Amid a series of explosive disclosures and claims, police have upped the reward for information that might lead to the arrest of wanted man Rondell Rawlins called `Fineman’ to a staggering $50M (around US$250,000).
This is the highest reward the force has ever offered for one man. Police interest in Rawlins has been rekindled since a heavily pregnant woman, Tenisha Morgan, went missing two weeks ago. A man purporting to be Rawlins telephoned the police and issued threats if she wasn’t safely returned. Just after the threat police headquarters, Eve Leary was attacked last Friday and hours later 11 people were massacred at Lusignan. The police have since said they believe that `Fineman’ has claimed responsibility for the Lusignan murders. The police also say that `Fineman’ is wanted for a series of murders and robberies under arms.
In a statement yesterday the police said that the reward was increased in view of the number of matters of a serious nature to which he is linked and the amount of damage caused.
The police are asking anyone with information to contact the police on telephone numbers 225-6411, 226-6978, 225-8196, 225 -2227, 225-3650, 225-7625 or 911 or the nearest police station.
Meanwhile throughout yesterday the volatile East Coast corridor was quiet as persons went about their usual activities one day after the remaining ten Lusignan massacre victims were cremated and buried.
At the time this newspaper visited, army and police patrols were not visible.
Traffic was also flowing freely and Lusignan was buzzing with activity. There was no talk of resuming the protest action which turned that village into a hotbed of protest for several days following last Saturday’s killings, with people lighting tyres and blocking the two main East Coast Highways.
Villagers had attempted to walk peacefully to the city in protest over the Lusignan killings on Wednesday but they were stopped by the police who noted that they had no permission. Police eventually fired tear gas to disperse the protesters.
Attorney-at-law Vic Puran had written a letter to the police on the villagers’ behalf for permission for a walk but to date no information has been forthcoming as to whether approval has been given.
Bagotstown
Meanwhile, joint services ranks yesterday swooped on several homes in Bagotstown, East Bank Demerara, and searched them as ‘Operation Restore Order’ continued.
However, residents said while they understood that the lawmen had to get their job done, they were dissatisfied with the way the officials carried out their duties.
A 93-year-old resident of the area has been left traumatized in the wake of the officers’ methods, which was to kick doors down. According to residents, the servicemen kicked down several doors of houses where occupants were not at home.
Several homes in the area were searched and this newspaper observed that about six men were taken to the Ruimveldt Police Station following the exercise.
Julie Fraser, 93, who spent time with neighbours all day yesterday, was returning home close to dusk and was almost in her yard when she said she saw the officers kick down her front door. She told Stabroek News that she lives at the 27 Bagotstown public road home with her granddaughter and grandson who were both still at work when the searches were carried out.
“I frighten to go home,” the old woman told this newspaper. She was not able to utter another word as she was still trembling.
Neighbours who were comforting the woman yesterday while the searches were still being conducted were furious that some doors were kicked down and insisted that the behaviour of the lawmen was improper.
“We understand that things bad right now and they have to do their job because they have to protect the nation, but that is not the way. No one is saying they can’t search. They must because it’s their duty, but they have to do it better,” argued Barbara Dos Santos.
Dos Santos told Stabroek News that when she saw the lawmen she knew right away that there would have been searches but was surprised when the men kicked down the door to her bottom flat which is occupied by her son who was not at home at the time.
She said the men asked for a key and when she said she did not have one they broke down the door. The house was still open when this newspaper visited the area.
“Look we know they can’t publicise the thing too much, but it’s the way they did it. They have to be more responsible if they expect to get people’s co-operation,” she said.
An elderly couple, who said they usually sit outside every afternoon, told this newspaper that they saw a few young men who would usually lime on the public road, running through a yard and they wanted to know what was happening.
“But then we saw the police run behind them and then we saw the other soldiers but we had no idea that the men were there for a search,” the woman said.
They also pointed to another house where the door was kicked down and the interior searched.
The residents argued among themselves, but there was full acknowledgement of an understanding of the lawmen’s position. Still, they called for more respect from them.
“They could have given that poor old woman a heart attack. They could have told her ‘well granny we doing a search and you need not worry but we must do our work’, and explain to her. She not stupid to not understand them,” another resident said at the top of her voice as a soldier who stood guard listened attentively.
At a joint press conference on Thursday, army Chief of Staff Commodore Gary Best and Acting Police Commissioner Henry Greene had said that as part of ‘Operation Restore Order’, several homes would be searched.
Last evening, the Joint Services expressed appreciation to the residents of Buxton, Friendship and neighbouring communities for the “excellent level of cooperation and support they have given over the past two days during Operation ‘Restore Order'”.
It said this has enabled members of the Joint Services to conduct their operations in a professional and effective manner. The release added that the Joint Services will continue to conduct themselves “professionally, displaying due respect for the rights of the public and look forward to their continued support.” (Heppilena Ferguson)
