[UPDATED] Protesters 'Push Back' against Government's covid19 measures at the Queen's Park Savannah

Amid the threat of a new variant of the covid19 virus, hundreds of people gathered in the Queen’s Park Savannah in protest against government's policies meant to deal with the pandemic on Tuesday.

The protest culminated in 14 arrests as scores of people gathered at the Queen’s Park Savannah as part of a Push Back movement.

The protesters gathered to speak out against mandatory covid19 vaccinations, “vaccine segregation,” vaccination of children, safe zones and other measures. They also expressed their distaste for the Prime Minister and the President.

Radio show host Robert Amar said, “The most important thing we wanted to do today was to get the people of TT to recognise that we have a right and the Government has a responsibility and the Government is not accepting its responsibility.

"We will have to make them listen. The time is now, the push back has begun and we will no longer tolerate the BS.”

Activist Ruby Gem said, “Right now they are locking down the unvaccinated in Australia, they are keeping them in concentration camps. So if we sit down on this we will have to lie down and die.”

The protesters gathered en masse outside the Paddock while a number of protesters marched around the Savannah. The gathering separated after police officers warned them against gathering in large crowds, in accordance with public health regulations.

Officers told Newsday their mandate was to first ensure that people were not gathered in groups of more than ten.

As the crowd outside the paddock gathered and grew larger, police first asked them to separate, then began detaining people.

Several activists were among those arrested, including Umar Abdullah from the Islamic Front and the First Wave Movement and Gary Aboud from NGO Fishermen and Friends of the Sea.

Aboud who was standing among protesters was singled out and detained. He resisted, asking “What did I do?” and grabbed onto a tree, but he was pried off the tree, dragged toward a paddy wagon and put in.

Other activists, including David Welch of social media activist group Trio.TT, were also detained.

Another woman, a vendor at the Savannah, was also detained after being vocal about Government wanting to divide and rule over citizens. She also sang the song Divide and Rule by Jah Cure and Sizzla. But when police arrived to detain her she dropped herself on the ground and claimed she was not feeling well.

“I already told you I was not feeling well,” the woman said while being carried off by female police officers. “I am three months pregnant.”

“You pregnant and you getting on so?” questioned the officer.

The woman stopped in her tracks. “Getting on how?” she said.

Other protesters – some of whom seemed to be inciting the crowd and others who were recording – were also detained.

Newsday understands they were taken to the Woodbrook and St Clair police stations and processed but no charges were laid up to press time.

The police presence and the arrests seemed to incite the protesters even more as they began shouting at officers and calling them “wicked.”

The protesters then began clapping and shouting, demanding to be able to exercise their right to free speech and to gather. Some protesters suggested that they should take their concerns to the Parliament, where Senate was held.

But when riot police arrived, armed with tear-gas launchers and wearing riot wear, the protesters quickly dispersed.

At least one person was happy for the gathering at the Savannah.

Dexter Lawrence, a vendor and CEO of Jacob’s Well Enterprises took advantage of the large crowd and began selling his brand of pure lemon water and coconut water.

“You all are sanitising your hands and the outside of your body. Sanitise the inside of your body too with my pure lemon water,” Lawrence shouted.

In a stark contrast to what was happening on the Savannah grass, a good turnout of people gathered in orderly fashion at the Paddock for vaccinations.

While the number of people was high, all health and safety protocols were observed including the maintenance of social distancing and sanitisation.

A line of people was seen at the entrance where people who wished to be vaccinated sanitised in an orderly manner and headed to the stations where people were assessed and later vaccinated.

The paddock supplied Astra Zeneca vaccines and booster shots.

Staff at the paddock vaccination site declined to comment but one patron said the process was quick and simple.

The protest at the Savannah was the culmination of a joint protest between United National Congress activist Victor Roberts and Abdullah’s First Wave Movement and was expected to be conducted in five legs from south TT to Port of Spain.

Roberts started his protests on Friday marching with a coffin marked “Democracy Dead” and was joined by Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissesar for part of the second leg of the march which went from Siparia to Point-a-Pierre.

In a statement after the Siparia march the UNC said Persad-Bissessar supported the march against “gross mismanagement of the pandemic” by the Government.

This story was originally published with the title "Anti-vaxx protests, arrests at Queen's Park Savannah" and has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

Several protesters were arrested on Tuesday as hundreds gathered at the Queen’s Park Savannah as part of a movement called “push back.”

The protesters gathered to speak out against mandatory covid 19vaccinations, "vaccine segregation," vaccination of children, safe zones and to express their distaste for the Prime Minister and the President.

To date there has been no discussion in Parliament on mandatory vaccination.

Radio show host Robert Amar said,“The most important thing we wanted to do today was to get the people of TT to recognise that we have a right and the government has a responsibility and the government is not accepting its responsibility. We will have to make them listen. The time is now, the push back has begun and we will no longer tolerate the BS.”

Activist Ruby Gem said, “Right now they are locking down the unvaccinated in Australia, they are keeping them in concentration camps.So if we sit down on this, we will have to lie down and die.”

Several activists were among those arrested, including Umar Abdullah from the Islamic Front and Gary Aboud of the NGO Fishermen and Friends of the Sea.

The police presence and the arrests seemed to incite the protesters even more as they began shouting at officers and calling them “wicked.”

But when riot police arrived, armed with tear gas and wearing riot gear, the protesters quickly dispersed.