Buxton backdam battle

The security forces yesterday morning arrested five suspected gunmen during a major offensive in Buxton, hours after they killed two others during a gun battle in the backdam on Wednesday evening.

The men are believed to be part of a notorious gang that ambushed the joint services in the area last week, killing a soldier. Speaking at a joint press conference yesterday, acting Police Commissioner Henry Greene, who was flanked by army Chief of Staff Commodore Gary Best, told the media that around 6.20 pm on Wednesday, a joint services patrol came under fire in the backlands from about ten armed men. Greene said the patrol returned fire during which two of the men, Vibert Leroy Harris called ‘Bolo’, 29 years of Friendship, ECD and Troy St. John called ‘John Eye’ were killed. The police last night said that St. John is reported to be the number two member of Rondel Rawlins’ gang.

One AK 47 rifle, four magazines, 110 7.62×39 rounds of ammunition and an additional 200 rounds, nine .38 special rounds, five rounds of 9 mm ammunition and two army pouches were recovered along with army fatigues and several other pieces of clothing and bedding, which, according to the commissioner, is evidence that the men may have set up a camp.

Best said the army had not yet confirmed whether the AK 47 rifle was one that went missing from the army’s stores.

A Holy Bible, a hammock made from material resembling army camouflage, two bottles of insect repellent, a bottle of olive oil, and a first aid kit which contained medication were also recovered and put on display for the media yesterday at police headquarters.

The security forces have come under intense pressure following the slaughter at Lusignan on Saturday. Greene told reporters yesterday that the recent events unfolded with a report of a missing teen, Tenisha Morgan. He said this was followed by a series of calls made to the Criminal Investigation Department, in the form of a report and threats to do harm to persons if the female was not recovered.

He said the voice of the caller was confirmed by police officers as that of a male known to them as “Guyana’s most wanted man Rondell Rawlins called Fineman.” He further stated that Rawlins has since admitted to the slaying of the 11 persons at Lusignan, including children, though not to the police.

“In relation to Rawlins he has not admitted to the police but we have what we what we consider sufficient evidence,” the commissioner said.

Further questioned on the force’s ability to carry out authentic voice detection, Greene said, “We would not make any further comments or disclose anything further in relation to that what we know.”

He later told reporters that the police have found out that the recent calls made by Rawlins had come through at least two different cellular numbers with registered numbers. However, while the phones were registered in particular names, the force believes that those persons do not exist.

Greene said Rawlins had also made threats by telephone to the operations room at the Brickdam police station.

Operation

Restore Order

Meanwhile, the joint services yesterday morning launched a second phase of the operation that started late Wednesday afternoon and both security heads said searches would be conducted on homes in Buxton for the criminals.

Questioned as to why the GDF had not moved into the backlands before, in light of his past comments that the army was prepared to deal with any urban warfare the gunmen were engaged in, Commodore Best said the army has since sent troops into the target area. He added that the joint services remain ready for urban warfare and urged co-operation from residents in communities wherever ranks may appear to conduct their duties.

“We are ready for urban warfare, we have troops in the target area and we are prepared to fight but what is important is that we get the message to all Guyanese and communities that when the joint services appear looking for criminals that they remain in their homes,” the army head urged.

“So it would be joint services and the criminals. This is what we need at this stage. We are prepared to fight in urban terrain. We trained for it but we have to minimize civilian casualties.”

Best told reporters that the joint services has also launched a joint special operation group, which has been given adequate resources and was specially dedicated to going after armed bandits across the country. He did not disclose the strength of the group, only to say that it was a combat-size group.

He pointed out that Wednesday’s operation took place in the night when it was easier for the joint services to conduct their duties, without any distraction from residents.

“We are fighting and two are dead and we will fight at day and at night,” he said.

Following Rawlins’ telephone threats on January 23, that same night a GDF patrol was ambushed at Buxton which resulted in the death of GDF Corporal Ivor Williams whose weapon also went missing that night.

Two days after, the police headquarters guardroom was shot at by unknown bandits in a car. Two policemen were injured.

The police had made it public that they were upping security, but mere hours after the police HQ attack, 11 Lusignan residents were slaughtered by gunmen.

The two security chiefs were questioned as to whether this adds up in the wake of their declarations of improved vigilance.

“Did you expect that we would just block all the roads like we do in the nights?