior Stanton on May 10, 2001; Devon Gonsalves, May 14; Mohamed Shamshudeen Haniff, June 5; Steve Grant, John Bruce and Antoine Houston, July 26; Azad Bacchus, August 13; Toyin Anderson, December 22; Brian King January 11, 2002 and Blair on April 6, all of which, he said, were extra-judicial killings. Hoyte stressed that the struggle will continue, "comrades, remain mobilised and steadfast because after Shaka's burial we will be on our path again. We will continue to protest." The party also confirmed yesterday that it would take to the streets again on Friday.

Meanwhile, efforts to contact Gajraj for a comment on Hoyte's ultimatum for disbanding the 'Black Clothes' squad proved futile. This newspaper called the minister's office several times, and was told he was in a meeting. The final message was that he had already left the office.

Public Relations Officer attached to the Office of the President, Robert Persaud, said that the PNC/R should be guided by the undertaking given by the minister at Monday's meeting. He said that the PNC/R made the proposal for the disbanding of the 'Black Clothes' squad pending investigations and for the arrest and interdiction of its members, which the minister promised to study.

He pointed out that if the proposal was not considered and the party reverted to other methods, it would only be to the detriment of the country.