Vendors who were beaten, robbed and had their property damaged during a protest action at Mon Repos market, East Coast Demerara on Tuesday, have been assured by President Dr Irfaan Ali that they will be fully compensated for their losses.

During a meeting with the vendors following the looting, President Ali told them that officials are already assessing the damage and will make contact with those who have been affected.

“I want to assure you that you will be fully compensated.

“But more importantly, those who caused the harm, must and will be brought to justice. As of now, all of us have a responsibility to restore calm, to restore order and to ensure that we continue to bring normalcy,” President Ali told the angry vendors.

He pleaded with them to clear the roadways and to let the police investigate the matter.

“Let us not let people disrupt the development of our country.

“We’re trying to build a strong Guyana in which we are all united. Let us not be sidetracked. The police have already started their work,” the Head of State said.

But some vendors pleaded with the President to assure them that there will not be a recurrence.

“How will we avoid a recurrence, Mr President?” one resident asked.

In response, President Ali promised to return to Mon Repos to discuss with residents ways in which they can strengthen community policing and intelligence gathering.

“Stay calm and allow the police to do their work,” the President pleaded.

Meanwhile, at Buxton, President Ali assured residents that the shooting death of 23-year-old Quindon Bacchus on June 10 by a plainclothes policeman is under active investigation and should be completed soon.

Residents were protesting the killing of Bacchus at Haslington, during an alleged undercover police operation. But this protest, which commenced at Golden Grove, extended to several East Coast Demerara communities.

It was at the Mon Repos market that it turned violent; a minibus and several stalls were set on fire and vendors were beaten and robbed.