Last Updated on Saturday, 3 May 2025, 12:38 by Writer
Even as 29 persons were Wednesday remanded to prison for acts of terrorism associated with unrest sparked off by last week’s controversial death of 11-year-old Adriana Younge, the Alliance For Change (AFC) and several other new and small political parties said it was time to put systems in place to carve out a new future for “scrapes”.
The grouping, which included parliamentarians who are members of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), accused the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) of criminalising ‘scrapes’ instead of cultivating their potential.
“Many of us were once called scrapes. We know what it’s like to be dismissed, devalued, and used. But we also know what it means to rise,” they said in a joint statement.
During the week of sporadic protests and violence, several persons were seen on social media identifying themselves as ‘scrapes’ and advocating and threatening violence on businesses and members of the government.
The police force on Wednesday sent out several lists of persons, who were charged with acts of terrorism and remanded to prison.
The loosely knit group that included leaders from the AFC, Assembly For Liberty & Prosperity Party (ALP), Vigilent For a New Guyana (V-PAC), The People’s Movement, and sitting PNC parliamentarians, said efforts must be made to improve the conditions of youths.
“Now is the time to raise Guyana’s youth—not as weapons, but as architects of the nation’s future,” they said in a joint statement.
Vigilent for a New Guyana Chairman, Dorwain Bess, who shared Wednesday’s news conference that was held near Double Day Hotel, Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo where Younge’s body was found in a pool, called on the ‘scrapes’ to come out and join peaceful protests with the objective of bringing about meaningful change.
“This movement is not going to stand with any Guyanese to destroy property, is not going to stand with any Guyanese to destroy homes of people…we do not condone that. But we need citizens to understand; the scrapes, as they call them to come out and to continue the protests but protest to bring an end to this culture. We must know we are protesting,” he said.
He echoed previous calls by PNCR Leader Aubrey Norton and AFC Leader Nigel Hughes for people not to destroy and loot properties and businesses.
Mr Bess said Guyana’s political culture needed to change in order to improve the conditions of ordinary Guyanese.
He was disgusted by political interference in the workings of State machinery.
“If the corrupt system continues, we can’t expect justice,” he said.
Saying he was a victim of the corrupt system, which involves the police force, as he was charged multiple times, he appealed to the Guyana government to appreciate the reason for the conditions of the ‘scrapes’.
“I want the scrapes to understand and I want the government to understand. The reason we’re calling those people scrapes today is because we have neglected them and I was once one those people who was homeless. I was once one of those people who had no food to eat, that had no shoes to wear,” he said.
Mr Bess attributed his condition to good leadership in a society where disadvantaged youths were not left behind.
“If we see those people for their true potential, then they will no longer be scrapes,” he added.
The Vigilent Chairman said the road to Tuschen was clear on Wednesday because “the guns came out” but that would not fix the problem or the broken system to bring about long-term change.
“I stand with those scrapes and I have a message for those scrapes today. You’re not standing alone because V-PAC and whoever in this movement wants to align with our message and our call, is going to convert you into citizens that all of us are going to be proud of and you’re not going to be left behind anymore,” he added.
Those who were charged with acts of terrorism and remanded to prison are:
- 20-year-old Sherwin Nelson of West Front Road
- 20-year-old Desafio Harvey of King Edward Street, Albouystown
- 53-year-old Qubert Elgin of Hogg Street, Albouystown
- 34-year-old Kevin Rodney of ‘D’ Field Sophia
- 18-year-old Leon Albert of ‘D’ Field Sophia
- 18-year-old Hassan Muhammed of ‘C’ Field Sophia
- 31-year-old Keon Akeem Hope of ‘C’ Field Sophia Squatting area
- 49-year-old Omadath Bridgemohan of First Street Pattensen, Turkeyen
- 53-year-old Ron Mitchell of ‘C’ Field Squatting area
- 19-year-old Shem Howard of ‘B’ Field Sophia
- 20-year-old Samuel October of 47 Friendship, East Coast Demerara
- 24-year-old Arnold Junior of Lot 69 Housing Scheme, East Bank Berbice
- 20-year-old Kemuel Abraham of Lot 19 Tucville, Georgetown
- 22-year-old Leroy Sealey-Yaw of A26 East La Penitence
- 21-year-old Shamol Ram of Lot 1305 ‘B’ Field Sophia
- 42-year-old Quacy Gittens of Parika, East Bank Essequibo
- 48-year-old Jeffon Trotman of Parika, East Bank Essequibo
- 29-year-old Andel Weeks of Parika, East Bank Essequibo
- 30-year-old Euclid Wright of Leonora, West Coast Demerara
- 39-year-old Dilon Caleb of Vergenoegen, East Bank Essequibo
- 28-year-old Wayne Wright of Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo
- 27-year-old Lenna Lopes of Patentia Housing Scheme, West Bank Demerara
- 36-year-old Tremain Frank of Swan Street, Squatting Area, West Bank Demerara
- 20-year-old Melville Thomas of Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara
- 31-year-old Arvin Persaud of Bella Dam, Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara
- 27-year-old Clevon Hudson of Bella Dam, Pouderoyen West Bank Demerara
- 26-year-old Nelson Bristol of Kildonan Village, Corentyne, Berbice
- 18-year-old Quel Lyte of Nurney Village, Corentyne, Berbice
- 20-year-old Emmanuel Davis of Limnair Village, Corentyne, Berbice.
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