In the aftermath of Monday’s violent unrest in Georgetown, Guyana, 43 individuals—including one woman—were brought before various courts on Wednesday, facing multiple charges including terrorism, break and enter, and larceny. The riot left two men dead, several injured, and resulted in the looting of nearly a dozen Chinese-owned supermarkets.
Of the accused, 29 men appeared before Senior Magistrate Fabayo Azore at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. The others were arraigned in regional courts. Among the charged were 18-year-old Emmanuel James and 25-year-old Jamal Small, both of Alboystown, Georgetown, who face joint charges of terrorism, break and enter, and larceny. Prosecutors allege that on April 28, 2025, the two broke into Jin Bao Lin supermarket on Hunter Street and stole items valued at $500,000. Additionally, they are accused of setting fires on the roadway, causing damage to property. Neither was required to enter a plea.
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Eight others were similarly charged following a separate incident on Cemetery Road, La Penitence. Prosecutors stated that they looted goods worth $6 million from another Jin Bao Lin location and committed a terrorist act by igniting debris on the road. The accused include Alex Atkinson (19), Devon Lewis (22), Randy Denjamin (26), Aidan Cuffy (21), Jason Hardy (25), Kerwyn Baksh (39), Tyrese Hassaanah (21), Faizal Kennedy (33), and Jamaul Singh (25). All were remanded without plea.
Further charges of terrorism were filed against 10 additional men accused of igniting fires at Sussex and Hill Streets, Georgetown. Those charged include Sherwain Nelson (20), Desafio Harvey (20), Oulient Elgin (53), Leon Albert (18), Kevin Rodney (34), Keon Akeem Hope (31), Ron Mitchell (53), Hassan Muhammed (18), Omadath Bridgemohan (49), and Shem Howard (19). Similarly, Antonio Lawrence (19), Kevin James (34), and Vincent Trim (27) face terrorism charges for alleged acts at Durban Backlands.
Five more individuals—Kemuel Abrams (20), Leroy Sealey-Yaw (22), Shamal Ram (21), Samuel October (20), and Arnold Junior (24)—were charged with breaking into Ying’s Chinese supermarket in Tucville and committing terrorism by damaging the property on April 29, 2025.
According to the prosecution, many of the accused were caught on camera placing flammable materials on public roads and igniting fires, contributing to widespread fear, business closures, and flight cancellations. “The entire country was shut down because of these acts,” the prosecutor asserted while opposing bail on grounds of public safety and the gravity of the offenses.
During proceedings, emotional appeals were made by some defendants. One man, in tears, claimed innocence, stating, “All dem officers know me. I beg for all dem to stop pelt and stop shoot cause dem breaking up the country. Now I facing this hay. Me ain’t do nothing up to now, ize ah big man and I have children me aint want this happen.” Another recounted being assaulted by police while merely recording events: “Ma’am, I de videoing with me phone on d corner and the police come and started hitting me up in my face with he gun and gun-butt me, all in my head bust up… This is an injustice my worship!”
All 29 men who appeared before Magistrate Azore were remanded to prison until their next court date on May 28, 2025.
Additionally, 14 more individuals—including one woman—were charged in connection to the riots. They are: Quacy Gittens (42), Jeffon Trotman (48), Andel Weeks (29), Euclid Wright (30), Dilon Caleb (39), Wayne Wright (28), Lenna Lopes (27), Tremain Frank (36), Melville Thomas (20), Arvin Persaud (31), Clevon Hudson (27), Nelson Bristol (26), Quel Lyte (18), and Emmanuel Davis (20). These individuals hail from various regions, including Essequibo, West Coast Demerara, and Corentyne, Berbice.
Outside the courtroom, relatives of the accused gathered in protest, claiming several arrests were unwarranted. A relative of Sherwain Nelson told reporters that he was arrested while in boxer shorts after stepping outside to look for a family member. “The police snatch he and start beating he up and throw he in the lock ups,” she alleged. “They don’t have no footage and no evidence stating that they find this boy doing anything. This boy was in his bare boxers on the corner,” she added.
