|
|
Police
said they were investigating the circumstances of the death of Shaka Blair,
of Buxton, at about 01:00 hrs (1 a.m.) yesterday which was followed about
three hours after by protests in the village.
In
scenes reminiscent of the East Coast disturbances after the March 19 general
elections last year, a ditch about four feet wide was dug across the Railway
Embankment road in Buxton, preventing vehicles from using it.
Police
said criminal elements attacked and damaged several vehicles and a driver who
was seriously injured in the head was hospitalised.
Traffic
had to be diverted to the other East Coast main road and the ditch damage
forced organisers to call off the `Go Guyana Run' marathon scheduled along the
Embankment Road this morning.
Other
main roads in Buxton were also blocked with huge planks and dug up in some
parts but the village remained quiet up to late yesterday afternoon as Police
mobile patrols maintained a close watch after the morning disturbances by
mobs.
Police
said Blair's fingerprints were found on vehicles hijacked by bandits to commit
robberies that night.
Based on
photographs supplied, Police said he was identified by the victims as one of
the bandits who had committed "acts of robberies and other criminal
activities on the night of April 1, 2002."
"As
a consequence, Blair was struck and was immediately taken to the Georgetown
Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival", the Police
statement said.
Blair's
wife Susan and her two-year-old son, Shakiem, were in the house when the
incident occurred.
Police
said they recovered a .375 Smith and Wesson Magnum revolver, a quantity of
live ammunition and spent shells and a live hand grenade from the scene.
In
another press release last night, Police said that at about 04:00 hrs, a crowd
of about 400 converged on the Buxton Public Road "chanting and hurling
abuses" while others lay across the road obstructing the free flow of
traffic. Police who arrived dispersed this crowd, the release said.
Then at
about 06:30 hrs, large boulders and logs were placed across the Embankment
Road but Police said they removed these.
According
to Police, at about 06:40 hrs, two mini-buses and a hire car were badly
damaged when persons hurled bricks and other objects at them on the Buxton
Public Road. The windshields, rearview mirrors and other parts of these
vehicles were damaged.
Former
TV `talk show host' Mark Benschop, with a video camera, featured prominently
as the protest by the band began at around 08:00 hrs and, at one point, he was
at the head of the group heading towards Riot Police deployed on the
Embankment Road.
Witnesses
said there was a standoff with some persons from the crowd pelting objects at
the ranks.
Some
protesters sat while others lay on the road. Others stood by or leaned on
their bicycles hurling accusations at the Police.
The
standoff continued for about 15 minutes when Police officers ordered the band
to disperse.
When
they refused, the Police fired warning shots and the group hurried off to seek
cover, some jumping off their bicycles and preferring to run, according to
witnesses.
Police
subsequently removed the bicycles from the road.
A huge
plank and a wooden stall blocked the Sideline Road leading from the main road
in the village to the highway.
Other
materials, including old lantern posts and tree trunks were placed across the
road at different points.
The
Police took control of the Embankment Road, redirecting traffic to the other
main road and ensuring there was a smooth flow of traffic.
Police
last night called on Buxton residents to "dissociate themselves from
criminal elements and to adopt lawful means to address any perceived
problems."
"The
wanton destruction of property and intimidation of peaceful and innocent
persons by widespread unlawful and illegal activities will not be
tolerated", Police said.
The
statement added: "Persons have a right to go about their daily lives and
business without fear. Persons who take the law into their own hands must be
prepared to face the consequences."
The
Police Force Friday increased to $10M the reward for information leading to
the capture of the five heavily armed and dangerous prisoners linked to the
murder Tuesday of top anti-crime cop, Superintendent Leon Fraser.
The five
have also been implicated in the Easter Monday hijackings and robberies
Police
last week confirmed that the car hidden in the bushes from which Fraser was
shot dead was the station wagon hijacked from a Canadian couple in the city
around midnight Monday.
According
to Police, scientific tests have so far shown that at least one of the five
escapees had been in the hijacked car found at Yarowkabra on the Linden-Soesdyke
Highway where Fraser was killed.
The five
also killed Prison Officer, Troy Williams, 21, when they broke out of the
Georgetown jail on February 23 and shot Woman Prison Officer, Roxanne
Whinfield, 36, in the head as they fled. She remains in critical condition in
the Georgetown Hospital.
Those on
the run are Andrew Douglas, Mark Fraser, Shawn Brown, Troy Dick and Dale
Moore, all linked to the notorious
`Blackie' criminal gang.
The `Blackie'
ring was led by Linden `Blackie' London who was shot dead when he was cornered
in a Police-Army operation in an Eccles, East Bank Demerara guest house in
February 1999.
April, 07, 2002
