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Hundreds of demonstrators assembled at St. George’s Cathedral on Thursday afternoon before marching toward State House, where police had positioned barricades ahead of King Charles’s reception. According to Kaieteur News, the afternoon’s central incident involved the apprehension of Hannah Muhammad, political director for the WIN party and sister of opposition leader Azruddin Mohamed, who is currently detained on allegations of bribing a police officer for surveillance footage.
Eyewitnesses and live broadcasts documented chaotic scenes as multiple male officers moved to detain Muhammad, sparking immediate outrage among the crowd. Protesters alleged that officers used excessive force, handling Muhammad roughly against fences and vehicles before female officers eventually arrived at the scene. Opposition MPs and demonstrators condemned the police response as a violation of standard procedures and a breach of citizens’ constitutional rights to peaceful assembly and free speech.
Opposition parliamentarians voiced sharp criticism of the government’s handling of the protest. WIN MP Dawn Hastings-Williams told supporters that the incident confirmed the country faced a profound institutional crisis, emphasizing that citizens retain constitutional protections for peaceful demonstration. MP Natasha Singh-Lewis characterized the police action as state-sponsored intimidation under the administration of President Irfaan Ali, while MP Janelle Sweatnam highlighted the breakdown in communication between government and opposition, noting that public servants are forced to air grievances through social media due to suspended parliamentary sittings.
Local government commissioner Leola Narine, a regional councillor from Linden, also addressed the crowd, sharing her own experiences with alleged political victimization, including demotion and transfer from her post as assistant regional executive officer for Region 10. The demonstration reflected broader tensions in Guyana over demands for slavery reparations from Britain and concerns about political freedoms during a high-profile state visit.
King Charles arrived in Guyana on October 29, 2026, for a state visit. The timing of the protest coincided with his reception at State House, where security measures were in place to manage the royal visit. The opposition leader Azruddin Mohamed’s detention on bribery allegations has become a focal point of political tension in the country.
This incident reflects broader Caribbean demands for slavery reparations from former colonial powers and raises questions about democratic freedoms and police accountability in a Caribbean nation. The protest during a British royal visit underscores ongoing tensions between Caribbean nations and their colonial legacies, a concern shared across the diaspora.
Sources and attribution
- Kaieteur News
- Mohamed arrested as police probe alleged bribery for …
- Policeman arrested over leaked footage of Azruddin …
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