Dear Editor,
I am employed with a senior official of the judiciary. As an individual of reputable character I am wondering if it’s fair to place me in the Golden Grove lock-ups for alleged loitering and disorderly behaviour.
At approximately 8.30pm on Friday, October 24, I was sitting on the rail of the bridge at Diamond New Scheme head awaiting the arrival of a taxi; the rails are usually occupied by persons there so I never knew it was unlawful to do this.
A police patrol pickup drove by and told a friend of mine and me to remove from the rail, with which we complied. The patrol vehicle then stopped and an officer exited the front seat. I used an indecent word saying, “What the f… they have to stop for and we are already off the rail?” By then about four ranks disembarked from the back of the pickup and ordered me in; I did so without any hesitation after being surrounded by heavily armed policemen. While being escorted to the Golden Grove Police Station, myself and the ranks had an exchange of words and I was asked by a CID Constable [name supplied] “If I f… ing shoot you now wah gon happen?” I replied, “I am being held for indecent language so therefore the police have a right to do and say as they please to civilians but if I am being held for an offence the example should be set by the authority and not committed.”
At the station I was not permitted to give a statement but was stripped and placed in the lockups immediately by the constable.
My question to the authority is this: is it fair for members of the Guyana Police Force to verbally or physically abuse civilians and when same is done in response you are victimised or dealt with contrary to the law by some of these policemen who tend to abuse their privileges.
Yours faithfully,
Romel Persaud
Editor’s note
We are sending a copy of this letter to Commissioner of Police (ag) Henry Greene for any comments he may wish to make.
