Dear Editor,
I think that it is a fair decision that the reward money offered for the capture of fugitives from justice, Rondell ‘Fineman’ Rawlins and Jermaine ‘ Skinny’ Charles, who were subsequently killed in an armed confrontation with a Joint Services unit, be divided between the informant and the Joint Services based on some equitable formula. While the informant passed on his/her information, the Joint Services themselves were pursuing their own investigations and leads and were relentlessly hunting the criminals. The Commissioner of Police (ag) and the Chief of Staff did indicate that the options of the criminal gang were running out and that they were methodically closing in on them.
Whatever mechanism is used in the disbursement, I feel that the Joint Services will be satisfied that their dedication to duty and commitment, exposing themselves to danger would have been recognized and rewarded. There is no justification for the PNCR or anyone else to describe members of the services as “bounty hunters.” The security services have been constantly under attack by the PNCR which has been carrying out a sustained campaign to demonize and demotivate them, unsuccessfully.
President Bharrat Jagdeo had said that the people owed a debt of gratitude to the services, and Prime Minister Sam Hinds recently said that the opposition party had “used all possible tools at their disposal to frustrate the government, undermine public confidence in the Joint Services and demoralize the members of the Disciplined Services” and that “a motivated Disciplined Joint Services stand ready to implement the Security Sector Reform in Guyana.”
Yours faithfully,
John Da Silva
