Protests, Roadblock at Belladrum, West Coast Berbice

30th of August, 2020. Guyana, South America

Residents of Belladrum on the West Coast of Berbice, Guyana, South America have taken to the road this morning, August 30th, 2020, to demand the release of Mr. Clairmont Mingo who was arrested and charged for electoral fraud. The residents shouted slogans such as “No Mingo, No Peace,” and “Free Mingo Now.”

Mr. Clairmont Mingo, the Returning Officer for Region 4 during the March 2, 2020 elections, has been arrested subsequent to the swearing in of President Ali on the grounds that he had attempted to rig the elections in favor of the APNU/AFC on two separate occasions.

On the 4th of March, 2020, Mr. Mingo used a spreadsheet to tabulate data which could not be verified by local or international observers and which was deemed to be fraudulent. This led to nationwide protests and civil unrest. The same action was repeated on the 13th of March when International Observers walked out of the GECOM headquarters in protest.

The standoff between the then APNU/AFC government and the then PPP/C opposition was finally resolved by a CARICOM certified recount. The PPP/C was declared the winner on August 2, 2020 – five months after the elections and only after strong pressure from the international community and threats of sanctions.

Many Guyanese are angry that the actions of a group of people had put Guyana in a state of economic stagnation, civil unrest and almost pushed the country into a state of dictatorship. On these grounds they are demanding that justice be served to those who “held the country hostage for 5 months.”