Dartmouth bridge cleared but protest for justice continues
Following protests over the police killing of businessman Orin Boston, the Dartmouth bridge was cleared on Friday, allowing for the resumption of traffic to Charity and nearby communities for a few hours before protestors once again blocked the main road.
Earlier in the day, Region Two Commander Denise Griffith told Stabroek News that she spoke to residents and asked them to co-operate with the police and to stop blocking the bridge and roadway. They agreed and with the deployment of a grader and a tractor provided by the Region Two administration the roadway was cleared.
The Dartmouth bridge was blocked to traffic on Wednesday after popular businessman Orin Boston was shot and killed by a member of a SWAT team that broke into his house. The killing resulted in residents protesting, blocking the bridge, and burning debris.
When Stabroek News visited the Dartmouth area on Friday morning, a front end loader and a tractor were being used to clear the debris from the bridge. There was no resistance from the residents who were at the scene during the clearing process.
However, hours after residents returned to the streets, blocking the main road with a lantern post and debris. Police ranks deployed to the scene were currently monitoring the situation up to last evening, although some were threatened by residents, who told them to stay far away. Persons were seen with cutlasses and bottles in their hands.
Meanwhile, relatives of Boston continued to call for justice yesterday. The newly widowed Feona Boston, who was preparing for her husband’s funeral, said she is currently traumatised. She called for closure as she urged the Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn as well as the acting Commissioner of Police Nigel Hoppie to launch an independent investigation.
“I left with my children now. I have to provide for them. My husband was the
main breadwinner for the family. I have to live with the fact that he is no longer [here] and also the fact that I will have to start working for my own money… is this even fair? My husband did nothing wrong!” the mother of two said.
She added that she is currently trying to be strong for her two children, while her only wish now is that she could not help her husband.
“The only regret I am living [with] is not being able to assist my husband when he was lying helplessly on the floor. We were all warned not to video or touch him. It’s a hurtful thing for me and my family but life has to go on,” Boston said, while expressing her hope that the family could find peace.
An autopsy performed on Thursday revealed that the man died as a result of haemorrhage and shock from the gunshot injuries he received to his chest. A single warhead was extracted from the businessman’s body.
The post-mortem result contradicted the initial police release on the shooting of the businessman. The police had said that he was shot in his left arm during a confrontation. Their account of how he was shot has been disputed by the widow.
In spite of the calls for an independent investigation, acting Commissioner of Police Hoppie told a press conference on Wednesday that the case is being investigated by the police force’s Office for Professional Responsibility. The rank that shot the now dead man is under close arrest.