Guinea Grass Residents Protest Lockdown

Today, a small group of residents from Guinea Grass protested against the lockdown measures which they say is bringing further hardships. The village has been on lockdown for two weeks and according to Village Chairman, Benito Uck close to twenty villagers gathered to stage a small protest and send a message to government because they are in need of food and money.  The extension of the lockdown goes through to the first week of September and Uck says cane farmers can’t access their monies because of the lockdown and as a result, they can’t put food on their tables and buy medication for the elderly and the young.

On the Phone: Benito Uck, Chairman, Guinea Grass

“The community decided that they want to do a small protest because they are angry that they have not received any food assistance. And the other thing is the money – they cannot go to Orange Walk to withdraw any money, especially that they have already seen the fifteenth. Today is the bonus for the cane farmers and up to Friday – they have three day as the crop season finished they have the third payment and they cannot access the finance. So, that they could stock up with groceries since they have not received any assistance.  They decided to give the message to the government that they are locked up and since the virus is already spread all over the country and why Guinea Grass is still in lockdown and they have fourteen more days.”

Uck says that earlier today he was informed that the Human Development Department will be distributing three hundred food packages in the coming days.