Police to hold courses on use of force
Two policemen implicated in the torture of three prisoners, including a 15-year-old whose genitals were set on fire, are expected to be charged today.
The charges are to be laid against the lawmen, both attached to the Leonora Police Station, even as the embattled Guyana Police Force (GPF) yesterday announced it was embarking on a mission to sensitise its members on the use of force in all policing divisions countrywide.
Sources confirmed late yesterday afternoon that Sergeant Narine Lall, who has served the force for at least six years, and Constable Mohanram Dolai, who has served for at least five years, will be appearing in the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court. Dolai, according to reports, was previously attached to the Vreed-en-Hoop Police Station. The duo was arrested shortly after the publication of a photograph of the injured teen on Saturday. The two persons, held along with the teen for questioning in the murder of ex-Region Three Vice Chairman Ramenauth Bisram, also alleged that they were beaten by the police while in custody. They were subsequently taken to the Tactical Services Unit (TSU), Eve Leary as investigations continued. This newspaper was told that the investigations intensified yesterday as statements were taken from several more ranks at the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR), which has been tasked with the investigation.
Police, in a press release yesterday, said that resulting from investigations conducted by the OPR into allegations of the “excessive use of force on prisoners” by ranks at Leonora Police Station, “two ranks are likely to be charged today (yesterday) and to appear in court tomorrow (today) in Georgetown.” The policemen were not identified.
As of late yesterday afternoon, Commander Paulette Morrison, who is responsible for the division where the incidents occurred, was still on the job. There have been calls for her to be interdicted from duty but a well-placed source told Stabroek News yesterday that this was easier said than done.
The source explained that this could only be done by the Police Service Commission on completion of the investigations into the allegations against the policemen. This newspaper was also told that the Commander could face disciplinary action for not properly supervising her ranks, which led to the torture and brutalising of the three suspects.
A Criminal Investigation Department (CID) rank, the source pointed out, can also be disciplined since he should have been reporting the developments in the investigation to the Commander.
The source told this newspaper that on conclusion of the internal investigation, a file will be forwarded to the Police Complaints Authority for its input since the matter involves policemen.
It was explained that the Police Service Commission deals with the interdiction of ranks above sergeant.
Use of force
Meanwhile, the GPF revealed yesterday that following recent reports of excessive use of force and ill treatment of prisoners by police ranks, it would commence a series of Instruction Classes in all the policing divisions and at force headquarters today.
These classes will focus on the Use of Force and the Standard Operation Proce-dures for ranks on patrol duties, both traffic and general duty ranks at stations.
The classes will be conducted by teams of teams of senior officers, including the Commissioner of Police Henry Greene, Assistant Commissioner Paul Slowe, Assistant Commissioner Krishna Lekhraj, Assistant Commissioner Clinton Conway, Assistant Commis-sioner Seelall Persaud, Senior Superintendent Cortland Gordon, and Senior Super-intendent Neil Semple along with others.
Just over a week ago, Bisram was discovered naked in his Canal Number Two Polder home, with stab wounds. A briefcase with money, documents and other items, was discovered missing, leading investigators to believe the culprits had come with the intention of robbery. In the hours after the discovery, several persons including the trio allegedly tortured were held. They all lived in the area where the incident occurred.
One of the three, Deonarine Rafick, was later charged with murder and he appeared at the Wales Magistrate’s Court last Friday with visible injuries to his body. His lawyer, Pamela De Santos, had brought this to the attention of the court.
The following day the graphic picture of the burnt teenager appeared on the front page of the Kaieteur News and his parents later told the media that the ranks had refused to divulge his location and had them searching different stations for him.
On the insistence of his parents and the intervention of his lawyer Khemraj Ramjattan, the child was taken for medical attention and has been hospitalised.
The relatives of Nouravie ‘Navin’ Wilfred, another of the trio, alleged that he was cuffed repeatedly by investigating ranks and he spent more than the 72 hours permitted in custody without being taken to doctor for his injuries.
Home Affairs Minster Clement Rohee has since said that the policemen have crossed the line but urged that due process must be allowed to take its course.
He told members of the media during a press conference that he had given general and specific directions to Commissioner Greene about changes in the division in the wake of the allegations.
What about Khan, Sukul, Mohanlall and James from the GDF who have tortured many civilians…will they be taken to court or will they be allowed continue to spend millions of the tax payers money monthly driving around all day ?????
Some bloggers said that the GPF/Govt covers up such incidents and they blame, blame blame. Today, the GPF/Govt has made efforts to bring the perpetrators to justice, but the opposition bloggers are not sending kudos, kudos, kudos.
You guys can’t have it both ways. You should be ashame of your interminable prejudice and double standard.
Dude:
Kudos are not granted for what’s expected in a civilized society. Your surprise at the reaction of “opposition” bloggers betrays your political allegiance. That allegiance seems to take precedence over human rights.
I hope these two, unprofessional, unethical, so – called police men go to prison, and I hope they lock them up and throw away the keys. Zero telorance for this kind of uncivlized behaviour – and these people were supposed to uphold the law?
Dude it is the efforts of the opposition bloggers that has resulted in the present development. They along with Kaietur and Stabroek news have been keeping the truth about what is happening in Guyana for all to see. You guys that support the current governing party should interject some objectivity when dealing with issues.
So if the Commander got to go because she was not supervising her policemen then Green got to go and jagdeo too as they are in the chain of command. What about those with the GDF they too must go and so must Best. Shame! Guyana Shame! Shame on the Government and shame on the people for not rallying together to kick them out. Shame! Shame!
then Dude, leave your secure home in canada where ee both live and go back to guyana, then you give the GPF/Govt the kudos you think they deserve. “mouthar and guitar is two different tar”
Can’t wait to see how this pans out!! Guyana’s justice system at its best,,hmm!!
The byline to the headline says: “Police to hold courses on use of force,” and that is just like the government saying it will hold a course on anti-corruption or lawlessness or nepotism and cronyism.
A government that enables the killing out of a set of criminals as opposed to bringing them to justice has lost its clout and authority to talk about the use off force. A government that contracts out internal security to a drug baron has no basis to talk about the use of force in a negative light. Force is all the government knows, because it suits its political agenda.
They will be thought how to FORCE the media out of the station compound so that they can COVER-UP their SKILLFUL EXERCISE of TORTURE
The blood of this child’s TORTURE will remain on the PPP’s hands and no amount of empty gestures will erase the stain.
in the 70’s your associate was beaten and left in the gutters witch result in him having a rotten/damage leg.
whose hands were responsible, if you know the history.
Freespeech:
What do incidents of the 70s have to do with this brutality? Do those events justify those of today?
freespeech you make me sick!
The 70’s was a dictatorship, this is a “DEMOCRACY” and we expect and demand better……. wasn’t the PPP elected to bring a democratic change?……..
And the TEARS will fall into EACH and EVERY ONE of their FOOT-STEPS the SCREAM of his VOICE will HUANT EVERY LIVING MOMENT of their LIVES…they will PAY according to the WORK of their VERY OWN HANDS.
WELL SAID.JAGDEO MUST TAKE THE BLAME.
freespeach
your comments are so much like the PPP that i am beginning to believe that you are a part of them. you try to cover up the crimes against humanity with incidents that happen more than THREE DECADES AGO. thats the exact reason the PPP seems to be out of touch and living in the past – they always look back to lay blame instead of looking forward and making changes.
If my dog run out the yard and bite a passerby, the dog is not the one to blame…the blame should rest on my shoulders because i failed to lock the gate or because I failed to train the dog to only mull invaders when they enter the premises without permission, therefore i should either pay a fine or do the time….In saying this, The Minister of Home Affairs and the Police Commissioner are the ones to be blamed for this TORTURE and they are the ones who should resigned immediately as would be the case in any civilized and democratic country.
This matter will die down after a few weeks in the media until someone else is tortured by the hands of the Police force, Guyana Defense Force or the combined services and we here all know that too…For the year alone how many HOT stories have poped up and died down…how many serious matters have we forgotten??? The Guyanese memory span is only active on the issue of the day and as soon as something else is circulating they tend to forget…Stabroek New maybe its time you dedicate a section of your newspapers to all the heinous crimes that have taken place both on the public (La Repentair, Mandela Dump Site—-remember the awful smoke that affected North East La Penitence Residents) and against law abiding citizens (and I can mane many).
Keep the pressure on Stabroek News.
the person in charge of the prison should be fired, it was their duty to ????????????????????????????????????
STATION HOUSE.
What a joke!Sandhurst,there is a big difference between a dog and human being.Why do Guyana have Police College in different division?for training,right.So in other words you are trying to say these ignorant officer who torture the teen,which was wrong-was not trained,they were just giving the uniform and assigned to the Police Station,right,no my friend wrong and stop blaming who shouldn’t be blame.Did you read the article yesterday-where the Police commisioner mentioned about the book-the police bible and the rules.I spent some time in the Guyana Police College years back and I know………..,so please don’t………………
SAND-MAN RIGHT,,,,THE POCK STOPS AT THE BOSS
Come on Stabroek News….I just got a call that 2 police officers were shot in their faces at a police station and some idiots were going to set the court alight….is this all based on this matter…please get your reporters to investigate!!!
The news reached Taiwan already! That’s on the other side of the world!
http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_content.php?id=1099511&lang=eng
wooh, is this for real?
I thank SandHurst and MXQBH for this revelation
Yasu you can sleep comfortably now. These officers were employed way after the PPP took office, nothing to do with the Hoyte police force you spoke and dreamt about.
I say let the policemen go free, afterall, they were only doing their jobs. Jobs they are paid to do, solved crime.
As I am on it I might as well add, trained to do.
Like i said yesterday, but SN refused to print, new SOPs will be designed shortly.
For others on the PNC handed over the police, swallow your pride apologise. Now that is decent, just say we are sorry for making unjustified comments.
you need to reread the article dude,these barbarians have services of 6 and 5 years,come to think of it one of the accused is a sargent with only 6yrs service, he must have lots of contacts to move up that fast.
Tiger u sure right, he gat clout.
Thanks for putting yasu in his place. SN did not post my response to his garbabge yesterday and i think SN practising Kit and Kin. lololol
No cherry, he got powar.
He wan big bass at the station house.
classes?….this is”closing de gate when de horse dun gone”
Folks, once again we going get a whole bunch of posts by three or four people (some under multiple names) huffing and puffing to try and nail the Guyana government. Then they log on about 20 times a day to see who reply to who and gossip a lil more.
Folks, come down to earth and stop trying to spin top in mud.I don’t even read the posts dem anymore though I will write in now and again if its worthwhile…
The police are carrying out their investigations into this reported incident and, despite the usual sensationalist and speculative so called SN story complete with mandatory unamed source as in the above example, will take the appropiate action. End of story…Peace…
Yea…classes!
Everybody know that the police use force all the time..guilty or not guilty.
It has been the trait of the police and watch my words, will continue to be a police trait. It occurs all over the world in all police forces.
However when the use of such force crosses over to brutality. the line has to be drawn. The Gov’t of G sought to mollify such ‘brutality’ as ‘roughing up’, but brutality is brutality.
There is no regard for the safety and security of the captive.
Is licks and more licks and more licks…never ending.
What are these ‘classes’ doing to do?
Stratify the licks? Give them three lashes before breakfast,
then at luch time, give them five lashes and before dinner give them the seven lashes. Repeat for emphasis the next and the next, till they sign and confess. Right?
No not classes, but immediate dismissal.
No enquiry.
Rewrite the conditions of employment that if there is reason to
believe or suspect that the brutailty has been used, immediate dismissal will apply. Strict rules. Strict enforcement.
Reverse the brutality practice.
Its funny that the GPF has decided to hold classes now when this is something that they have condoned for ever. police brutality is nothing new so I wonder this sudden new approach.
Is it because of who the victim is or is it because of his age?
Its a step in the right direction, but the question is will this same kind of outrage occur when this happens again as it is bound to…..This culture will will not die overnight.
How you know we log on later on you check back to see. I thought you don’t read the posts.
The “sun” must be shining very brightly in Barbados; so, it has dried out the “water from the beach” from the EVER”REDDY” BATTERY which has now sputtered inter alia; “Folks, once again we going get a whole bunch of posts by three or four people (some under multiple names) huffing and puffing to try and nail the Guyana government….” So, there you have it the voice of authority coming the EVER”REDDY” BATTERY; and, those of the actions of some employees of the the people (the Guyanese Tax-Payers) have risen about the Constitutional Laws of Guyana “ad finem temporis.”!
we have to watch and see if the case jackets don’t dissappear with this one. these policemen are crafty.
Re: “we have to watch and see if the case jackets don’t disappear with this one…”
Perhaps, (and, that is if it is not already been done…) it is time for “Computerization Processes (Record Keeping….)” to be in place at the police and court systems in Guyana. And, of course – adequate redundancy capabilities in place also in cases of file “deletions”… these can be easily restored/replaced!
Reddy aka Norman , how many names do you blog under ???? What are your views on the torture of the minor by the police ??? Why are you and Jagdeo so silent on this wickedness ??? The police needs to be investigated and the govt should be sued for this horrible crime .
Reddy with some of your off comments we always knew that you never ever read the posts.
In fact, we believe that you do not even read the actual article when you commence your editing.
As for “I don’t even read the posts dem anymore though I will write in now and again if its worthwhile” the allies would prefer you do the opposite. Read the posts and stop writing now and again if it is worthwhile.
these men think they are really above the law, deal with them appropriately.
SN i will not use the word i used before, to describe these SO-CALL policemen, no need to use the AXE.
Re: “these men think they are really above the law,…”
Well, let the world find out the truth about this when the “Constitutional Law Books” are thrown at them by the courts in Guyana.
From: “CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTION OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS IN GUYANA”
“CHAPTER III
Fundamental Rights and Freedoms of the Individual
40. (1) Every person in Guyana is entitled to the basic right to a happy, creative and productive life, free from hunger, disease, ignorance and want. That right includes the fundamental rights and freedoms of the individual, that is to say, the right, whatever his race, place of origin, political opinions, colour, creed or sex, but subject to respect for the rights and freedoms of others and for the public interest, to each and all of the following, namely—
(a) life, liberty, security of the person and the protection of the law;
(b) freedom of conscience, of expression and of assembly and association; and
(c) protection for the privacy of his home and other property and from deprivation of property without compensation.
(2) The provisions of Title 1 of Part 2 shall have effect for the purpose of affording protection to the aforesaid fundamental rights and freedoms of the individual subject to such limitations of that protection as are contained in those provisions, being limitations designed to ensure that the enjoyment of the said rights and freedoms by any individual does not prejudice the rights and freedoms of others or the public interest….”
http://www.guyanalaw.net/present00-2.html
There was/is urgent need for change in the way “business” (the conduct of laws) was being done in Guyana (particularly, over the last seventeen – twenty years or so); and, that time is now.
Re: “In fact, this should be a turning-point in seizing the moment of broadening and strengthening the front on this issue and cease harping back on what should or should not have been. … Read more…”
http://ginopersaud.blogspot.com/
K Gold
thanks, good read.
freespeach
you just like guyanese, you forget what you said in the first commnets above and now you changing you mouth. or maybe i was right in my first commnet – you are a PPP so you talk according to the gathering. when the odds are stacked against you you change you story.
Justice to be served! Now, go after the other officers who tortured others. The PPP in trouble. What they thought was roughing up of other torture victims back fired. Ole poeple would say “their own dog turn around and bite them” Justice for all!
But will justice really be served? You have to start from the top down. We all know that the top brasses a the station must have known. Not medical attention was given to the lad for four days. If KN did not publish the gruesome photo of the torture we would be none the wiser today. It seems SN is very selective. Perhaps ads are more important than the ‘real news’ for the small people. Justice will never prevail in Guyana.