Reform aid must be tied to better policing
-GHRA tells international agencies
Disturbed by the official reaction to the death of prisoner James Nelson in the Brickdam lock-up, the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) yesterday called on international agencies to demand immediate improvement in the treatment of detainees as a condition for continued funding of reforms to the criminal justice system.
James Nelson
In a statement, the rights group said that along with an extensive list of unresolved serious crimes, the attitudes of the authorities have been fuelling a culture of violence that cannot be resolved by national action alone. It argued that the lack of official concern in the case of Nelson, who the police initially said injured himself, illustrates a pattern of disinterest by the disciplined services in resolving incidents of torture and death involving their personnel. This situation, the GHRA added, is being worsened by Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee, whose position on crime fighting suggests indifference to whether suspects are brought to justice or unlawfully executed.
In this context, it urged international agencies – currently investing hundreds of millions of dollars in the reform of the police force and the justice system – to set as a condition “immediate improved performance” to address conditions of detention, torture and deaths in custody. “Linking continued dispersing of funds to improve police performance and standards should be a clear requirement,” it said, adding that such benchmarks should be in the public domain to allow citizens and civil society to monitor progress.
Guyana’s Security Sector Reform programme is being implemented with critical assistance from the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID), while the recently launched Modernisation of the Justice Administration System programme is being supported by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) which is also funding a Citizen Security Programme.
In a comment to Stabroek News yesterday, British High Commissioner Fraser Wheeler said that the Commission had received a copy of the statement and has taken note of the points raised by the GHRA, which he noted has been proactive in speaking out where it thinks persons rights have been denied. Asked whether the High Commission is concerned about the treatment of persons in custody in light of the recent torture allegations, Wheeler said: “We are concerned about the treatment meted out to all persons whether in custody or not. At the same time we respect that Guyana as a sovereign state has its laws and there are regulations governing treatment of persons in custody. As a democratic state and a signatory to the international treaty for the protection of human rights, we expect Guyana to uphold the tenets of the Treaty.”
Stabroek News was unsuccessful in reaching IDB Representative Marco Nicola for comment.
In the last year, the joint services have been accused of torturing persons in custody on at least eight occasions, although the government has maintained that there is no proof to substantiate any of the allegations. In six instances last year, members of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) were accused of using torture techniques during interrogation: Buxtonians Patrick Sumner, Victor Jones, David Leander, also known as David Zammett were picked up during joint service raids and later appeared with visible injuries, including burns, about their bodies; GDF soldiers Michael Dunn, Alvin Wilson and Sharth Robertson said that they were subjected to torture during an interrogation as part of an investigation into a missing AK-47. More recently, prisoner Edwin Niles succumbed to injuries he sustained after reportedly receiving a beating after being found with ammunition at the Camp Street prisons. He was hospitalized for nine days before he died. A post-mortem report said Niles died as a result of a blood clot in the lungs due to burns about the back. He also had a fractured left arm. Nelson, an ex-soldier who was found dead in a holding cell, is the most recent case that has attracted concern over the treatment of persons in custody.
Earlier this year, the GHRA urged the UN Committee against Torture and the Special Rapporteur on Torture to make urgent contact with the government on “measures it should take to halt the dangerous slide into routine torture in Guyana.”
Silence and
intransigence
It added in its statement yesterday that the silence and intransigence of the disciplined services and civil authorities faced with mounting incidence of torture and death suggest contempt for accountability to civil society. It cited the delays in producing the report of the board of inquiry set up to investigate the torture allegations and the conditions under which it would be presented to the parliament as reinforcing such judgements.
In the case of Nelson, the GHRA described the police force’s initial explanation – that he might have inflicted fatal injuries on himself – as ludicrous. It cited the public statements by Police Commissioner Henry Greene on the case, saying they imply a laid-back, arms length approach to the questions about how Nelson died and who might be responsible. While noting that it did not expect the Commissioner to rush to judgement against his own ranks, the GHRA said “Guyanese citizens have a right to expect more than the casual indifference reflected in [his] comments, particularly at a time when serious crimes by acting and former members of the disciplined services are becoming a daily news feature.” It added that a more assertive statement by the police authorities to pursue the perpetrators and ensure condign punishment would have been more reassuring both to Nelson’s family and the general public.
During an extended parliamentary debate on Monday, the main opposition PNCR as well as the AFC both challenged the government to uphold its obligations under the UN Convention. The debate centred on a motion by PNCR-1G MP Aubrey Norton, who sought to have the National Assembly set up an independent investigation. Government, however, used its majority to block the motion, saying that there is no evidence to substantiate allegations that members of the joint services have tortured suspects and claims by alleged victims were false. Government speakers emphasised the administration’s opposition to the use of torture under any circumstances and said it is committed to meeting its treaty obligations. At the same time, Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud told the house that while the board of inquiry set up to probe the allegations found no cases of torture, it did find instances of “roughing up.” But he explained that in the light of the “new face of criminality” the security forces would use “a certain amount of physical and mental pressure” in order to get information and he insisted that such tactics did not fit the definition of torture. “To try to include these acts is to cheapen the definition of torture,” he said.
……. seems the IQ of a mosquito is at play here !,, no person in their right mind would give any one who has not shown fiscal responsiblity and management of any money for anything that relates to economic developement for the nation of any country — albeit the other way around –,, to modernise the infrastructure to as near as possible ,, as of standards that is indicative of this !,,,,,,,,
hey tann….its all about human rights…..not economic development for the nation of countrys……u keep the IQ…good for you….
Sir,,with due respect, this is a blog where common everyday people come to express “simple” conversation, exchange ideas and vent their frustration about the situation in a country they so much love, but cannot do anything about. I beg of you Sir to please talk to us, not to Parliment ok.
May I borrow a line from Chalkdust calypso ‘Haiti’!'Guyana we love you but we mis-understood you’those who have be appointed to take care of you and your people are doing you grave injustice your citizens deserves to be treated with respect and dignityy,too often we hear of mis-treatment and death of persons in custody of the J.S hopefully the time will come when they will hold their heads and say they’re sorry. .
We need to go to the UN Human Rights site and send individual letters/petitions. Next step is to launch a boycott against Caricom so what is his name Carrington could open his eyes to these criminal acts
The old snail mail works too.
Let us google-bomb them too. Remember how they google-bombed bush??? Anyone that typed his name in the keyboard got a display
“Worst pResident ever”
Let us do the same to these criminals. Searches for Caricom, Guyana, Rhoee, Gagraj, Home affairs etc should take people to Torture or a warning about police brutality in Guyana.
That is all the small man can do, spread truthful information to others and stand up for change.
Put yourself in de poorman’s shoes as they are being tortured and “Remember da Golden Rule”
Better yet, those in Crooklyn usa should protest at the UN by standing under the Guyana Flag dressed in black.
Bet things would change fast!!
“Keep it “LIT”
“Love and “Light”
G.H.R.A, ha ha ha. Is there a change at the helm? Is it differently constituted or has it now reach the age of maturity?
Bear with me as I have not red the entire article. How come the PNC have gotten so loud these past few weeks. Were they in their caves when Shafeek of West Bank was killed in the Brickdam Lockups a couple years ago? Where were they when Ramesh of Enmore was killed for a car-battery, and several other Guyanese? If you preaching something, pleeeeeease be consistent – pleeeeeease, for Gods’ sake. Don’t be selective.
“You ain’t gat kak-eye, or as the Trinis wud say – cokie eye”.
The same goes for the GHR.
Finally, police beating people because they lack the ability to do proper detective work.
Red Lion
Sir, WE ARE ON THE SUBJECT OF CIVIL RIGHTS, NOT INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS, BUT THE RIGHTS OF EVERY CITIZEN OF GUYANA INCLUDING YOU AND EVERYONE YOU’VE MENTIONED….Let me ask you a serious question,,,,what have you done to promote the cause period?.
Lorie Lowis was the top cop at the time and the police
claim that it was a Rastaman one day and the next
time they said that it was a Venezuelan Sailor that killed
Mr Shafeek in the Brickdan Lockups.
The PNC were in the Streets of Georgetown for this man
death marching/demonstrating in the town,
I was their with the PNC, are you suffering from
memory laps my friend GTRL.
Mr Asgar Ally ran for President of Guyana and he did not get
five hundred (500) votes, so what faction are you talking about ?,
I said that, I was their marching with the PNC for Mr Shafeek death
that took place in the Brickdam Lockups, Were you there ???, if
not why not ???????, Why are so bent in trying to put down the
PNC, you and I are out of Guyana “Because” you and I can’t take
what is taking place GTRL.
…. my post was incorrectly placed here
to me ,, it is of very little importance ,, where any of my post end up ,, it’s enuff for the day that i get the opportunity to call a spade a spade !…….
no meaning to be abrasive ,, contentious ,, or belligerent in any way shape or colour ,, just dawdling along ,, while i call it like i see it !……. it’s fall ,,, just in case some of u have not noticed ,, and the aesthetics of hues ,, that decorate the landscape brings with it the need for gathering by the squirrels as they busy themselves with hoarding for the winter ,, which from the look of things in my neck of the woods ,, seems like a long cold winter !…… notice i use cold with winter ,, that is bcos ,, many times in the past in the middle of winter ,, i am usually out on my balcony shirtless !
No wonder yu got a Tan,,, shirtless on your balcony in winter…take care yu don’t end up in the white people Hospital, in your white neighborhood…LOL. I sitting her on the stoop with the fellows drinking whatever they bring by and I am getting a tanning affect. LOL….
Come on fellow guyanese the PPP is using the security forces for they own agenda.so they have to defended them at all cost.
awedees
sorry i don,t even know the person nelson
i don,t have to know him, he is human and he is my countryman
if it was you i will act the same, i love my country, and every
body in it we are all GODS children
peace my friend may god be with you
Why is torture wrong?
1. It is inhumane and degrading treatment or punishment.
2. It is a form of treatment or punishment that has been abandoned by civilized nations.
3. It can be administered to the wrong person, as in a case of mistaken identity.
4. It presumes guilt before guilt has been proved in a court of law.
5. It can extract unreliable information as people under torture will confess anything.
6. It dehumanizes those who administer it.
7. It coarsens the conscience of those who condone, tolerate or advocate it.
8. It is a tacit admission that the criminal justice system does not function (Beat he, if you tek he to court he gun get off or he can gie bribe and get off).
9. It does not reform the victims, only deforms them.
10. It can inflame pre-existing and simmering societal tensions.
11. It provides cannon fodder and symbolic martyrs for your antagonists.
12. It can be used on you or your loved ones when the cycle goes around and the tables are turned.
The PPP makes up the majority of parlimentary members so the have the final say as to what will be approved or not approved by parliment. Obviously they will not approve any motion that will incriminate members of the joint forces. Come on guys they have the joint services investigating themselves.
Until we the People of Guyana unite and stand up for the rule of law, until then we will not get justice.