Govt has given tangible support to Police Force
- billions invested over past few years
GOVERNMENT has shown its dedication towards the enhancement of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) through several interventions in the areas of training, building modern Police stations, providing more vehicles, ammunition, improving the Force’s forensic capability and intelligence gathering unit.

From 2002 to the present, a significant amount of funds have been allocated to the Force to increase its efficiency. The allocations are as follows: 2002- $554M; 2003-$496M; 2004-$630M; 2005-$865M and 2006-$721M.

Last year, the Police Force received $723.5M for capital projects and $3.6B for current, while $458.6M was spent for procurement of equipment and $39.4M for land and water transportation.

The allocations allowed for the construction and rehabilitation of Police stations, purchase of vehicles, boats, equipment, furniture, arms and ammunition.

In 2005, there were approximately 19 police stations refurbished and $105M in equipment purchased for communications, fingerprinting, photographs, ballistics, forensics, traffic, arms and ammunitions and horses.

Since 2005, four modern police stations have been established. These were at Bartica, Diamond/Grove, Turkeyen/Sophia and Fort Wellington, totalling over $109M.

The administration has also been allocating significant amount of funds for additional expenditure.

In June, the Force’s forensic laboratory benefitted from $32.3M worth of equipment that included replacements and the acquisition of new gear while in September, an additional $24 million was approved for the procurement of arms and ammunition and 567,995 pounds sterling was allocated for the procurement of uniforms and kit.

Earlier this month, Cabinet approved additional funds of $54.6M for the procurement of vehicles, $15.4M for communication equipment and $243.3M for the purchase of material for uniforms.

Recognising the importance of improving the force’s human resources, government has also paid keen attention to increasing the incentives for Policemen and women.

In 1992 a constable’s salary was $3,821 while the Commissioner of Police (COP) received a salary between $15,274 to $20,857. The present scale of a COP ranges from $200,000 to $300,000 monthly while a constable’s salary is $37,000.

Government, along with international donor agencies, is working on several major security programmes from which the benefits will be realised in the long-term.

These are, the National Drug Strategy Master Plan (NDSMP), Citizens’ Security Programme, the Crime Stoppers Programme and a four-year Security Action Plan between the United Kingdom and Guyana.

The Guyana/UK plan which is already on stream will cater for building operational capacity of the GPF in terms of a uniformed response to serious crime, forensics, crime intelligence and traffic policing. (GINA)

ANGER BOILS OVER
- Police arrest Lusignan massacre protestors, tear-gas causes pregnant mother to lose baby
By Neil Marks
PROTESTS over the massacre of 11 Lusignan residents caused Police to arrest 37 persons at Bath, West Coast Berbice, while tear-gas fired at protestors at Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara (allegedly) caused a pregnant mother to lose her baby.

The Police have not yet announced any special operation to capture the 15-20 men responsible for last Saturday’s bloodbath which left the 11 persons, including five children dead. They have offered a $30M bounty for information to the arrest of the country’s most wanted man - Rondell “Fineman” Rawlins – but have not directly linked him to the attack.

There is a heavy presence of Police and Army in East Coast villages, mostly battling angry residents calling for justice in the slayings. Residents cried out about excessive force by the Police, and said they wanted the security forces to go find those responsible for the killings.

Losing a baby:
A pregnant Suretta Thompson, 26, said she was among protestors when the Police fired tear-gas, and she had to be rushed to the hospital.

When news reached her husband Mark Gobin that she had lost the baby, his anger boiled over at Police on the main road at Lusignan where he pulled up in his minibus.

Slapping his chest in anguish and anger, Gobin, 30, was soon confronted by a group of Police who dragged him out of his bus. As he resisted arrest, he was grabbed by the back and thrown into a Police van and driven away to the Vigilance Police station.

Residents hurled abuses at Police and pleaded for them to let Gobin go, but to no avail.

Up to press time, his wife was a patient in the hospital, while he was still in the lockups. Several residents came together and were deciding how to get the man released so he could be with his wife in their time of grief.

Residents, young and old, carried black and purple flags as they paraded up and down the corners of the main public road, guarded by heavily armed Police. They were out since early morning, and up to press time, were still keeping protest vigil on the roadside.

The residents are accusing the Police of using excessive force, but said their complaints would go on deaf ears as the Police on duty have removed their identifying badge with their name and “Regulation” number.

When news spread of the woman losing her baby, and residents shared the information among themselves, a group of female Police officers sitting at a “cane juice stand” started laughing to the ire of residents.

At Mon Repos, 20 schoolchildren from a private school had to be rushed to the hospital after the Police used tear-gas against residents protesting. Classes were not in session at the public school.

Some 11 inmates of the Lusignan prison were brought out on the streets to remove materials, including derelict vehicles, placed by the residents. Broken glass still litters the road.

Bath sugar workers join protest:
Protest by sugar workers of the Blairmont estate and other West Coast Berbice residents saw the Police deploying a sizeable group of ranks with riot gear and firing teargas to disperse the crowd.

The protest started before sunrise, and according to Senior Superintendent Balram Persaud, some 1, 000 persons engaged in the protest.

He said 34 men and three women were arrested and would be charged for “riotous behaviour”.

Persaud said when the protests started, some residents heeded the call of Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee and Minister of Health Dr Leslie Ramsammy to return to their homes, but some remained.

In the afternoon, the Police were still using a bulldozer to clear debris from the road.

Persaud said that the Police officers were attacked and that is why they moved to arrest the “ringleaders” of the protest. However, the residents denied his version of the events that took place.

The residents said the arrests and the use of teargas were uncalled for.

Sarjoo Persaud, 37, said he went for work at Bourda market in the city as usual, and when he was returning, he could not go beyond the protest. When Police fired pellets, one struck him in the foot.

Four other persons were hospitalised after they were hit by pellet shots.

The injured men are: Selchan Sanchara, 48, of Bath Settlement; Nazim Alli, 40 of Bath Settlement; Chamanlall, 52, of No. 11 Village; and Joel David, 44.

They were taken to the Accident and Emergency Unit of the Georgetown Hospital with multiple pellet wounds about the body.

Speaking to this newspaper, Selchan Sanchara said the police fired shots outrageously at protestors.

He said the group was peacefully protesting, calling for a visit of President Bharrat Jagdeo, when the police fired the pellet shots at the crowd.

“We tell them police that we not moving till we President come and tell we what he doing about this Lusignan murder and then them police start shooting up de crowd,” he said.

“We just giving support to them people that deh protesting up Lusignan; we didn’t do nobody nothing…Let them police go and look them criminals, not we,” Sanchara said.

‘Meh heart get weak’:
Some of the villagers were still in shock hours after the Police swooped down.

Sanchara’s wife said her husband, a security guard with the Blairmont sugar estate was an onlooker of the protest. He was scheduled to work last evening.

Other persons were visibly stunned over the morning’s episode.

“Meh heart get weak,” one woman said.

She said she saw a passerby (an old woman) being picked up by the police.

She was at the time at a friend’s home and was afraid to use the road and suffer a similar faith.

Another woman said she lives some eight streets away from the incident and left her home to board a bus to come to the city, but she was “chased” home by the police.

Other persons claimed that a lot of children were in the crowd that the police shot teargas.

Pockets of persons standing around had to retreat as Balram said he did not want them to form a group and start the protest again.

PHOTOS SAVED IN LAYOUT AS: Monday Protest 1, Monday Protest 2, Monday Protest 3, Monday Protest 5

1. INMATES of the Lusignan prison load debris unto a truck at Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara. Residents laid debris and broke bottles on the road as they protested the Saturday massacre of 11 Lusignan residents. (Quacy Sampson photos)

2. THIS tear-gas can was found in the yard of a Bath, West Coast Berbice resident who said the Police threw it indiscriminately as they tried to quell protests over the Saturday slaying of 11 Lusignan residents.

3. HEAVILY armed Police drive alongside residents of Lusignan protesting Saturday’s slaying of 11 of their fellow villagers, including five children.

4. POLICE overpower Mark Gobin into a vehicle. He was arrested while expressing the loss of his unborn child. His wife, who was pregnant lost the baby after she suffered exposure to teargas thrown at protestors of last Saturday’s slaying of 11 Lusignan residents.

LUSIGNAN TERROR
- Gun rampage leaves 11 dead
A RAMPAGE by several gunmen in the East Coast village of Lusignan, which left 11 persons dead, had security forces last evening looking for the country’s most wanted man, while at the same time battling angry residents whose protests ground the East Coast corridor to a standstill.

President Bharrat Jagdeo assembled his security chiefs hours after the “terror” killings Saturday morning and vowed that the criminals would be hunted down.

The Police have made a $30M offer for information leading to the arrest of the country’s most wanted man - Rondell ‘Fine Man’ Rawlins, while not saying directly that he was connected to the slayings.

The Joint Services are advising members of the public to be extra vigilant at this time and urged that they report any suspicious or strange activity which they may observe in their communities.

The Joint Services are also calling on all members of the society to “remain calm in the face of adversity and stability will return to the society.”

Rawlins is believed to be behind Saturday night’s attack on Police headquarters at Eve Leary, which left two junior Police officers wounded. Apart from numerous murders, he is also wanted for the assassination of Minister of Agriculture Satyadeow Sawh, who was slain with two of his siblings in April, 2006.

President Jagdeo declared at a press briefing that the criminals who stormed the Lusignan homes came from Buxton, long believed to be a safe haven for armed, dangerous criminals.

The incident is being described as the worst mass slaying in Guyana’s recent history, and as news spread, it occupied the main headlines of the world’s leading news agencies.

President Jagdeo, political leaders and religious leaders urged for calm, over fears that the killings were of the magnitude to spark ethnic tension. Last evening, religious leaders took to East Coast communities with loudspeakers appealing for restraint.

The gunmen took control of “Track A” Lusignan, some 10 miles east of the capital Georgetown, at about 2:00 h, and maintained rapid gunfire for about 20 minutes during which they stormed five homes and killed 11 persons, including five children.

Dead are: Claren Thomas, 48; Vanessa Thomas 12; Ron Thomas, 11; Mohandan Goordat, 32; Seegopaul Harilall, 10; Seegobin Harilall,4; Dhanwajie Ramsingh,52; Seecharran Rooplall, 56; Raywattie Ramsingh, 11; Shazam Mohammed, 22; Shaleem Baksh, 52.

As the families of those dead mourned, residents on the East Coast of Demerara, erupted in anger, and President Jagdeo dispatched Prime Minister Samuel Hinds and government ministers to try to ease flaring tension.

President Bharrat Jagdeo himself visited with the families of those killed, and he also visited other uneasy communities.

“I know that there is a tremendous amount of fear on the East Coast and that we need to alleviate the fear that these communities have,” President Jagdeo said as he announced that the security forces would “dominate” the East Coast.

“They need to mobilise; it may take a bit of time to do so because they have to bring people in line, the policemen, and soldiers have to be brought from other bases. I expect by the end of the day that we will see a visible presence of the security forces on the East Coast, in the communities,” President Jagdeo said.

Starting from Mon Repos, just a mile off Lusignan, residents offloaded a truckload of sand at the railway embankment, and tyres were set alight, preventing traffic from flowing either way. On the main road, residents placed pile upon pile of debris and set it alight, forcing those who desperately wanted to pass to use the rail of the bridge.

A pensioner couple, with fear in their eyes, dared to make the crossing, while a Hindu priest leading a funeral procession to perform a cremation expressed frustration at being unable to pass freely.

Thick black smoked engulfed communities further down, as similar acts of protest rippled through. Markets at Annandale and Mon Repos, which usually draw hundreds on Saturdays, were deserted.

In the afternoon, stores in Georgetown closed early as the incident spread fear across the country.

Just before sunset, Police prevented the situation from escalating to Cove and John, six miles east of Lusignan.

The Joint Services issued a statement calling for those who had no essential business to avoid the Lusignan/Annandale corridor.

The international community expressed solidarity with Guyana and said they were confident that the country would rise out of this challenge.

The United States Ambassador, and High Commissioners of the United Kingdom, Canada and the European Union said the killings were “brutal”.

The Opposition Leader, Mr. Robert Corbin, appealed for calm too and urged that the situation not descend into ethnic mayhem.

President Jagdeo said only “sick, demented cowards” could kill children and appealed for calm.

Lusignan
- overhung by a pall of grief
By Shirley Thomas
THE gruesome massacre at Lusignan, East Coast Demerara early Saturday morning, which left eleven persons dead, and three seriously wounded, has brought the already closely knit rural community even closer.

Solidarity has intensified, and there is evidence of closer bonding, as neighbours continue to demonstrate an outpouring of love and concern for each other.

When the Chronicle revisited the scene of the massacre yesterday, a pall of grief overhung the neighbourhood. The mood was sombre, and black buntings were visibly displayed on posts lining the streets where the homes of the five affected families are located.

Spanning the width of the roadways in front of the houses, huge canopies were erected, to facilitate the holding of wakes which commenced ever since Saturday night. The response was good and throughout the day, persons moved in and out, offering whatever help they could. But with each visit, there was almost a fresh flood of tears, as survivors of the tragedy relived the horrific encounter.

At each of the five homes, relatives and neighbours embraced each other, as they offered condolences and paid their respects, almost in hushed tones. The gay chatter by which the rural community is usually characterized, was noticeably absent. Persons lamented that it was the first time in the history of the community that such a thing had ever happened, and said they wished it was just a nightmare and not reality.

“How we go ever feel safe here again?” one elderly woman lamented, noting that there will always be that fear that gunmen will strike again. Some are having second thoughts about continuing to live in the neighbourhood, unless they can be assured of heightened security.

Villagers said that when the shootings started early Saturday morning, neighbours phoned a nearby police station, but they were told by those answering the police line, to call other numbers. “We never see the police ‘til about one and a half hour later,” an irate male resident said.

He is also questioning whether the police have tracker dogs, and why did they not use these to track down the killers.

Meanwhile, villagers willingly took responsibility, and each seemed to know just what his responsibility was. There was a steady flow of male heads of households and boys, bringing in food items of various kinds, while the women and young girls came together and began preparations for cooking. And as night sets in, villagers said the volume of the sympathizers would grow considerably.

At the home of the Thomas’ family who lost three family members, with two others yet hospitalized, the Chronicle caught up with businessman H. Bissoon who travelled all the way from Dundee, Mahaicony, to make his contribution to the families to help with the holding of wakes. To each of the five families, Bissoon donated five boxes of Dixee biscuits and a large bottle of instant coffee. Many others are expected to do likewise in the ensuing days.

Post mortem examinations were done on the eleven bodies yesterday, and one person killed in the massacre - Shazam Mohammed 26, is to be buried today. However, the majority of the others will be buried on Thursday. Mohamed was shot in the back, and at the side of his head. His father, Nadir Mohamed, a survivor, was shot in both legs, and is at present a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Also hospitalised at the GPH are 19-year-old Howard Thomas, shot in the right shoulder and lower right arm, and his five-year-old brother Roberto Thomas, shot in the lower abdomen. Yesterday, the patients were all responding favourably to treatment.

But even as the villagers tried to find comfort and solace in each others’ company,

there was that haunting fear of the unknown – what could happen after dark.

As was expected, the residents, coming out of such an experience, have grown even more watchful, carefully scanning strange faces with their eyes, and requesting details of strangers’ visit.

Meanwhile, one man who lost three relatives in the massacre is appealing to the other villagers to be calm. “I do not think that anybody can give us justice at this time. Only God can do this. Let us look to Him,” he implored.

Hacksaw blades used to cut handcuff off arrested man
- Police lose keys
By Faizool Deo
A BUSINESSMAN arrested amidst the Lusignan massacre protests yesterday claimed that he was abused by Police.

Dan Hookumchand said he was kicked and dragged out of his vehicle, after which he had to endure four hours in the lockup, and withstand the pain of having his handcuffs ‘cut off’ of him after the Police lost the key.

The man said his ordeal began on the Lusignan public road at around 14:00 h, when he was attempting to purchase some items from the Budget Supermarket and Pharmacy in the village.

Since Saturday, the area around the supermarket has been a hotbed for protesters venting their anger over the execution of 11 villagers by a gang of gunmen.

The 49-year-old resident of Betterhope, another East Coast village, claimed that he was about to turn his car into the parking lot of the supermarket when he saw some Police ranks in the way, he told them to “move and let me pass,” but instead he said they approached his car, pulled him out and kicked and dragged him up the road.

This accusation was supported by several other persons when they spoke to this newspaper. One man stated that Hookumchand attempted to fight back but he was overpowered by the Police.

‘Hacksaw keys’
Later in the afternoon, Hookumchand returned to the location, to pick up his car, with swollen hands.

The businessman said he was taken to the Vigilance Police Station by the police, and when the time came for him to be released, they could not find the keys to the handcuffs.

His wife was then tasked with purchasing two hacksaw blades at the request (allegedly) of the Police, to cut the handcuffs. Hookumchand stated that the experience was a “painful one” which left his hands in a “terrible state”.

At the station, he claimed some 12 persons were arrested for “presumably protesting.”

Hookumchand stated that even though he understands the protest action by the villagers, his main reason for being in the area was to purchase from the supermarket.

“If I wanted to protest I would not have brought my new car here,” the businessman contended.

Probe continues into $14M counterfeit stash without arrest
THE probe is continuing but, so far, there has been no arrest in connection with the shocking discovery, last week Thursday, of $14M in counterfeit Guyana currency notes among items in a barrel at John Fernandes wharf in Georgetown.

The container, with 13,956 notes of $1,000 and 183 notes of $500 denominations, had been lying on the pier since March 5, 2006.

It was addressed to a consignee at Supenaam, Essequibo Coast and the Police as well as Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) officers are continuing the investigations.

It has been reported that a man, whose name and national Identification (ID) number have since been given to Police, had visited the shipping agent six days after the consignment arrived and uplifted the relevant documents but never returned to uplift the cargo.

The shipment originated from London, England in 2006 and was shipped with the Harrison Line.

The (GRA), in a statement it issued after the stash was discovered, confirmed that it was found while its officers were conducting routine duties and the barrel had since been deemed ‘want of entry’, meaning it was due for inspection as its time for clearance was long overdue, under the Customs Act.

It was not the first time that counterfeit cash came into this country and was intercepted.

In 2006, an incoming passenger was arrested with US$2,000 in bogus bills and he was charged but, having been granted bail, subsequently fled the jurisdiction.

Counterfeiting carries heavy penalties including life imprisonment, while the penalty for knowingly passing on the fake to another person is 14 years imprisonment.

GAWU mourns death of Lusignan massacre victims
THE Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) said it mourns the deaths of the victims of last weekend’s Lusignan massacre.

In a statement the union said it is humbled by the loss and grief being experienced by the surviving relatives and friends of those gunned-down.

“GAWU wishes to share two views. The first view is that the massacre is a manifestation of “the lowest level of human behaviour”. Secondly, the communities must not merely mourn, they must organise,” GAWU exhorted

It added that expressions of condolence must now go hand in hand with national insistence on a complete review of the security arrangements for communities scattered throughout the country.

“GAWU appreciates all the actual efforts and assurances now in place, but like the rest of the vulnerable is convinced that much more must be done in a hurry,” the union offered.

“The current security forces have to be supplemented with specific, well-trained, even sophisticated groups of law enforcement agents.” “Intelligence-gathering must not be compromised by the deceitful and deadly rogue elements amongst the forces. GAWU recommends more well-equipped Police outposts in the heart of village communities, more vehicles for more mobile patrols, additional recruitment into the Police Force and temporary specialized assistance from overseas,” GAWU urged

It noted too that other aspects of the new security arrangements must take into account the existence of collaboration between certain despicable villagers who offer safe haven to the murderous marauders and the bandits themselves.

“All of these criminals do not inhabit the backlands. They rob, maim and kill, then filter right back into the communities with relatives and friends. Any competent security agency must be able to infiltrate this evil enterprise with all its criminal support systems,” GAWU declared.

As GAWU mourns the loss of innocent children who have no connection with the murderous killers, it also recognises the loss of the adults.

“The massacre has made its way into the international media. Guyana’s image is at stake. We are no hotbed of warfare or conflicts. Yet our image as a peaceful secure society is being compromised by a band of inter-village terrorists,” GAWU observed.

The Government and the law enforcement agencies, therefore, must move to correct this state of affairs as ultimately it can affect our economy. GAWU urges constant action with long-term objectives, GAWU opined

“The Union feels that the best tribute that can be paid to the victims is the review and implementation of improved security arrangements -- both at the community and national levels. These practical considerations we urged as we mourn the mindless barbarous slaughter of innocents,” GAWU stressed.

Help & Shelter joins in condemnation of Lusignan murders
HELP & SHELTER has joined several other organisations in condemning the Lusignan massacre emphasising that there is no justification for nay kind of murder.

Ina statement issued yesterday the organisation said: “Help & Shelter joins in the condemnation of the murders of the six children and five adults at Lusignan early on Saturday morning. There is no justification for any kind of murder and this attack is a horrific indicator of the levels to which criminals in our society seem to want to assert themselves.”

It added: “The anger and frustration resulting from this attack should not lead to any further interpersonal violence, but should instead be channelled into efforts at finding ways to ensuring that the security forces are reorganised to improve security to citizens, while bringing the perpetrators to justice.”

“We offer our condolences to the relatives and friends of the bereaved. Our counselling services are available as part of any community effort aimed at overcoming the trauma and fear which this brutal attack has caused.”

This horror cannot be justified, it must stop.
RED THREAD in a stout condemnation of the Lusignan horror has said that behind every name was a life.

“A village was left homeless on Saturday morning. Eleven children, women and men were shot in their homes. Shot in their beds. Shot while sleeping. Shot begging for mercy. Shot clutching each other. Shot trying to save loved ones. Shot trying to run from a certain death. Shot trying to hide, in houses too small and too flimsy to protect them from doors being kicked down or from bullets penetrating the walls,” Red Thread in a statement recalled.

It added: “Shot not knowing why they were randomly chosen to die. Shot not knowing that to the gunmen it did not matter who would be murdered, only that Lusignan would be turned into a sea of blood that night.”

“But they do matter. They matter to us.”

Clarence Thomas, Vanessa Thomas, Ron Thomas, Mohandai Gourdat, Seegobind Harrilall, Seegopaul Harrilall, Shazam Mohamed, Shaleem Baksh, Seecharran Rooplall, Dhanrajie Ramsingh, Raywattie Ramsingh.

“Behind every name was a life. Behind every name is a story. Behind every name is a family, friends, a community left to grieve. Multiply them again and again, because behind every name is a part of all of us, all Guyanese that died on Saturday morning,” Red Thread observed.

It stressed: “This horror cannot be justified. It cannot go on. It must stop.”

“We have heard through the media, and from word on the street that what happened in Lusignan was revenge exacted for the disappearance of Tenisha Morgan, a 19 year old expectant mother from Buxton, a community that has seen its share of grief and loss, where just recently another mother, Donna Herod, was cut down in front of her young children, whom she had gone to collect from school,” Red Thread recalled.

The organisation contended that in this war, lines are drawn in the sand.

“What we see here, so clearly this time, is how those most vulnerable are caught in the middle. In the name of an abducted woman and the children she is carrying, other women and children are mercilessly cut down. Always, it is women and children who become the grounds upon which these wars are carried out. In their name, in the name of protecting communities, protecting the defenceless, this violence is repeated, and continues, and increases in atrocity. Meanwhile, the body count grows longer,” Red Thread noted.