- during its protest last Thursday
THE Guyana Police Force (GPF) has charged that the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), during its protest last Thursday, violated the prescribed route granted for the march.

A statement from the GPF stressed that the original route requested did not include passing by Parliament Building.

However, the GPF has assured that appropriate actions will be taken in relation to the breaches of the law identified.

It added that to the shock and surprise of members of the Force and perhaps all law abiding citizens, the barriers at Brickdam and Manget Place used to prevent traffic, other than members of Parliament, from proceeding west along Brickdam were thrown down and the protestors then proceeded to outside of Parliament in breach of the approved route.

Subsequently the procession proceeded along Avenue of the Republic and instead of turning east into Church Street, proceeded east into Robb Street and in the process threw down the barriers and proceeded unlawfully along a route not approved by the Divisional Commander, the statement said.

The police were forced to exercise great restraint taking into consideration the many businesses and persons that assembled along the streets where the protesters breached.

The GPF has expressed its gross disappointment with the conduct of the Leader of the People’s National Congress Reform and members and supporters of his party for their display during the procession held last Thursday between 13:40 hours and 17:00 hours.

A police statement said that the PNCR had requested a specific route which included passing by the Georgetown jail and proceeding down a section of Regent Street.

It said the Chief Officer of Police of ‘A’ Division considered the request and did not grant permission for the procession to pass the jail nor to proceed along Regent Street.

According to police the current security situation in the country and the concerns of members of the business community were taken into consideration by the Chief Officer of Police in ‘A’ Division in not granting the route requested.

The route approved was:

Starting Point Joseph Pollydore Street and Mandela Avenue.
West along D’Urban Street
South into Creen Street
West into Norton Street
South into Camp Street, into Russell Street
South into Hunter Street
West into James Street
North into Barr Street
West into Sussex Street,
North into Charles Street, into Smyth Street
West into Durban Street
North into Cross Street
East into Hadfield
North into Manget Place
West into Croal Street
North into Avenue of the Republic
East into Church Street, then to John Forde Car Park for a rally

Meanwhile, Police said that as part of its strategy in the overall fight against crime and cognisant that criminal elements are hanging out at night spots awaiting the opportunity to commit crimes, has commenced the enforcement of the closing hours of business places in keeping with the law in all policing Divisions.

The GPF said this includes discotheques, restaurants, beer gardens, grocery shops and other such business places.

The police, however, are requesting the usual cooperation of the public with this aspect of our policing methods in the continued efforts to deal with crime in the country.