Relatives of an Annandale, East Coast Demerara man who was allegedly beaten and had his dreadlocks cut off by members of the joint services in Buxton yesterday morning are calling for justice and said that certain types of persons are being made targets in the wake of the Lusignan massacre.
Up to press time last evening 37-year-old Dexter Hosannah was still in police custody and was said to be spitting blood.
When contacted by Stabroek News the police said that he was arrested for questioning. No information was given in relation to the allegations made by the relatives or the crime he was being questioned about.
Two of his relatives visited Stabroek News yesterday and voiced their disagreement with the way in which Hosannah was picked up.
They both maintained that the man was doing nothing wrong and at the time of the incident he was coming out of the Buxton Backlands where he had gone to fetch “black water” which he uses for several purposes.
One of the relatives who did not want to be named told Stabroek News that Hosannah lives in Annandale, south of the Railway Embankment and would frequent the Buxton Backlands to collect his `black water’.
Recounting what transpired, the woman said that around 9:30 am she received a telephone call stating that soldiers were shooting at Hosannah. She said that in a panic she ran out to the road and was looking all around for him.
She said that while standing on the road she saw a vehicle with several soldiers and her brother inside. A soldier was holding up his dreadlocks, she said.
The woman said that she later learnt that while Hosannah was on his way out of the backlands he was stopped by the joint services ranks who began beating him.
She said that the man was heard saying “father talk to dem fuh meh. Let them loose I” adding that he later managed to run into a nearby house.
While reiterating that the man did nothing wrong, the woman said that the ranks chased him and when he was caught they kicked and beat him about the body.
Visibly upset as she was recounting the story, the woman said that Hosannah’s dreadlocks were found scattered all over the place.
She added that he was subsequently taken to the Vigilance Police Station before being transferred to police headquarters at Eve Leary.
The woman told this newspaper that when she saw Hosannah, only about three dreadlocks were hanging on his head and he was spitting blood.
The relative expressed concern that since the Lusignan killings last month persons living in Annandale and Buxton are being made targets.
The woman told Stabroek News that her husband was involved in a similar incident where he and others were picked up for no reason and released several days later.
She told this newspaper that Hosannah has a nerve problem but is a quiet person who troubles no one.
“I want them to please release him because he is innocent. They (the joint services) have to go and look for the right person
