-no evidence linking them to crime
Investigators have apparently reached a dead end their investigation into the September 5, 2009 shooting in the North West that left one man dead and another injured as the two men who were arrested in connection with the incident have since been released.
Crime Chief Seelall Persaud told Stabroek News that the men were held and questioned and then later released as there was no evidence linking them to the crime. He said while police have gone back to the area located in the Barama River, there has been no further development in the investigation.
On September 5 Regerton Simon, called ‘Baba,’ of Guyhoc Park, was killed on the spot while Malvin Edwards, 33, of East La Penitence, was badly injured when gunmen launched a brazen attack on a dredge where they were working. Four Brazilian workers, including a pregnant woman, managed to escape without injury. Stabroek News understands that at least one of the Brazilians gave a statement to the police through an interpreter.
Edwards was released from the George-town Public Hospital (GPH) after spending a week and a half in the institution. His mother, Donna Hinds, told Stabroek News that while her son is doing much better he still has bullets lodged in his chest and his spine. She said they have not heard from the police since the incident and no statement has been taken from her injured son.
Stabroek News was told that the two men who were arrested hailed from Matthews Ridge and that they were reportedly in the area on the day of the shooting but left shortly after. Initial reports were that the incident may have stemmed from a conflict between the miners and residents. But with the arrest of the two men, sources indicated that the incident could have been the result of more than the conflict.
Part owner of the dredge Shawn Hopkinson had told Stabroek News that the miners were threatened by at least one resident of Bamboo Landing, the closest settlement to their dredge, days before the incident. He said that a mines officer had gone into the area to investigate the residents’ complaints about water pollution and found that the allegations were false. “He told the mines officers that if they can’t take any action then they would have to take their own actions,” Hopkinson had said. He added that this was uttered in his presence.
Following this incident, Hopkinson said they made a decision to move the dredge some distance away from the village, even though their mining activities were not affecting the villagers.
Hopkinson also said that they would not return to the area until they get “some kind of justice,” while adding that they have been in contact with the Brazilians who have indicated their willingness to continue to work for them.
Regional Chairman of Region One Fermin Singh had told Stabroek News that his administration received a report from the residents about water pollution and the complaint was forwarded to the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC).2
