Patentia students protest colleague’s shooting death

“We want justice; we want justice; we want justice…” echoed yesterday, as students of Patentia Secondary School protested in front their school and in front of Wales Police Station, for their fellow student, 16-year-old Kelvin Anthony Fraser who was killed by a policeman.
At the protest some of the placards read, “Rohee and Greene should resign,” directly referring to the Home Affairs Minister and the Police Commissioner, “Stop murdering our children,” “Police say they protecting we and the shooting we,” and “Is cold blooded murder.”
The protest began at the Patentia Secondary School. The students as well as parents and supporters marched towards the Wales Police Station shouting “We want justice; no justice no school”.
Students from Wales Community High, and Patentia Primary and Nursery all gathered on the roadways to lend their support, also taking up the chant “We want justice.”

Present among the protesters were President of Caribbean Congress of Labour Lincoln Lewis, Columnist Freddie Kissoon, Social Activist Mark Benchop and an overseas-based professor Dr. David Hinds.
According to Lincoln Lewis, if a society allows the brutal slaying of innocent children then Guyana has no future. “Every time these things happen there is some sort of justification by the administration.”
He said that the genesis of the problem should be explored, and “the silence by the administration is indicative that it is condoning the transgressing of people’s rights.”
According to an irate protestor, the rights of people in Guyana are being taken for granted and taken away. “In our country we want our rights and we want it now, because I have teenagers and I don’t want anything like this for them.”
According to Fraser’s sweetheart, they were very close. “Anyway he going, I going” She recalled that one of their last conversations was about her birthday which will be on Monday.
She said that they met at school and while talking with him they heard screams within the school. “He told me that he love me and he coming back and that was the last time I ever see he alive.”
She disclosed that she saw police with big guns chasing many young boys, and “hitting them in their head and telling them they will put truck to roll over the head. They (police) keep pointing guns at them.”
According to the dead boy’s mother, Sharon Fraser, she was told that the officer is under close arrest. I want justice for my son. He is an innocent child; he doesn’t deserve to die like that. He doesn’t smoke and drink. All what he is be doing is talking to he girlfriend. He is a quiet child”
Social Activist Mark Benchop said that society cannot have a bunch of policemen that are murdering people, especially children. “They cannot go around murdering children for minor matters; they started with the torturing of kids, and now the killing of students. It must stop. The Commissioner of Police must take responsibility.”
He added that charges must be brought against the police officer. However, it must not be a slap on the wrist; it must be a murder charge, he said.
Disclosed students will be psychologically affected and justice must prevail.
According to columnist Freddie Kissoon, people are seeking justice, something that everyone deserves, and people should unite for such a cause.
According to one of the dead man’s relatives, the Commissioner of Police advised the mother of the dead teen not to protest. However, the mother stated that all she wants is justice.
Around 14:05 hrs, on Monday, 16-year-old Kelvin Anthony Fraser, of East Patentia was shot and killed after Police confronted him. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the West Demerara Regional Hospital.
This newspaper was told that a man went to the Wales Police station and reported that a group of young men was in front of the Patentia Secondary School smoking marijuana. According to a source, several police ranks immediately exited the station after fully arming themselves and raced to the scene.
Reports are that upon seeing the ranks, the group of young men, including students who were dressed in uniform, started to run. An eyewitness said that one of the police ranks immediately opened fire in the direction of the youths, fatally wounding one.