"We will mix aggression with caution, but the struggle will continue until we get justice" were the words of a Buxtonian yesterday as he stood guard behind a huge pile of debris on the Railway Embankment road protesting the controversial shooting to death of fellow villager, Shaka Blair early Saturday morning.

"Buxton people ain't get no time, if you want to see madness let dem police come here and shoot, or try to move dem wood we put up deh. Dem only patrolling on the front let them come in".

On Saturday, Blair, 32, was gunned down by members of the `Black Clothes' police at his residence Lot 42 Section 'B' Middle Walk, Buxton and was pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital. His killing sparked unrest in the village on Sunday morning and a ditch was dug on the embankment road. Up to late last evening, members of the Tactical Services Unit (TSU) and other members of the Guyana Police Force were patrolling the main road to ensure peace and quiet, but while they maintained order on the Public Road, a huge hole about four feet deep along with heavy wooden materials, tree trunks and other debris remain in the middle of the road on the embankment preventing traffic and even pedestrians from passing.

The police also erected a barricade at Lusignan on the Railway Embankment. When Stabroek News visited Buxton yesterday the general atmosphere was one of peace and quiet. Some residents were seen going about their business as usual, while others attended churches and yet another group stood on the line top debating the controversial shooting of Blair. Among those who gathered at a popular bar in the area were women with children, aged men, teenagers and scores of adults. A young man told this newspaper that ever since Shaka's shooting residents had dug a huge hole on the road and placed several pieces of wood along with other refuse on the road, but the police hadn't ventured near it. He said whenever there is a disturbance at Buxton the police would only concentrate on the public road leaving the Railway embankment unmanned.

The man, a vendor, noted too that whenever a police vehicle goes into the area some of the residents mainly male would throw glass bottles and other missiles at them. He argued that during the post-elections unrest the police had mistreated many innocent Buxtonians and as such the action to attack them whenever they enter the village was taken. The man was seen yesterday beside the barricade which he and his colleagues had placed on the road and insisted that if ever the police should attempt to remove same a civil disturbance will ensue. He said that since Saturday there was no major incident with police but that he had heard gunshots along with firecrackers on Saturday night.

The man told this newspaper that he had seen Shaka and his family on Easter Monday Night at the Buxton Sea Wall. According to him Blair was operating a bar and also entertained a large group of revellers with music resounding from his stereo set. He maintained that he left the Seawall at about 11 pm Easter Night with Blair still playing his music and operating his bar. Residents argue that this is crucial as police had linked him to crimes around that time. "When I reach home, I see a whole set of police around Annandale side and when I find out a boy tell me a man just get rob. What I am saying is that if this man (Blair) as they claim was involved in the robbery and I leave him on the seawall before and after the robbery then something is really wrong, Shaka is not a spirit", the Buxtonian argued. In a press release on Saturday the police had stated that a party of policemen had gone to Blair's home in an attempt to arrest him for questioning in connection with the recent spate of hijackings and robberies after his fingerprints had been found on vehicles hijacked by bandits, who used them to commit robberies.

The release said that based on photographs supplied, Blair was identified by the victims as one of the bandits. The release also said that when the police visited Blair's home to arrest him he refused to cooperate and instead discharged a loaded firearm at the ranks who were forced to take cover and retaliate, killing Blair.

A 13-year-old boy, Kwesi Hamer was seen with injuries to various parts of his body. The lad told Stabroek News that he sustained the injuries on Saturday while going out on the road to purchase a few food items for his mother, "I got shoot with pellets". He said that when he got close to the public road he saw several persons running to and fro and shortly after he heard gunshots. "So I start to run also and just a little way off I feel something sting me and then another and another, but I continue to run until I reach a nearby house where I went in and check out my body."

Another resident Natasha Freeman was also hit twice with pellets up to yesterday she had not taken out one of them in her right hand. She too complained that she was going to Hamilton's Gas Station when she got shot. The woman told Stabroek News yesterday that on Saturday night many of the residents retired to bed earlier than usual. She said that with the exception of a few young men who were guarding their barricades, the village streets were empty.

Scores of relatives and friends were yesterday at Blair's house offering sympathy to his reputed wife Susan Ragnauth. Also among the visitors at the home was a large contingent from the Veterans Foundation. The woman maintained that her husband wasn't involved in any crime, noting that he didn't own a gun and was a hard working, loving, caring and a dedicated family man. According to her he was well known in the village and what the police are claiming was totally uncharacteristic of Shaka. She said that she went to identify the body of her slain husband at the Georgetown Hospital Mortuary yesterday and she observed two gunshots wounds on his chest six inches apart. She said as soon as the post-mortem was performed and Shaka's overseas relatives arrive in the country his burial would be announced. The mother of two said that she had since contacted her lawyers and will be taking legal actions against the Guyana Police Force as soon as Blair is buried.