Region Ten residents continue bauxite protest
By Nigel Williams
Stabroek News
May 22, 2002
Heavy rain did not daunt the thousands who attended the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union (GB&GWU)-led march yesterday against the decision of the government to give US-firm Viceroy exclusive rights to the shipping basin at Bermine.
On Friday last a group of Region Ten residents along with supporters from Georgetown and officials of the PNC/R took to the streets of Georgetown protesting the woes that have gripped the Berbice Mining Enterprise (Bermine) as well as the economic crisis pervading the region.
And since Friday some of the residents had encamped outside Prime Minister Samuel Hinds' residence on Main Street and had remained there keeping vigil. Yesterday a large group from Linden, New Amsterdam and others from Ituni, Kwakwani and Everton joined them and at 3 pm yesterday led by PNC/R leader, Desmond Hoyte and Secretary of GBWU, Lincoln Lewis, the protesters moved off from Main Street and headed up Avenue of the Republic. Like on Friday they maintained good discipline, following the scheduled route and chanting to the sounds of African drums and music resounding from a stereo set.
They marched along Regent Street in heavy rain and Hoyte who was in front was provided with shelter by his aides who had an umbrella. They later converged at the Square of the Revolution.
At the square, Hoyte told the marchers that they had shown determination and courage and he was impressed by them. He pledged his party's support to the workers saying that what they were going through was what his party had been constantly fighting against. "Comrades, you have come from far afield, Kwakwani, Ituni, Linden and Everton. You have braved torrential rains and terrain, you have encamped in front of Sam Hinds and today you have marched in the driving rain to promote your cause.
"But what are you doing it for? You are sending a message to this callous and corrupt government. A message of change, a message for them to implement policies that are honest and just." Hoyte said that his supporters have been labelled terrorists, but assured that if being a terrorist was to speak out against injustices, then he was the chief. "So my fellow terrorists all of us are terrorists because as far as this regime is concerned if you speak for your rights you are a terrorist. But if so be the case I am proud to be among the chief terrorists," Hoyte said.
The opposition leader spoke about the current crime situation in the country. For it to be reversed there needed to be a reformation of the Guyana Police Force, he said.
He mentioned that at the commencement of the suspended dialogue between President Bharrat Jagdeo and himself one of the first agreements reached was to keep the public service politically neutral. But he said despite this the government continued to allow Cabinet Secretary, Roger Luncheon, to preside over the affairs of the public service. He contended that what the government was currently doing with the bauxite industry was a good example of the mindset of some of its leaders. "These people aren't concerned about you, all they want to do is to full their pockets." Hoyte lamented the economic conditions in the Region Ten noting that poverty, poor water supply and inadequate educational facilities were all problems the region had been putting up with.
Lewis in an address declared that Bermine needed unhindered access to the basin to ship bauxite, but reminded that the government had given sole rights to Viceroy to decide who would use the basin for exploration. He contended that the basin was owned by the state and as such no foreign company should have a monopoly on it. Lewis also announced that the Guyana Public Service Union had written to him announcing its support in their protest.
R
epresentative of Linden, Phillip Bynoe, said that the people of Kwakwani and Linden had been motivated to protest because the results of their suffering have been too grim. Bynoe charged that the reality in Linden was poverty, poor water, starvation and ultimately death. He called on GPSU President Patrick Yarde and Lewis to mobilise saying that there were forces in the country that were out to see them lose their positions. Bynoe added that the situation in Linden was grimmer than what many believed.
When the rally ended the marchers, mainly from Linden, boarded their buses and headed to Main Street where they had dinner. Some returned home last evening but others remained in Georgetown. The organisers of the march confirmed last evening that they would continue to keep vigil at Hinds' residence and that during this week and for the rest of next week they were going to step up the protest.