Jagdeo says police have different ballistics info
President Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday said that an independent forensic pathologist will arrive here soon to conduct an investigation into the slaughter of eight miners at a remote diamond mining camp in the country’s hinterland.
Jagdeo also said that the police have contradicted a story carried in yesterday’s Stabroek News where it was stated that the spent shells found at the Lindo Creek mining camp did not match any retrieved at the scenes of crimes thought to have been committed by Rondell Rawlins and his gang. Stabroek News was told on Tuesday that analysis conducted earlier in the day showed no match of the shells. However, it was stated yesterday that a further check late Tuesday showed that some of the shells matched those used at the slaughter in Bartica. Stabroek News had given the force an opportunity on Tuesday to respond to reports that there had been no match but the force declined. Reports that there was no ballistics match were carried by several media houses yesterday. Official police ballistics reports have been greeted with increasing public skepticism in recent months.
Jagdeo told a press conference yesterday at the Office of the President that after reading the story in yesterday’s Stabroek News he enquired from Police Commissioner Henry Greene about the ballistics findings and was told that it was at complete variance to what was reported in the press. Jagdeo however did not want to disclose what the findings are and he said it was not clear whether the police are willing to release the results at this stage. Police have frequently issued ballistics information immediately after the commission of major crimes.
Meanwhile, calling for an end to speculation, Jagdeo announced that the administration had requested from the United States through its embassy here assistance in the area of forensic pathology to examine the remains to determine the manner of their deaths and also how long they might have been killed. Government pathologist, Nehaul Singh had visited Lindo Creek on Sunday along with a team of police investigators during which time, a number of 7.62 spent shells were found along with documents. (See other story on page 8.)
Leonard Arokium, the owner of the dredge and camp at Lindo Creek has repeatedly accused the military of carrying out the killings of the eight men. The joint services have since denied the claims, saying that the allegations were unthinkable and unimaginable. “These people were brutally murdered and the entire country should be outraged,” the president said. He added that his administration plans to fully investigate the incident, while assuring that the findings would be made public. “I am urging all of us not to speculate…we have a syndrome in Guyana that as soon as something happens everyone seems to know,” the head of state remarked, asserting that citizens should allow the independent inquiry to go on. Arokium had said that on Saturday night he was visited by several senior government officials who were adamant that the attack had been mounted by Fineman’s gang.
On the issue of a commission of inquiry (CI), one of many recommendations made by the Alliance For Change to investigate the matter, Jagdeo said he has seen a letter written by the party’s leader, Raphael Trotman on the matter and the two of them have since had a talk. He said while he had not decided whether they would go the route of a CI, if one is to be done it would have to include the other recent massacres to determine whether there was any political involvement. “I have not decided whether a Commission of Inquiry is the best vehicle, but we think that external expertise at this time is the best route to go,” Jagdeo asserted.
In a letter to Jagdeo which was released to the media on Monday Trotman called for the administration to immediately appoint an independent commission of inquiry with an overseas forensic pathologist to probe the slaying of the eight miners. In the letter the AFC leader said from the details, anecdotal information received from persons resident in the Berbice River area where the miners were killed and elsewhere, many questions have been raised as to the identity of those responsible for this atrocity. “Such an accusation is most unwarranted at this time, and if not addressed at the highest level, could have dire consequences and implications for the rule of law…” the AFC said in its letter to the head of state.
The party noted that coming in the aftermath of the most recent massacres at Lusignan and Bartica, coupled with the need to validate and give due recognition to the role and dedication of the joint services and more particularly, the Guyana Defence Force during these testing times, a CI was necessary. The AFC further implored the president to take the request seriously, and in so doing consult the parliamentary opposition parties on his decision to identify and name commissioners to the commission. Asked about the findings of the police investigations so far, Jagdeo said from the internal analyses being done the results differ from public speculation. “I have seen the internal analyses which suggest a theory (of) what took place,” Jagdeo noted. The security forces had been severely criticized for their initial bungling of the Christmas Falls operation where they encountered a group of gunmen. One high-ranking military official had told this newspaper that the army was not involved in the June 6, operation at Christmas Falls.
Asked about this yesterday, Jagdeo said while a joint services team had been set up to specifically hunt down Rawlins and his gang there still exist different operational groups within the security forces which would undertake independent operations. The military official said it was inconceivable that a major operation in dense jungle was launched and the country’s premier law enforcement arm was not involved.
Jagdeo also mentioned that following the escape of the gunmen from Christmas Falls, the Guyana Forestry Commission had issued an advisory for all miners and loggers to clear the area. “We have to ask the question whether this group of eight miners was not told and why or whether they were told and why they did not leave,” the president said.
Tortured
Senior joint services officials have admitted that there were a number of outstanding questions to be answered. Stabroek News had been told that lawmen who visited the Lindo Creek camp site found evidence of some of the miners being tortured. This newspaper has been informed that one of the skulls found at the location had an impression suggesting that the person was beaten in the head. According to information reaching Stabroek News, on arrival at the camp all the lawmen found were burnt bones. Reports are that the camp site has been sealed off to facilitate the work of the US forensic expert.
Firstly, I must congratulate the President for heeding the call for international assistance by inviting a forensic pathologist from the US to investigate this massacre. I must also commend him in liasoning with the AFC leadership in making this decision. This goes to show the Guyanese diaspora that the President is willing to cooperate with the opposition parties on matters of importance positive to our country’s development, quiet unlike what some people claimed to the contrary in the recent past.
I know now that we will get as close to an accurate account as to how what happened at the camp, and mostly the TIME it happened.
I would also hope that this act of political cooperation continues between other political parties and the government to positively find solutions to our nations problems for a common goal in making our country prosperous and a better place to live. The message could serve to transend to us bloggers that (beginning with you) positive things are being done and we too can stop critising everything that goes on and begin to submit positive posts offering suggestions on how to better a situation instead of saying things that makes Guyana appear to be the incurable soar on Mother Earth.
I know we have a far way to go, resistance to your efforts is enormous, but this is a good start, let’s get the job done. Once again, congrats Mr. President.
Mackydog,
YOU HAVE CONFIRMED MY EVERY THOUGHT..YOU ARE IN DENIAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Macky Nice speak…..thats one for the books. You know how to play the game. I too am willing to sit back and see what he do with this opportunity.
WHAT is the point that Stabroek News is trying to show when they put a picture of President Jagdeo and a Picture of Roger Khan at the same place.
GET IT?
Stabroek News is not reporting the news. They are creating the news.
And the plot thickens…
Now, its good to have an independent forensic pathologist and all, but someone is going to have to take their report and follow up the investigation… will that person be independent? Well, Probably independent enough… but they also need to be adequately trained and have the available resources to properly complete this investigation… or they may never solve this crime :-(
So far I have not heard anything about the woman and man who called Mr. Arokium to informed him about the murders of his employees. Are the police investigating this lead???? SN can you give us an update on this matter?? One would think an investigation would be ongoing into this matter.
Macky… I second you here, Stabroek New did an excellent job. Further, why is it that we have to hear about the shells presumably bear resemblance to fineman guns from the President. This is not the President job. The mere fact that this is coming from his mouth makes you wonder what in heavens is going on. The people to make this determination are the ballistic experts.
What we should have had is a press conference with the Commissioner, Crime Chief, Lead investigator and the Ballistic expert, answering the many questions. Not the President who have no expertise on Policing providing this information.
Take this from me…..unless this comes from any of the persons in position stated above I am not believing one word.
It is time this president stop this thing. First it was his Prime Minister and Home Affairs Minister, trying to coercer Mr Arokium into believing that it was Fineman and his gang who committed this crime – even before an investigation started and now it is the President. I bet ya’ll that a member from the Ruling party is going to come out an undeniably claim it was fineman. The PR Machine is now in full swing. I now gone feel sorry fuh dem police.
This special squad that we are now hearing about (which seems to be operating like the Phantom – remember who first coin that word at a press conference) should be polygraph. I can see the Govt. trying to make this squad legit like the Sanata Deal. Watch and see,
Stabroek News please ensure that we know for sure that the members of this special squad are all active Police Office with no break in service, and should have a reasonable amount of years of experience, on the job. I don’t think it is wise to put an office with 6 months or a year experience on a mission like this. Also we want to know when they join the service, when was this assignment given to them, did they breach their mandate.
Lets get to work
I agree with you Pepie. The president needs to let the experts do there job instead of doing it for them. I am beginning to question his leadership skills.
pepie,
It’s so funny, I’m not surprised that the President is the one that has to come out and speak, it’s funny because EVERYBODY else (other than me) has blamed the government for EVERYTHING from the President creating crime, the President let out Shawn Brown in ‘02, the govt responsible for the massacre in Bartica, the govt did it in Lusignan, the President cause accident on the highway with mini bus and cow, the govt cause this the President cause that, the govt cause dogs to bite up fruit thief, what the President doing about this and about that,on and on, and the President not doing anything about it, why the President have nothing to say about the garbage in the city etc.
I at one time got so fed up of reading about what the President was not doing that I posted asking why must the President be the one to have to explain everything, the President is a manager of our country, he has to manage WITH cooperation of the staff he has, we should not expect to see the President, Rohee and Luncheon literally pick up guns, get in a police squad car and go to Buxton looking for criminals, but that’s exactly what some people was asking of them.
pepie, (this is meant generally, nothing personal with you) y’all asked for the President to do it, say this and that, be here, there and everywhere, be like pot- salt in everything now he did y’all don’t want him to and is questioning his duties of what he should and should not do.
Confucious said “Be careful what you ask for cause you just might get it all…and then some”
Y’all asked for it, now y’all get it…deal with it.
taken from today’s kaiteur news…………….”AK-47 rifle, ammo found near Unamco Road
A Joint Services team has found an AK-47 assault rifle and some 400 matching rounds buried near the Unamco Road.
Police officials said that the team, acting on information, located the weapon and ammunition at around 15:00 hrs yesterday.
One police source said that the weapon was discovered during a routine search. Another said that a prisoner provided the information.”
Is this the weapon that has miraculously turned up? Did fineman bury it and made good his escape? or is it the army weapon that was actually used to kill those innocent miners?
Hmm… both police statements are different. Who and where did the police received the information they were acting on???
if this report is true, I did remember saying in a previous post that Fineman may have stashed weapons aroung his camp just in case he had to run. I did say too that the miners may have been keeping stuff for Fineman and eventually covetted it after cochoring on him. Out of my 2 suspicions, I got 1 correct so far, let’s see if I’ll get the other 1 later. I have no doubt I will.
GUYS GUYS GUYS,
WE ARE MISSING SOMETHING HERE, UNTIL WE HAVE INVESTIGATIVE REPORTERS AND A PRESSURE GROUP IN GUYANA THE GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE TO GET AWAY WITH THIS TYPE OF THINGS.
WHEN THE GOVERNMENT WERE ALLOWING PEOPLE TO OPEN TV STATIONS, A FRIEND OF MINE TRIED TO OPEN A STATION THEY PLACED HIM BEFORE THE COURT ON A FALSE CHARGE AND RAN HIM OUT OF THE COUNTRY.
MY FRIEND HAS A PH,D IN JOURNALISM AND WAS ASKING TO BRING IN HIDDEN CAMERAS TO DO INVESTIGATIVE WORK TO EXPOSE FRAUDS, THEY RAN HIM OUT.
GUYANA HAS NEVER HAD A LIGIT GOVERNMENT SINCE THE BEGINNING OF TIME, I SAY THROW THEM OUT. WILL THE REAL PRESIDENT PLEASE STAND UP!!!!!!!!!
I need to re-enforce my statement about the Guyana police Force and what they need.
Firstly, and this is very important. The idea of a US pathologist helping the GPF sounds promising. However, my question is, what sort of lab equipment and technology does the GPF has that would help the pathologist with his investigation?
Secondly, the Army, Police and Joint services should all be investigated to make sure that they were not indeed involve in this carnage. Having said that, what all these forces need is to be properly trained.
… How to use a gun efficiently and effectively.
… Train dogs and officers to track down criminals.
… Train officers how to be Forensic Scientists.
… Train officers how to detect and apprehend a would be criminal.
… Train officers survival skills.
… Officers should be trained how to use computers, modern technology and
how to operate certain technical equipment.
… Etc., etc., etc., You get the picture.
Thirdly, all forces in Guyana need better technology and equipment. There is a need for better prisons. The court houses need to be made more secure and the legal system needs to be reformed.
Ladies and Gentlemen, something is terribly wrong if we cannot rely on our law forces to protect us. If a law person commits a crime that person to be charged, sent to prison for a very long time and on top of that he or she should be removed from that position with all possibilities of never being a law person again.
We need our officers to protect and serve our country but they should be equipped to do so. We also need our officers to know that given this power is not to abuse it but to use it with respect. All officers should follow and obey the law as well, and know if they break the law themselves then they should face the consequences.
Guyana is a Co-operative Republic and we should all be cooperative. We should all work hand in hand to not only protect our own interests but the country’s interest as well.
Well by now,I am used to anything when it comes to Guyana,so nothing surprises me. The Joint Forces might say they ran tests and the results are that it is indeed the weapon used to kill the miners or they might say it does not match,then couple weeks or days from now we will hear that weapon was used for some other killing.
Guyana- Land of many mysteries and surprises oh,did I forget to mention mass murders………
Bharrat Jagdeo and his retinue of sycophants and jesters are so discredited that their comments/views are solicited more for their laugh value and to confirm their lack of truthfulness than for any expectation that the truth will ever come from them.