Guyana Chronicle
May 10, 2001

THE situation in the Enterprise/Bachelor's Adventure/Beirut communities was almost back to normal yesterday and the pace of business and other activities quickened as Police and soldiers continued their patrols in those East Coast Demerara areas.

The attendance at the Enterprise Nursery and Primary schools had improved considerably, and other schools along the East Coast such as Cove and John Primary, Golden Grove Primary and Secondary, Bladen Hall Secondary, Buxton and Paradise Primary all recorded a heartening turnout.

Students of secondary schools commented that the presence of the Army and People's Militia base in their neighbourhood, and their active manoeuvres in and around the villages were a good sign, signalling that the people are not being left on their own.

"We are happy that we can be back at school without unwarranted interruption", a student said.

"Many of us are preparing for CXC, CAPE, GCE and other exams, and if we do not perform well at those examinations then it means that not only our parents' money will go down the drain, but precious foreign exchange which leaves the country as fees for those examinations," she said.

The students said their first subject - Agriculture - is to be written as early as next week.

But though the attendance at Enterprise was good yesterday, it is anticipated that there will not be a good turnout today, since many of the pupils will be attending the funeral of their colleague, 10-year-old Morvin Barran.

The boy and his father Bemchand Barran, 43, were shot dead in the East Coast backlands on Sunday. Also shot dead was Dhanpaul Jagdeo, 26. The three are to be buried today.

In Enterprise, even as patrol jeeps routinely drove through the streets yesterday, there were armed soldiers on foot moving through the village as residents looked on curiously.

The residents of Beirut, east of Enterprise, also welcomed the presence of the Army and Police saying that as long as soldiers and Police operations continue in the villages, those who have weapons would not be able to use them.

Tensions mounted in Enterprise Monday morning when rumours spread that persons had threatened to burn the Enterprise school down, and others were moving into the school compound with cutlasses and guns.

Pupils hastily ran out of the building and parents hurried down to the school to get their children home.

Teachers said that when the news broke they were in a staff meeting, and instead of interrupting the meeting to inform them, the children hastily exited the building.

"Before we knew what was going on, the children had left the building," one teacher said.

And as word spread around the East Coast, some persons in nearby villages such as Buxton blocked the main highway passing through their villages.

Mobs at Buxton hijacked and burnt a truck and car and young boys armed with cutlasses stormed the Lusignan Primary School threatening teachers and students who had to flee, Police said.

But quick intervention by the Police saved the situation becoming explosive.

Within hours Minister of Home Affairs, Mr Ronald Gajraj, Regional Chairman, Mr Allan Munroe and senior Army and Police officers visited the troubled Enterprise-Bachelor's Adventure neighbourhood and appealed for calm.

The tensions rose after the brutal Sunday killing of the boy and the two men in the backdam.

A follow-up visit was made to Enterprise/Bachelor's Adventure and Beirut Tuesday by Prime Minister Sam Hinds and Minister of Local Government, Mr Harripersaud Nokta and Munroe.

They too appealed for peace and calm, and on representation by the people of Beirut, Prime Minister Hinds promised an early meeting between Minister Nokta and five representatives of the villagers.

Unrest has stalked the East Coast since supporters of the main Opposition People's National Congress Reform (PNC/R) began protests in Buxton and some other party strongholds after the March 19 elections which the People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) won.

Gangs have blocked roads, attacked and burnt trucks, mini-buses and cars and beat and robbed passengers and others caught in the blockades.

Several persons have also been burnt in the attacks.

President Bharrat Jagdeo said Monday that Guyana faced a "grave situation" from the acts of a few people and announced a series of measures aimed at dealing with heightened tensions and acts of disruptions in parts of the East Coast Demerara.

The country could be put at risk and there was "a severe threat to our democracy and our way of life as Guyanese", he told a news conference.

The President said the law enforcement agencies had been responding to the breakdown in law and order in the various communities.

"However, the situation over the past 48 hours demands an intensification of the various security arrangements", he said then.

President Jagdeo and PNC/R and Opposition Leader, Mr Desmond Hoyte Tuesday urged Guyanese to remain calm and to cooperate with the authorities.

"This will facilitate a return to normalcy which is necessary for developmental works to proceed.

"It will also reduce tensions and allow all Guyanese to continue to live in harmony", they said in a joint statement after their fourth meeting in three weeks.

They are to meet again tomorrow.