The initiative, organised by the Inter-Religious Organisation, though not massively supported, attracted hundreds with a singleness of purpose, joined together under the theme peace, love and unity, displaying a genuine desire to see the peoples of Guyana live as one for the good of the nation.

The event started outside of Freedom House, headquarters of the ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Robb Street, in the city, with supporters for the cause, linking hands and stretching east along Robb Street, then north into Wellington Street.

Reports said that around 10:30 hours, a group of persons turned up outside Congress Place, headquarters of the opposition People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R), at Sophia, on the out squirts of Georgetown, carrying the representation of a black coffin, on which were placed the names of several deceased persons, with whose deaths the bearers pledged solidarity.

One of the names written on the coffin was that of the Dr. Walter Rodney, former leader of the Working People's Alliance (WPA) whose assassination on June 13, 1979 was alleged to have been caused by the then ruling PNC,

It is reported that a group of persons way outside the PNC/R headquarters protesting the event reacted angrily to the symbolic mourning, man-handled the bearers of the coffin, chasing them away, The protesters then burnt the coffin bearing Dr. Rodney's name. They expressed the view that the late WPA leader's name appearing on the coffin was a deliberate attempt to politicize yesterday's events, ultimately defeating the whole purpose of the exercise.

The Chronicle could not confirm reports about Dr. Rodney's name appearing on the coffins, nor whether any police ranks were present at the time of the incident. In the city around the commercial area of Regent and Robb streets, police mobile patrols maintained a visible presence.

Earlier in the morning, persons dressed in black joined the peace link outside Freedom House, carrying a black coffin which they explained was a symbol of lives snuffed as a result of violent attacks during this year. It carried slogans which read "No to death!", "Yes to life!", and in bold letters, "PPP/C and PNC/R: GOD is life! Guyana wants Life, not Death. Act now or Go!"

Among the names appearing on the disputed coffin were Troy Williams, the prison officer killed in the February 23, 2002 jail break, Quincy James, the policeman shot last week at the corner of Regent and King streets and Joy Arjune, who was among six persons gunned down at Nathoo's Bar in Kitty, recently.

The incident outside Congress Place apparently marred the tone of things at that end of the link, and many persons who had assembled outside the PNC/R headquarters hurriedly left.

However, at the Robb Street end, from very early in the morning, large groups of enthusiastic persons - mainly from religious denominations, converged outside Freedom House, carrying banners with messages of hope for peace.

The linking of hands, under the direction of Reverend Roy K. Thakurdyal, Chairperson for the Day of Atonement and Reconciliation Initiative, and others, commenced at exactly 10:00 hours, with Guyanese of all ethnicity on board.

Among those who by their presence, showed massive support for the initiative were the Roman Catholic body with support from the Holy Spirit Church, North Ruimveldt, and Muslim Brothers. Also present in large numbers were PPP/C functionaries, and Ministers of Government, headed by Prime Minister Samuel Hinds; and school children who are likely to bear the brunt of any suffering unleashed on the nation.

It was the intention of the organisers of the peace and atonement initiative that the human link should have extended from outside, the headquarters of the PNC/R to the Headquarters of the PPP. However, as word spread about the mid-morning events outside the headquarters of the PNC/R, the crowd which was fast building up ceased to grow.

A statement prepared by the IRO and read at 12:00 noon, called upon Guyana's political leaders to work together in the spirit of compromise and magnanimity to lead the country out of, what they termed, the present political, social and economic quagmire.'

The message continued: "As Guyanese from different religious, ethnic, economic and social backgrounds we join our voices, hands and hearts to appeal to you, our political leaders, to heed the call of the people of Guyana."

The statement concluded: "On this 9th day of December, 2002, we pledge and covenant to embrace our fellow Guyanese, regardless of race, religious or political persuasions, in love and unity. We further covenant to eschew in ourselves and in others - prejudice and bigotry, based on ethnic, religious or social status. Further we covenant to work together and pray for peace, unity and compassion to once again reign in Guyana."

At the Robb Street point of the link, Chairperson, Rev. Roy Thakurdyal said that the IRO was hopeful that by noon there would be some 2000 persons joining the link which was planned to follow a route stretching from outside Freedom House, moving east, then turning north in to Wellington Street; east into Church Street; north into Irving; east into Vlissengen Road, continuing into Garnett and into Sophia outside Congress Place.

Rev. Thakurdyal confirmed that the leadership of both the major political parties in Guyana had been invited to join the initiative, but no formal response had been received from the opposition PNC/R. He was nonetheless, optimistic that representation was forthcoming from the opposition political party