The incident resulted in the death of 18 year-old Yohance Douglas a former student of the institution, while two other students were also injured in the attack.

The protest was organized by the University of Guyana Students Society (UGSS) and was supported by lecturers of the University.

Classes at the University have been suspended indefinitely and exams set to take place yesterday morning have been cancelled until some demands are met.

The students are demanding that the names of the Policemen involved in the killing be publicised and the government should stand the expenses of medical treatment for the persons wounded in the attack.

The students marched along the railway embankment on the East Coast of Demerara and caused a large build up of traffic there.

When they approached the basketball court where the teens frequently played, they stopped and observed a moment’s silence for the young basketball player that was slain.

They then proceeded to the Ministry of Home Affairs on Brickdam and demanded to see the Minister.

After being told by the Officials that the minister was not there, the students seated themselves on the grass and refused to move.

President of the Students Society, Robert Bourne said that it was indeed strange that “it had hundreds of students from the University and Critchlow Labour College coming to the Ministry of Home Affairs and the minister was not aware of that, and had left shortly before their arrival”.

Among the chants of the protesting students were: “Gajraj must go! UG say so! and “No Youths, No Guyana!”

Persons on bicycles, motorcycles, as well as vehicles were also part of the protesters.

The students distributed hundreds of posters bearing the words “The University of Guyana Students Society demands justice for Yohance Douglas.” The protest by the students, caused a large number of persons to converge on the road and some even joined the protest. People’s National Congress/Reform (PNC/R) Leader Robert Corbin, and Executive members Raphael Trotman, and Debra Backer participated in the march.

According to one student, they will be protesting as long as it takes to get justice because they have nothing to loose but their lives.

It was also announced that the Headteacher and students from the St. Joseph High School, the school Yohance formerly attended would be out on the streets today from 09:00 hrs.

Up to late yesterday afternoon, as the students marched down Main Street and gathered at the Police Headquarters Eve Leary, the President of the Students Society Robert Bourne, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Dr. Mark Kirton and other officials from the University met with Commissioner of Police, Floyd McDonald, Deputy Commissioner (Ag) Winston Felix and Assistant Commissioner Henry Greene at the Police Headquarters.

Among the issues raised by the delegation were the alleged racial profiling by the Police, the composition of an independent commission of enquiry instead of a high level Police team, a call for the investigation to be transparent and an independent Pathologist should be allowed to perform the post mortem on the body of Yohance Douglas.

Mc Donald indicated at a press conference last Sunday that a high-level investigation team including a Senior Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent and a Deputy Superintendent has been appointed to conduct the probe into the shooting.

The Commissioner of Police Mr. Floyd Mc Donald yesterday, met with the parents and three of the boys involved in last Saturday’s unfortunate incident, in which Yohance Douglas lost his life.

The Commissioner reiterated the profound concern about the matter and gave the assurance to both the parents and the boys that the ongoing investigation will be thoroughly and objectively conducted and completed in the time frame given which is one week.

We have intensified our efforts to ensure that this matter is completed in the shortest possible time.

Meanwhile, the Guyana Bar Association announced at a press conference yesterday that they have informed Police Commissioner Floyd Mc Donald that threats were made against the two young men who were taken into custody following the shooting of nineteen-year-old Yohance Douglas and critically injuring his friend last Saturday.

President of the GBA attorney-at-law Nigel Hughes alleged that Randolph Goodluck and Quincy Haywood were threatened by two police officers. Hughes said that a detailed statement was taken from the boys on the incident and a formal complaint was made.

Allegations were also made by colleagues of the deceased Yohance Douglas that after being taken into custody, they were not allowed any phone calls while at Brickdam Police Station and a police rank intimidated one of them.

Hughes said that the rules of engagement the police operate under are clearly inadequate and collides with the protection of the rights of citizens and after Saturday’s event, the young men are cautious as to whether they will be afforded the full protection from the law.