– Departs Linden Under Heavy Security After Nine-Hour Standoff With Protesters
By Travis Chase | HGP Nightly News|
LINDEN, REGION TEN — Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo departed Watooka Guest House late Tuesday evening under a heavily reinforced joint-services security detail, concluding a tense nine-hour standoff without addressing demonstrators who had gathered to demand executive accountability over the M.V. Barima tragedy and the ongoing political impasse in Region Ten.
The confrontation unfolded as Vice President Jagdeo and a Cabinet delegation arrived in the bauxite mining town for a scheduled Region Ten Public Day outreach. What began as a structured picket along the outer gates quickly escalated into a prolonged protest as crowds swelled throughout the day.
Demonstrators Breach Perimeters at Watooka House
Tensions reached a breaking point when protesters—frustrated by hours of waiting and unfulfilled indications that the Vice President would speak with them—overpowered police ranks at the primary entry gate, pushed down heavy steel barricades, and entered the grounds of the historic Watooka Guest House.
Holding placards reading “Justice for M.V. Barima Victims” and “Elect Our Regional Chairman Now,” the crowd gathered near the main structure, insisting they would maintain their position until granted a direct audience with the Head of the Cabinet delegation.
[ WATOOKA HOUSE NINE-HOUR DEMONSTRATION ]
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[ M.V. Barima Accountability Demands ] [ Region 10 RDC Leadership Impasse ]
- Immediate resignations of Ministers Edghill & Indar - Nearly 1 year since Sept 1, 2025 elections without Chairman
- Fast-tracked salvage of sunken ferry to preserve evidence - WIN won 9 seats, APNU 5, PPP/C 3, FMG 1
- Transparent & uncompromised Commission of Inquiry - REO failure to reconvene council leaves region unrepresented
Jagdeo Exits Without Engaging Demonstration
Despite the escalating presence on the compound, Vice President Jagdeo did not step out to address the crowd. At approximately 7:46 p.m., as night fell, the Vice President exited the building under tight protection.
Uniformed police ranks, presidential bodyguards deploying protective ballistic shields, marine police, and Guyana Defence Force (GDF) personnel formed a physical buffer as his convoy departed through the shouting crowd.
“You all had a long day, you all had a long day,” Vice President Jagdeo remarked through his opened vehicle window as his escort navigated past chanting demonstrators.
Opposition Leader Highlights Regional Paralyzation
Speaking following the Vice President’s departure, Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed—who had also sought to engage Jagdeo directly on behalf of residents—accused the government of evading public scrutiny.
Mohamed emphasized that the nine-hour demonstration delivered an unmistakable message regarding public frustration over both national and regional governance:
- Unprecedented Regional Impasse: Mohamed noted that nearly one year after the September 1, 2025 Regional Elections, Region Ten remains the sole administrative region in Guyana without a duly elected Regional Chairman and Vice Chairman.
- Voting Breakdown: In that election, Mohamed’s We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) secured 9 seats, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) won 5, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) took 3, and Forward Movement Guyana (FMG) secured 1.
- The 9-All Deadlock: A subsequent 9-all tie between WIN and APNU nominees for the chairmanship led the Regional Executive Officer (REO) to suspend voting. The council has not been reconvened since, effectively denying Region Ten residents full democratic representation.
Mohamed concluded by asserting that peaceful public actions will continue across all ten administrative regions until democratic mandates are respected and ministerial accountability for the M.V. Barima catastrophe is realized.
