– had been hiding in Timehri community for weeks
The notorious Rondell ‘Fineman’ Rawlins and Jermaine ‘Skinny’ Charles might have suspected that their accomplice Seon Grant had informed the joint services about their movements and killed him hours before they were cut down in their last standoff with the lawmen, sources told this newspaper.
Residents in the Timehri Squatting Area also recollected yesterday that they had been seeing Rawlins and Charles in the area for about two weeks, but that the men kept a low profile. Residents told this newspaper that they saw the men intermittently but that newspaper photographs and descriptions, particularly of Rawlins, were not helpful since his physical appearance was different and his facial features more mature.
Charles, they said, was somehow hard to recognise even though he looked the same as in published photographs.
One resident remembered encountering the two men not far from his home one morning more than a week ago. He said he was on his way to work when the two men, who were drinking bottles of Guinness at a street corner, stopped him. They seemed rather friendly. He said one of them who he now knows was Rawlins, was wearing a hat which hid part of his face. Rawlins, he said, offered him a Guinness. “I tell he no because I was going to work and I can’t go to work high. Then they ask me if I was a police and I said no and I told them where I work,” the man said.
He said he never saw the men again and had no idea where they were from, but figured that they were new to the community. However, he recalled that some time before then, his wife had told him that two strange men had thrown compliments at her and persons on the road at the time had teased her about knowing the men.
The man said even though there were many rumours that the wanted men had been somewhere in the Timehri area for some time now, everyone ignored the talk. “After I hear the rumour, I didn’t really take it for anything because I know we are so close to the police station plus an army base and I didn’t think that criminals would want to hide here,” he said.
Seon Grant aka
‘Short man’
According to him, Grant who was known in the community as ‘Short man’ had lived there for some time at a resident’s home. However, he subsequently left and had not been seen for a while, returning recently with his pregnant girlfriend in tow.
He said he had heard that Grant had moved out from his friend’s place and had been heard talking of building his own place. The resident said that the shack, which Grant later shared with Rawlins and Charles, was recently built.
The man said that an Amerindian family used to reside close to Grant’s shack, but was forced to vacate the area after family members began having problems with Grant, who had attacked one of them.
Grant, he said, had always had a cutlass in his hand, but apart from the attack on the Amerindian person, never interfered with anyone.
The man said no one knew Grant’s girlfriend. The residents called her ‘Short man girl.’ However, he said he had heard talk around the community that several persons had accused her of stealing clothing from the clothes lines in their yards.
He told this newspaper that Grant’s girlfriend somehow managed to escape the ordeal unhurt and seemingly unhindered by her condition. According to him, she had arrived at a neighbour’s house at the front of the community, moments after the shooting and had asked for some clothing and money to travel to the city, and that was the last the residents had seen of her. That neighbour was reportedly arrested and questioned by police.
The man went on to tell Stabroek News that other residents were surprised that she had managed to get to the front of the community so quickly after the shooting.
The resident said he was told that Grant had fallen asleep at a friend’s house where he would often go to watch television and had been making his way home when he was shot.
According to him, it would appear that the man was shot outside his home as his girlfriend had told the neighbour that she had heard footsteps in the yard but got no response when she called out.
He said no one suspected that Grant was harbouring anyone at his home since he always purchased small quantities of commodities.
Another Timehri resident, recounting the events of Thursday morning, told Stabroek News that around 5 am, he was awakened by gunshots but paid no heed as it sounded as though they were coming from the military base located some distance away, where, as part of practice sessions, gunshots were occasionally heard. He said some time elapsed and he realized that further shots sounded as though they were closer to his home. He looked out and he saw “soldier vehicles speeding down to the back.”
Shortly after that, the resident said, the soldiers brought out a body that he later learnt was Grant’s. The resident said he heard no more shots after that.
Another man, who said he knew Grant as someone who planted greens in the farmlands aback of the community, told Stabroek News that he had heard the gunfire on the morning of the incident but had no idea where it was coming from. He was however quick to point out that he hardly ventured into that area because of the distance from his home and the rough, bushy terrain he would have to negotiate.
The man said that he did not know the exact location of the shack that Grant shared with his girlfriend. According to him, several persons plant in the farmlands.
Well informed
A source told Stabroek News that Grant had been a source of information for the lawmen. When the joint services made public the slaying of the two men, they said their move had been based on a tip-off. They did not say how soon they acted on the information they received.
A reliable source told Stabroek News that Grant, Rawlins and Charles had been friends for a long time in their home village of Agricola. They had spent much time together before the joint services began to up the tempo in their quest for the men. Then there had been a falling out between Grant and Rawlins after Rawlins became suspicious that Grant had ‘snitched’ on him, the source said.
However, following Rawlins’s successful escape from the lawmen at Christmas Falls and his subsequent linking up with Charles about a month ago, contact had been made with Grant through an emissary and he subsequently agreed to house the men.
The source, who spoke on the basis of anonymity, said though there were no recent police or imprisonment records for Grant, he was a “known character” and was also known to have been in frequent company with members of the notorious Buxton/Agricola gang.
Another source said that on the morning of the shooting Rawlins and Charles might have thought that Grant was acting suspiciously and they were the ones responsible for killing him.
The source said that there was an initial burst of gunfire, and it was some time after that the army arrived and approached Grant’s shack with robust gunfire. The assumption was, therefore, that Grant was killed in the first burst of fire and his body was lying outside when the army came, while Rawlins and Charles had already left the Timehri Squatting area.
Taking approximately two hours to reach Kuru Kururu on the Linden-Soesdyke Highway, the men tried to seek safe haven in the sandpit area, which they accessed after crossing the highway.
They fled about a mile into the community, and took refuge in a half-finished structure, where they were cornered by the joint services. Stabroek News understands that after cordoning off the building, there was an exchange of gunfire, but Rawlins and Charles were outnumbered and shot dead. This was more than five hours after Grant had been killed.
Moments after the killings, residents in Kuru Kururu who live some way away from the scene were open in their recollections of what they heard and saw that morning, but were unable to give detailed accounts because they were too far away. Persons living closer to the sand pit area where the men met their demise were tight-lipped on the incident.
The squatting area, which is still under development with many unfinished homes, was quiet when this newspaper visited. Residents would only point to the area where the structure in which Rawlins and Charles met their end was located some distance away, bordered by swamp and thick bushes. They said one could access the Kuru Kururu area from where the Timehri shack is in about two hours by using trails, notwithstanding the thick jungle and swampy land around.
At a press conference called hours after the dramatic events, Acting Police Commissioner Henry Greene said that acting upon information received at about 5.45 am, two teams from the Joint Services Operation Group and the Guyana Defence Force Special Force along with members of the Special Forces proceeded to an area in Timehri about 500 metres east of the GDF ammunition dump. There, they came under fire from shooters in an identifiable house.
According to Greene, in that first confrontation, GDF Corporal Cush was shot in his right hand. He said ranks returned fire and saw three men running from the house. When they descended on the scene they found the body of a man who was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The man was identified as Grant. Ranks then continued their search for the other men.
The two men ended up in Kuru Kururu at a place villagers call Kakabura and at about 12.45 pm, police said the team came under fire from a small unfinished concrete structure. There was an exchange of gunfire and two men, later identified as Rawlins and Charles were killed.
So now we are getting bits and drabs.
Forget the kudos folks.
What do you expect all the information will be forthcoming immediately after the incident. An investigation has to be done and then information will be disseminated to the public. Information also has to be censored before it is released. Think and blog sensibly in future.
Again superb job by the force now the freedom fighters are gone. Now the next big thing for all you PNC bloggers to do is start with the GOG ludicrous drugs claims or find something anti GOG to say even though it is baseless
There you go again.
Carl Vee Cock,
I totally agree with RS.
ChocolateCCM, I will boldly say “YES” , RS is trying to say something about the PNCR, if he/she isn’t then I AM and what I/We am saying is that the PNCR bloggers are the ones who has nothing good to say about the obvious developments that has taken place in Guyana since they (PNC) had been kicked out from ruling the country – because they can’t see further than their damn noses. Why did the PNC change their name AFTER they were kicked out to People National Congress REFORM (PNCR)? It’s because they knew that they messed up royally and it was time to REFORM…to make amends which they don’t have the cojones nor guts to do (and will never be able to either).
The only thing that is left now for the PNC bloggers to do is pick up on a story that they feel they can run with – drugs.
Personally, to me (on an optimistic side) the drug situation in Guyana, for as long as it lasted was something good that happened to Guyana. Yes a few people died innocently because of the rules of the game, but most of them that died (as they say by Roger Khan) were thieves and known bandits who were career criminals that were revolving in and out of jail robbing people left, right and center.
Another good thing that drugs did for Guyana was the ability for the facade of Georgetown (just to mention 1 place) to be improved. During the ERROR of the PNC, every building in the City was unkept, rotten and unpainted, a scorn of a City. GT looked like a dump because no one can afford paint or anything to upkeep their property, be it a house or a business, I can go on and on… YES, the PNC has nothing to be proud of when it comes to Guyana, so ChocolateCCM, RS does have something to say about the PNC, so do I and I’m saying it. Stop guessing now.
Lots of mourners in here.
Your reply to a comment regarding peoples knowledge of events in Guyana while being domiciled in France, for instance, did not surprise me. I guess you do not know that your blog is posted on a communication device called the Internet. No horse and buggy,camel or pony express here…LOL And even with that mode of communication citizens were well informed of events outside of their immediate community. Blog on Citizen Cain..lol
Oh please, the men r both dead and we dont care who we get the story. When they GPF ddnt get them u talk now they find kill them is another thing. You live by the guns u will dei by the guns.
AMEN
the guns started during burhnam pnc days and at some point some one will have to stop it, guyana have so many land , the world is shorting of food, why not go to the land and work, the goverment are gaving land to people from other part of the world, get some, no wanted to rob and steel easy mony fast dead. do u love yourself and family, so why rob and kill.
Who cares about all of this? The point is, these men are dead! GREAT JOB to the forces!
Your turn of defending yourself is still ahead.
You lament like a heartless one. Wait until someone for you is wrong, and silent [put to death], then let me hear you say, “WHO CARES ABOUT ALL OF THIS? THE POINT IS, THESE MEN ARE DEAD!”
Every cow does cry for their own calf.
There will ——and always ——be bits and pieces ——of wrong information, but the truth is now well known. No source of news is always,
ONE HUNDRED PERCENT ——-E X A C T——–
JOINT SERVICES !!!!!!!!!!! Job Well Done !!!!!!!!! BRAVO.
(P.S). I SUGGEST THAT THE REWARD SHOULD BE GIVEN TO ALL THAT RISK THEIR LIVES TO TERMINATE THOSE PSYCOPATS.
I think the reward money should be shared not only among the joint forces men, but also among the relatives of the many innocent victims of these men.
the problems that facing young men in guyana is the lack of jobs nothing to
do no role model to look up to other than the cartels, single mothers that
have to work for a measley salary that can hardly feed their children, fathers
walking away from their responsibilities young girls begging for money on
the streets of guyana, the govt. of guyana needs to be proactive and create
some kind of programs for the youths of guyana ,what will happen to the
next generation ?? give them HOPE mr. president
yes the govt should do more to help youths and single mothers and go after child fathers
He doesn’t know what HOPE is.
ALL THEY WANT TO DO IS HAVE POWER and more POWER!! Even if it means to wipe anyone out!!
They kill, and he was talking about “ONLY AN ANIMAL COULD HAVE KILLED THOSE INNOCENT CHILDREN IN THE MASSACRE” . . .
He has the audacity to even voice his thoughts.
They get Guyana the way it is today.
torbo well said, and thank you.
torbo, you and I are on the same path.
These glorifying praises fail to address the basic problems,
plus most of the contributors fail to properly read the reports
and fill in the gaps, especially RS above.
this is a new tune
Simply put ,they don’t want to do a honest days work for an honest days pay.
May be TORBO should become a self appointed sociologist and get to the bottom of this problem,if there is one.
How about people take responsibility for their lives. That is what we do in US. We don’t rely on government handouts. The last time I checked Guyana has free education from Primary to Secondary schools. The same system I used to get my education and create a meaningful life.
I have to patience for single mothers and their plight. It was their choice and youths come on get a life!!! Find a job in the private sector or agriculture. Plant a few bigan or bora.
I have only praise for the forces.
I wish to congratulate all persons involved in this exercise, the soldiers, police and especially members of the public I believe participated in accomplishing successfully a great piece of the Joint Services Operations. By working together, the army, police and law abiding citizens can solve many crimes, but at all times the safety of these private citizens must be protected. For such a great job, I feel it is now on His Excelency The President not only to make sure the bounty is equally divided among those persons who participated, but to make it three times more, and in addition, these ranks Soldiers and Police should be promoted ( on the spot). To the Soldiers and Police involved, keep up the good work.
lets the world no who gun kill GRANT
great job js.
…… theories and conjectures will continue to be projected ,, with no let up ,, and the important ,, yet simple question,, that is begging for an answer ,, is WHY ,, the things had to die ?????????? who was the commanding officer ,, on the scene ? or responsible for the result of this campaign ,, is this the extent of his/her millitary intelligence ???? how many personnel made up the team that made sure that the things were made dead ? WHY ,, was it not a priority to capture them alive ?
could it be that there are spies of the Godfather working in the FORCES,, who was informed by the “mole/s” ,, and his directive was to make sure they do not LIVE ? i demand an enquiry of the operations ,, and it must be made public ,, !
it is the responsibility of the Comdr – in – Chief to ensure the public is made aware of how this very disturbing episode of nat’l safety and security unfolded ,, i say this loud and clear ,,, I am calling out the COP ,, Com. Best and,, the President to make haste and tell the public ,, what played out at the point of contact with the Forces and the “things”…… on behalf of all GUYANESE !,,, and more importantly ,, those who died innocently ,, and for those who survived ,, and have to live with the life long scars of the trauma inflicted on a whole nation ,, by the evil of a few !…… i DEMAND answers to the above ,,, i am crafting a missive to the Comdr. – in – Chief. His Exellency the President of GUYANA Bharat Jagdeo and those in his command to make forthwith the answers i seek on behalf of the PEOPLE of GUYANA ! if there is anyone out there that have phone #s to COP Green ! hmmmm…. and Com. Best,,, also their e – mail address i ask for ur help ,, the SN Moderator should be able to help here !……. and i ask that the “axer ” allow my comment here to reach the ears and eyes of those i have addressed ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,! this is a war that i’m waging on the authors ,, of the criminal elements ,, and criminals ,, in and out of GUYANA ! they know i know them !…..
They should have kept Fineman and Skinny alive to find out who helped them.
Field Marshall, give us your bright idea how to catch these barbarians without killing them or be killed.
Probably you know the secret to catch Bin Laden!!!
If the demise of the notorious Finenam and Skinny did play out as reported, it shows that with cooperation from members of the public the JS were able to kill both of these notorious bandits. The killing of these men as opposed to their apprehension seems to indicate that the JS yet has to learn situational tactics and battlefield nomenclature. It also gives rise to speculation in certain departments, that the deaths of these men were preferred to their capture for clandestine reasons.
Good police work coupled with assistance from members of the public is always a winning combination. However the GPF have yet to learn how to successfully harness the valuable resource that information from the public represents, especially and particularly without resulting in the demise of the informant.
It cannot be stressed enough that while there is jubilation and celebration at the neutralization of these wanted men, it would have been much more preferred to have captured these men alive. Much could have been gleaned from them about their other accomplices and also crimes for which they have been accused. One awaits the day when either the GPF or the JS will master the ability to capture high profile wanted men without killing then, to my remembrance, their track record in this regard is pretty close to naught.
Here we go !!! yet another millitary strategist out there in the WILDERNESS.
Quote: “One awaits the day when either the GPF or the JS will master the ability to capture high profile wanted men without killing then, to my remembrance, their track record in this regard is pretty close to naught.”
THEY CANNOT AND WILL NOT, BECAUSE THEIR POLICY IS TO KILL
WITHOUT POSSIBILITY OF REPERCUSSIONS. The dead cannot talk and
tell what really happened when cornered.
A MOST FOOLISH POLICY DECREED BY SENSELESS LEADERS.