The pleas by Army Chief of Staff Commodore Gary Best for forgiveness from the relatives of Dweive Kant Ramdass who was robbed and murdered by army coast guard ranks could only be accepted if under his command the GDF returns to its glory days as being the people’s army and not “the people’s enemy”, AFC leader Raphael Trotman declared yesterday.
At Ramdass’ funeral in Bartica on Monday, Best in reading an army statement asked relatives as well as the community to forgive the GDF for not being able to detect those among its ranks who had committed the dastardly act that resulted in the young man’s demise.
The man’s uncle Ashok Ramdass, in an interview with Stabroek News, reflected on his nephew’s life saying, “Today no one knows the functions of the army and police. No matter what they say to us today this will always be on our minds.”
Trotman said the man’s words illustrate the complete breakdown of law and order, justice and the plight of the people of Guyana. In this regard he pointed out too that many times roadblocks are set up and manned exclusively by army ranks.
Referring again specifically to Ramdass’ death and the brazen theft of $17 million from him, he said it highlights the fact that the security forces have become a “law unto themselves.”
Trotman at his party’s press briefing yesterday, flanked by Chairman Khemraj Ramjattan and Sheila Holder, said he felt that the organizations in Guyana which are established to offer protection and service to the people have instead become enemies.
Turning a blind eye
He accused government of turning a blind eye to the countless atrocities that have been committed against the people of this country by the rogue elements within the security forces. He pointed out that in times past when the AFC leadership spoke against atrocities, it was accused of being soft on criminals and even supporting criminals and of demoralizing the security forces.
“We gave praise where it was due but continued to point out that the complete overhaul and transformation of the security forces needed to be accomplished,” he said.
In the same vein Trotman spoke of the Disciplined Forces Commission report of 2004 which was meant to provide that new beginning. However, he said up to now the review and approval of its recommendations had not been completed by the National Assembly.
He pointed too to the Security Sector Reform Programme funded by the British Government which he said had been halted as soon as late wanted man Rondell ‘Fineman’ Rawlins and his gang were rooted out “and the administration pretended that all was well.”
Billets and barracks
Meanwhile Trotman stated that his party wished to remind the administration that the criminals are not only on the street but also in the “billets and barracks.”
Trotman reiterated his suggestion which was published in a recent full page advertisement calling on the Disciplined Forces to “recognize what they had become in the eyes of the people and to change their course.”
He expressed sympathy to the relatives of Ramdass, who was on his way to Bartica with a total of $17M in a box to conduct business for his employer. He was taken off the boat he was in at Parika by three ranks in a Coast Guard vessel. The vessel left with the man heading in the direction of Bartica and that was the last time he was seen alive. The trio has since been charged with murder.
