Saying the killing of Dweive Kant Ramdass by ranks of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) exposes the criminality within the ranks of the security forces, PNCR leader Robert Corbin on Thursday said his party hopes the Chief of Staff would ensure that rogue elements in the army are reined in.
Three GDF Coastguardsmen have been charged with the robbery and murder of Bartica gold dealer Ramdass.
At a press briefing, Corbin noted that the party has called on army Chief of Staff Gary Best to give a direct assurance to the nation that he is undertaking action to curb the activities of “these unruly and wayward bands of soldiers and to explain what measures he will be implementing in this direction.” To date, Corbin said, nothing has been heard except for an intensive public relations campaign launched by the army. “The PNCR again advises the Chief of Staff that concrete measures are required,” he stressed, adding “PR alone will not suffice.”
Last week, the party condemned the killing of Ramdass, while extending its sympathy to the family, relatives and friends. It added that the manner in which he was killed spoke volumes about the extent to which rogue elements in the security forces are out of control. “It also emphasises the fact that these elements are under the misapprehension that they are above the law, when they, in fact, should be its guardians,” Corbin reiterated on Thursday. He also adverted to warnings by the PNCR that if the situation is not brought under control the integrity of the GDF as one of the primary agencies for the upholding the law would be completely undermined.
On August 20, Ramdass was travelling to Bartica with money in a box to conduct business for his employer when he was taken off a boat while at Parika by three Coast Guardsmen in an army vessel. The vessel left with Ramdass heading in the direction of Bartica. It was the last time he was seen alive. His battered body clad only in briefs was later found in the Essequibo River. Last week, Sherwyn Harte, 26, of Lot 123 Block C Eccles, East Bank Demerara, Delon Gordon, 21, of Lot 108 C Field, Sophia and Deon Greenidge, 20, of Lot 166 Middle Road, La Penitence were charged with murdering Ramdass, while relatives were charged as accessories to the crime. The ranks were also dismissed by the GDF.
