This Monitor update covers developments relating to the freedoms of expression, association and peaceful assembly in Guyana from September 2022 to April 2023.
Peaceful Assembly
Electoral protests
In September 2022, opposition A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) supporters continued their weekly picketing outside the Guyana Elections Commission main office on High Street in downtown Georgetown. These protests called for a “clean voters list” as Guyana prepared for local government elections in May 2023. These protests continued into 2023 and were monitored by the police.
Workers rights protest
In November 2022, workers at a privately owned fisheries company, Prittipaul Singh investments, protested on several issues including the payment of severance and medical leave. These matters were later deferred to the Ministry of Labour.
Street Protest and Road Blockage
On 1st February 2023, protestors blocked the East Coast Demerara Highway in the vicinity of the village of Buxton for hours to protest the arrest of an alleged drug runner by the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU). Protestors accused the police of shooting indiscriminately in their pursuit of the suspect. The roadway was cleared by Joint Services that same day. No one was charged for blocking the roadway.
Expression
On 1st April 2023, journalists working with the daily newspaper Kaieteur News were intimidated by government supporters while asking questions of President Mohamed Irfaan Ali at a press conference. Following statements by the Guyana Press Association condemning the intimidation, both Davina Bagot and the head of the Guyana Press Association, Nazima Raghubir, were harassed online.
On 20th April, Tameka Garnett, a reporter with the State’s newspaper, the Guyana Chronicle, was verbally attacked by an opposition politician, Carol Joseph. Joseph later apologised.
In the last quarter of 2022, there were at least nine cyber crime related charges brought against citizens. Among them were charges against vendor Kevn Hirman for using the social app Tik Tok to make “degrading” remarks against Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken.
In September, charges were brought against former policeman Deon Bascom for remarks made during a Facebook live against senior police officers Mitchell Ceasar and Chabinauth Singh stating they were covering up a murder investigation.