Tear gas fired as Joint Services attempt to clear Wismar roadblock, buildings ablaze

By Stabroek editor – August 10, 2012 @ 6:18 am | Comments

The Joint Services at around 4 am swooped on the main road block at Wismar and attempted to clear it but hundreds of residents engaged in more than three weeks of protests over electricity rates resisted and several buildings were later set on fire.

SN was told that several cans of tear gas landed in the yards of residents of Silvertown; a nearby community along Burnham Drive, forcing residents out of their homes.

This was the second major operation by the Joint Services to clear protesters who have sealed off the mining town with the aim of forcing the government to cancel the tariff hike. The previous operation failed to dislodge the protesters and as a result President Donald Ramotar was unable to visit the town as planned.   [more]  Tear gas fired in Linden