Caption: Protestors outside the Red House on Sunday. AZP News/Alicia Chamely
By Alicia Chamely
PROTESTORS on Sunday called for Commissioner of Police Allister Guevarro to resign over the police response to the fatal shooting of 31-year-old Joshua Samaroo and the wounding of his wife, Kaia Sealy, who has been left partially paralysed.
More than 50 people, including friends, former schoolmates and activists, gathered from about 1 pm outside the Red House along Abercromby Street, carrying placards and chanting for justice. Organisers said the demonstration was non-partisan and focused on human rights and accountability following the January 20 incident in St Augustine. Riot police were initially called out, but were dispersed after a senior officer spoke with activist Umar Abdullah.
Alyssa Phillip, a co-organiser and friend of Sealy, urged Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar to intervene and called for both the commissioner and the Minister of Homeland Security to step down, arguing their continued presence in office undermined public confidence.
Phillip criticised statements made by Guevarro on the day of the shooting, saying he appeared to defend officers before investigations were completed. “Now a mother is partially paralysed… a father is dead,” she said, adding that two children would grow up without their father. A wheelchair placed at the centre of the protest symbolised Sealy’s injuries.
Phillip also challenged public narratives about the incident, pointing to video circulating online that she said showed Samaroo surrendering when he was shot. She alleged he was hit 19 times and argued he was denied due process.
Another organiser, Mariah Walcott, described Samaroo’s killing as a “betrayal of justice,” condemning what she called police brutality and extrajudicial killings. She said accountability and transparency were essential and “not anti-police,” adding that “the regard for human life… is fundamental.”
@azpnews.com Organizers of the demonstration for justice for Joshua Samaroo and victims of police killings Alyssa Phillip and Mariah Walcott call for transparency and the Comissioner of Police to step down. Video: Alicia Chamely @ttpoliceservice #ttps #protest #policeshooting #topcop #justice
Walcott and other speakers questioned initial police reports, including claims that three “known persons” were in the vehicle involved, and criticised the lack of retractions or apologies from the police service or the commissioner after information circulating publicly appeared to contradict early accounts.
Activist Jason De Sliva accused police leadership of prejudging the event by publicly describing it as a shoot-out before all evidence had been reviewed. He said references to Samaroo’s alleged criminal history appeared aimed at justifying the killing and diverting attention from what he said was shown in video footage.
Protesters said they would continue pressing for accountability and urged members of the public to move beyond online commentary and participate in civic action.
