Berbicians support shutdown call
By Daniel Da Costa
Stabroek News
October 10, 2002
Across the length and breadth of Berbice, one of Guyana's largest regions, a usually bustling Wednesday took the appearance of a quiet Sunday morning as people from all spheres of activity stayed at home yesterday in response to a call for a total shutdown of the country.
The shutdown call has been issued by a number of businessmen and a group calling itself "Unite Guyana", in light of their frustration at the approach of the government and the opposition to the tide of violent crime sweeping the country.
On the West Coast of Berbice the response was equally effective as businesses throughout the sub-region closed their doors to the public. President of the West Berbice Chamber of Commerce, Muntaz Alli described the activity as "a major success."
The Transport and Harbours Department on both sides of the river suffered significant losses in revenue as a very small number of vehicles and commuters utilised the service. Only about four vehicles and a handful of passengers crossed on the 6:30 am ferry from New Amsterdam.
Very few schoolchildren travelled to New Amsterdam from the West Coast to attend school. There was no sign of the numerous Route 50 [Rosignol - Georgetown] minibuses that ply the route daily, at the New Amsterdam and Rosignol stellings. The majority of businesses and petrol stations on the West Coast were closed. Minibus and hire care operators also stayed at home leaving just a few to transport passengers across the sub-region.
In New Amsterdam, the town was virtually deserted after midday as the shutdown began to impact on the township which is usually sleepy on Wednesday afternoons. Just a few businesses remained open, standing out among the long line of restaurants, stores, liquor stores and private offices that closed their doors. Activity at the Municipal Market was also way below par as vendors found difficulty in securing transportation while shoppers stayed at home.
The few businesses which had opened their doors soon closed as very few customers patronized them. Among those that stayed open were the commercial banks but very few customers visited.
The busy Pitt Street shopping centre was desolate with only two stores opening their doors but business was obviously disappointing. Most of the primary and secondary schools throughout the region reported poor attendance as students either found difficulty in securing transportation or parents decided to keep them at home over security concerns.
At Rose Hall, the bustling central Corentyne shopping district was transformed into an almost desolate town with stores closed, vendors staying away from the Municipal Market, minibus and hire car drivers supporting the call and students remaining at home in large numbers. The two commercial banks in the town, while being open, conducted very little business.
Meanwhile a bomb scare around mid-morning sent students and teachers scurrying home from the Rose Hall Primary School leaving the premises abandoned.
A handful of taxi-drivers operated their vehicles even though very few passengers were around.
One businessman told Stabroek News that he is hopeful that the shutdown will force the government and the opposition PNC/R to come together to end the destruction of life and property.
Most people were however reluctant to comment on the shutdown, as some continued to wonder about the identity of the organisers. At Corriverton most businesses were closed and the turnout at schools was way below average. However the banks and petrol stations were open with just a few minibuses and Tapir vehicles operating during the morning hours. Most disappeared later in the day as passengers became rare.
According to one businessman, "we are prepared to do whatever is necessary to get the government and the opposition to stop the violence and the killings."
Ali, of the West Berbice Chamber congratulated those persons who supported the shutdown saying "it is the first time that the Private Sector in Guyana is being heard."
Commander of "B" Division, Assistant Commissioner Paul Slowe told this newspaper that apart from the bomb scare at Rose Hall no other incidents were reported. He however noted that the shutdown was being monitored by the Division to ascertain its effects on Region Six and the West Berbice sub-region. There were no indications whether the shutdown will continue in Berbice today as "Unite Guyana" has requested.