Cristopher Toselli Jersey nvq1ktva

fd9je6mn

Two busloads of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) supporters were left stranded forOne of the Route 43 buses being stopped by a police vehiclehours after police at Providence on the East Bank of Demerara detained the drivers of the vehicles as they were making their way into the capital city to join fellow supporters for a planned protest march, yesterday morning.Reports are that around 11:00 hrs, the 32-seater vehicles were approaching the Providence Police Station when a traffic rank identified as Lance Corporal James, signaled one of the minibuses (BKK 564) to stop.The other vehicle (BMM 2022) continued along its way but was shortly “pulled over” by ranks in a police pick-up (PKK 742) as it was nearing the Princess Hotel on the same thoroughfare.Passengers of these vehicles, who were decked out with their green APNU t-shirts and carried APNU posters, assumed that the buses were stopped for a routine check. They were in for a rude awakening.According to some passengers of BKK 564, Lance Corporal James instructed their driver to produce some documents, after which he was further instructed to enter the Providence Police Station.The driver parked the vehicle in the station compound and complied with the police request. His passengers were not aware of what was happening inside of the station but after an hour passed and the driver did not return they became concerned and subsequently concluded that something was amiss.Their frustration increased when some other police ranks closed the gates to the station and prevented the passengers from entering to enquire what was happening.While all of this was happening, two other traffic ranks positioned themselves on the road, and pulled over three other route 43 minibuses.These 15-seater vehicles were transporting ordinary citizens to Georgetown. They were not dressed with APNU t-shirts and were heading to various locations such as the markets, banks and schools.Some of the APNU supporters awaiting their drivers’ return from the Providence Police Station.When this newspaper arrived at the scene, all passengers were gathered near their vehicles which were all parked in the compound of the fuel station, opposite the Providence Police Station.A few remained inside of the vehicles.The police explained that they had detained the drivers whom they said had failed to employ conductors for their buses.According to the police, once a hire vehicle is carrying more than 14 passengers it has to have a conductor.But the commuters opined that the buses were on special contract and therefore there was no need for a conductor.Attorneys present at the Providence Magistrate’s Court stated that not having a conductor was not reason enough for the police to detain the drivers.This led to the conviction that the police were acting on instructions to prevent the Lindeners from joining their counterparts in Georgetown at all cost.One woman, who said that she was not among the protestors, complained that the police officers were victimising them because they hailed from Linden. She was en route to a school where she is a teacher.“They talking about democracy but they are demon crazy. What they asking for they will get. I hope they can handle it! They leaving the Timehri buses and others to pass, even trucks, but any Linden bus passing they stop. Look at it,John Gibson, we aren’t even going to APNU protest, we have business to take care of. Since before 11am we parked here. People got to go to work. A Pastor in this bus has to go to church, some have to go markets. In a very short while you’ll be hearing from the Lindeners,” said the woman.According to some of the APNU supporters, they were “calmly” heading to the capital, when the police stopped their vehicle.“We were going to join the rest. We are not bad people, we aren’t racial or any such thing. Linden people are hospitable. You can come to Linden anytime and you’ll see how welcoming it is. Why they doing this to us? They never stop none of these buses without conductors before, so why now? They starting trouble. I hope they can handle it because now the Linden people will react,” were the words of an irate male passenger.One woman said that it wasn’t fair to the people of Linden to be marginalised as “bad, racial people”. She explained that after yesterday, the Lindeners would not take the situation lightly, and that the after effects would not be pleasant.“When Linden talks, everyone will have to listen. We will do what we have to now. They pushed us,” promised the woman.Several passing passengers who were heading to the mining town showed their solidarity with their stranded townsmen, who were planning to defy the situation by walking the rest of the way to the city.Although prominent APNU member Aubrey Norton intervened on behalf of the detained bus drivers and their stranded passengers, it was not until almost two hours later that the minibus drivers were placed on bail and told to return to the Providence Magistrate’s Court today.“In this case, it’s a politically trumped up charge. The police here are being used for political purposes and that should not be. This is a violation of law!” Norton said emphatically.The APNU supporters and other Linden passengers have promised to support their drivers and accompany them to court also. (Kristen Macklingam)