Welcome to our Week-in-Review for Sunday 19, 2002
SUNDAY
** COUPLE KILLED IN ROBBERY ATTACK - A BUSSINESSMAN, Ramdeo Persaud, 43, and his wife, Mahadai Magoo, 32, were shot dead last night at around 19:30 hrs when six heavily armed bandits stormed their home in Peter Street, Annandale, East Coast Demerara.

The gang burst into the business place demanding cash and jewellery and then shot the couple dead, reports said.

** NO JUSTIFICATION FOR CRIMINAL VIOLENCE IN DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY - US AMBASSADOR STRESSES - UNITED States Ambassador, Mr. Ronald Godard, yesterday said one reason why Guyanese are so frightened by the current crime wave in the country is that the problem is being debated in a particularly acrimonious political environment.

He said that in this environment, criminal violence, normally roundly condemned by all sectors of society, has been treated almost like “a legitimate subject for debate”.

** PRESIDENT WARNS OF LIKELY CONSEQUENCES IF SITUATION CONTINUES - PRESIDENT Bharrat Jagdeo has warned of the likely consequences if the current situation in the country is not arrested.

He last week said many of the things happening in Guyana today could lead to a gradual slide into chaos if some trends are not arrested. He said the country must never allow enclaves for criminals, noting that in Jamaica, police and soldiers cannot go into some communities controlled by guns.

TUESDAY
** CANADA JOINS U.S. IN DEPLORING CRIMINAL VIOLENCE HERE - CANADIAN High Commissioner, Mr. Serge Marcoux has joined his American counterpart here, US Ambassador, Mr. Ronald Godard, in deploring criminal violence in a democratic society such as Guyana.

“I fully subscribe to what my colleague the Ambassador of the United States said last Saturday: `There is no justification for criminal violence in a democratic society; just as there is no justification for political violence in a democracy’,” Marcoux said yesterday.

** PRESIDENT REFUTES CLAIMS THAT POLICE CANNOT ARREST CRIMINALS - PRESIDENT Bharrat Jagdeo has refuted claims that the Police Force is incapable of arresting criminals and those abetting them in executing criminal activities and hiding from the Force.

The Government Information Agency (GINA) said that in an interview with Prime News Editor-in-Chief, Mr. Adam Harris, Mr. Jagdeo said that the Police have been active in exploring links leading to criminals and where possible, arresting criminals.

 

Overseas Guyanese fed up with PNC/R
The black clothes police is a huge problem for the PNC/R.
A very good solution is to give Hoyte and the PNC a complete make-up to look like east Indians, then send them to patrol the PNC/R strong- hold.

The majority of overseas Guyanese are fed up with the negative action of the PNC/R. Under the present situation Guyana will soon be like the Middle East.

Another area of concern: only one police was questioned for his phone call. How can the police surround the gunslingers and let them escape?

These bandits know when and where to operate.
overseas Guyanese (ex-prison officer)

Mixed reaction
The letter you published in your edition from me to Andrew Douglas
has generated mixed reaction among people who know me and have contacted me on the issue.

On the one hand there are those who feel that I have glorified Mr. Douglas and made a proposal that if pursued, would provide him and his group certain comforts they don't deserve. I referred my friends to the recent Church of the Nativity stand-off in Bethlehem which was brought to closure through the intervention of mediators who arranged for 13 suspected "terrorists" to be handed over to authorities in certain European countries.

If this can be done in the interest of peace in the Middle East why can't it be done as part of an effort to bring some stability and public safety back to Guyanese society? How do we expect Mr. Douglas and his group to surrender to local police, a section of which has been associated with a number of extra-judicial killings of persons not found guilty of any crimes?

My proposal is aimed at providing some relief to the Guyanese society while at the same time seeking to guarantee the protection of Douglas and his group against human rights and other possible abuses, as well as a fair trial for any alleged crimes, to which they are entitled.

Then, on the other hand, there are those who say I don't understand what's happening in Guyana and I betrayed the 'cause' by suggesting surrender. Well, although I don't reside permanently in Guyana I think I'm there often enough to understand and appreciate what's happening and to offer suggestions that might lead to a negotiated solution of a national crisis.

As for betraying the 'cause' , all Guyanese ought to recognise that no
'cause', no matter how legitimate, can be successfully fought through the killing of innocent persons. Those days are over. Mr. Douglas, as does Mr. Merai need to understand this clearly.

And as for the one person who suggested that Mr. Douglas and his group might target me, I say that's giving me and my simple proposal more weight than we deserve. While Mr. Douglas and his group might not agree with my letter, I doubt whether they would target me for offering them some sound advice.
Wesley Kirton

The criminals must go!
Who must go? The criminals must go! Who must go? The criminals must go!!

Do you know why the PNC and the criminals want to end the lives of the black clothes police? Simply because these are the only kind of police who are serious about law and order. I don't care what negative comments are made about them.

All of a sudden the black clothes are being accused of extra judicial killings, but what about the killings committed by the criminals? Don't we have the right to protest in the streets too? If we could have at least thirty more men to join the black clothes, brothers and sisters I say "AMEN". This is all we need_ more commandos, lots more! I hope the government can grant us this wish. It's not a heavy task. The least we need is thirty more men, all trained overseas.

I think if this could happen, then and only then, Mr. Leon Fraser will rest in peace.
Mickey

Twisting information for selfish gains
The People’s National Congress/Reform (PNC/R) and their members are acting like a bunch of petty children. I say this because every positive developmental action taken by this government, obtains a reaction by the PNC/R in the form of an inconsequential opposed judgement.

They are now on the issue of the appointment of the Commissioner of Police arguing for the Commissioner designate to be appointed to the position immediately.

But the Government has already time and time again answered this question through various sources. The situation is simple and was clearly explained, the man has to undergo further training, which will equip him in the long run of functioning within that position effectively and efficiently. Surely, this is beneficial to this country.

But the PNN/R’s mouthpiece being their usual obnoxious self insist on lamenting over the issue although it has been explained to them and the general population.

As a result, I can only arrive at one conclusion, that is, they are bent on twisting information for their own selfish gains regardless of the harmful effects to society.

On the other hand, I guest they are just trying to function as an opposition party as they should. But they really should try to do so in the right way and place, example, parliament.
ANNE POOLE
Welcome to our News for Saturday 18, 2002
No political directive to Police
-- President assures
`It has nothing to do with race or politics; it has to do with criminality' - President Bharrat Jagdeo
THE Guyana Police Force enforces discipline, and in doing do, it is not directed by the Government or a political party, President Bharrat Jagdeo has stressed.

The reiteration came in the wake of accusations against the governing People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) about its alleged influence on the Police Force to suit the needs of the Government, which may not necessarily coincide with the interest of all Guyanese.

The Government Information Agency (GINA) said the President made the point during an interview Sunday with Mr. Adam Harris, Editor-in-Chief of the `Prime News' TV programme, at State House, Georgetown.

According to the agency, the accusations have recently been made by some sections of society, including the main Opposition People's National Congress Reform (PNC/R).

The critics have implied that on the instructions of the Government, the Police Force attack and arrest Afro-Guyanese, especially young males, and either brutalise or kill them, GINA noted.

"It has nothing to do with race or politics; it has to do with criminality," Mr. Jagdeo said.

The President noted that the Special Target Squad or Anti-Crime Squad, commonly called the 'Black Clothes Police', was formed when the PNC/R was in government, and the members who are in the squad were not appointed by the PPP/C administration, but by the PNC/R.

He pointed to the Guyana Human Rights Association report which revealed that between 1980 and 1992, more people were killed than under the current administration's reign, saying, "and most of them killed prior to 1992 were young male Afro-Guyanese".

"Are they saying that there was a conspiracy when the PNC/R was in office in those years to kill young male Afro-Guyanese? They have not answered this question. Remember that it was Desmond Hoyte (PNC/R leader) who brought back hanging because there were a series of crimes and people were fearful.

"I do not disagree with the hanging, but there is no conspiracy. The Police go after criminals; there is no political directive," President Jagdeo declared.

He said, too, that the Government has been criticised for the escape of the five criminals from the Georgetown Prisons on February 23 and their still being at large in the sense that the issue has been politicised.

However, he pointed out that the grievances aired by one of the escapees, Andrew Douglas, on a tape shown by two television stations, indicated that he was imprisoned for too long and implied that there was a conspiracy between the Government and the judiciary against Afro-Guyanese within the prison system to keep them there.

"The airing of a tape of a man dressed in camouflage clothes speaks about fighting for the black brothers in the prison. And what bothers me is that a lot of these things are taking a racial tinge deliberately by a few people. It has nothing to do with race and politics," he asserted.

"He (Douglas) escaped, killed a prison officer, and then said he is fighting on behalf of his black brothers. Anyone who is thinking would know that we do not have only Afro-Guyanese in prison.

"So is it that Indo-Guyanese get their cases heard and Afro-Guyanese do not? Or is it a systemic problem that affects everyone?"

He said it is a systemic problem with the pace at which the judiciary operates.

"If they say that Government directs the judiciary, because that is what he is implying, not to hear cases of Afro-Guyanese, then they should ask the Chancellor of the Judiciary," Mr. Jagdeo urged.

According to the President, he has repeatedly criticised the slow pace of the judiciary.

"Some judges have about fifty decisions they have not written up; that's wrong. We are hoping to change that, but there is no conspiracy here," he assured.


Benschop accused of abusing Policemen
THREE members of the Police Force, including a senior officer, were abused on Tuesday by Mark Benschop, Archie Poole, the mother of Antoine Houston (deceased), and another female, while attending the Georgetown Magistrates Court, the Police have reported.

The ranks were going to court to attend the coroner's inquest into the deaths of the three bandits killed on Mandela Avenue last year.

The Police Public Relations Department said that prior to entering the court, the ranks were confronted by the gang, led by Benschop, who proceeded to video tape them, while his accomplices hurled expletives and shouted words including "murderers" and "killers" at the Policemen.

The Police said the ranks paid no heed and proceeded into the court, but Benschop followed and continued video taping them.

However, when the Magistrate appeared in court, Benschop fled down stairs, into the courtyard, the Police reported.

The inquest was postponed to May 29, 2002, and as the officers were at the base of the steps exiting the courtyard, Benschop and his accomplices again approached them, shouting expletives, calling them terrorists and killers, the Police press release said.

The Policemen again disregarded Benschop and his accomplices, joined a Police vehicle and left the courtyard, the release said.

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