The year has come to an end, but the police are still to bring closure to a number of sensational murders including those of Talk Show host, Ronald Waddell and building contractor Gazz Sheermohamed.
The force is also yet to find the killers of architect and cycling coach, Maximillian Perreira and his reputed wife Marlis Archer who were gunned down outside their Duncan Street, Campbellville home in November.
Former Home Affairs Minister Gail Teixeira had expressed confidence in the police’s ability to capture Waddell’s killers, but to date no one has been charged.
Waddell’s brother, Ovid Smith told this newspaper recently that he was not surprised that his brother’s murderers were still on the run. Smith said the police were not making any serious efforts to find the killers, adding that they had leads to follow but never did. Smith said he believed Waddell’s killers were from a notorious criminal gang and were paid executioners.
It was around 8 pm on January 30 while Waddell was in his car on the bridge of his Subryanville home that the unknown gunmen pounced. According to reports, three men exited a dark-coloured vehicle and used long, rapid-fire guns. Residents of the area reported seeing flashes of light, which indicated that sophisticated tracer bullets were used. Waddell was hit by thirteen bullets, which connected to his head and other parts of his body.
The police had initially arrested freed murder accused, Shawn Hinds and two siblings of dead ‘hitman’ Axel Williams, but all three men were later released. A city-based killing squad had also been reportedly linked to the execution and the police had said that they were exploring that lead.
There had been speculation about a tit-for-tat reaction from supporters of the talk show host which did not materialise. On the contrary, Waddell’s relatives and supporters have remained mostly silent since his death. Smith said this was because they were living in a dangerous society and did not want to raise their voices as they are afraid of being killed. Smith added that his brother was fighting for justice and he knew that by doing so he would have died so he was prepared for it.
Waddell’s execution was followed by the brutal assault on eight people by a large gang of heavily-armed gunmen at Agricola, East Bank Demerara on the night of February 26. Although police have linked the killings to the Buxton criminal gang, they have not charged anyone. The gunmen killed three security guards attached to the MMC Security Service: Sheldon Smartt, Cedric Dummett and Loris Semple; Hannah Cameron and her reputed husband David Brummel and Cameron’s grandson Fenton Rudder; Assistant Town Clerk, Lavern Scott-Garraway all of Agricola and Cecil Duncan of Kitty.
Police had assembled a team of detectives to investigate the slaughter, but apart from reporting that the Buxton gang had committed the act and that wanted man, Rondel Rawlins called ‘Fineman’ was behind the attack there has been no other development in this probe.
Meanwhile, close relatives of Perreira recently told this newspaper that the dead man did not get along well with some persons close to him and they were suspicious that jealousy and greed might have been the motives for the murders. They said too that the couple’s killing was done by contract.
Perreira had lived in London before remigrating to Guyana. He had ended his marriage with his first wife before becoming involved with Archer.
Perreira, according to relatives, had written to his lawyer in England on February 27, 2005 pointing out that a life insurance policy had been made out on him without his knowledge by a relative. He said in the letter, a copy of which was made available to this newspaper: “What makes me totally worried is that over a year or so ago a Guyanese agent in America was insuring Guyanese unknown to themselves, who were returning to Guyana for a visit. Those people were murdered here
