Gopee-Scoon condemns police violence against protesters

Former foreign affairs minister Paula Gopee-Scoon is denouncing the killing of three people by police during Wednesday’s protest in Guyana against rising electricity rates. The Guyana government has launched an investigation into the violent incident. Tensions continued yesterday as protesters returned to the streets of Linden for a second day.

Contacted for comment yesterday, Gopee-Scoon said: “We are concerned about the continuing violence in that country.” Gopee-Scoon said development must be noted in the context of the worsening economic conditions internationally and regionally. “The widening poverty gap is of concern to all of the Caribbean and this is as a result of the deepening economic crisis,” she said.

“Yes we denounce (the violence), but it really falls on governments to find a new paradigm that will be suitable to them and the citizenry.” Gopee-Scoon said Caricom states “continue to operate under great pressure, and we see Barbados had been downgraded by S&P.” She said the incident was cause for “continuous concern and will put governments back to thinking and coming up with solutions for this time of deep crisis.”