A prominent Bartica businessman and another man were allegedly brutalised by ranks last Saturday night.
TV talk show host and businessman Winston Miller and Javid Hamid are now contemplating their next move following the incident, which has left many residents infuriated. Miller yesterday urged an independent investigation into police activities in the community, saying that they are out of control. Stabroek News was told that one of the ranks was trying to intimidate persons into giving a different account of what transpired. Efforts to contact police officials for comment yesterday were unsuccessful.
Miller, 69, who owns the popular hangout spot Sunset Boulevard at Fourth Avenue, told Stabroek News last evening that a pageant was being held at the club and it attracted a large audience. Around 11 pm, a cadet officer dressed in plain clothes arrived and tried to “pope” the show but the person manning the door informed him that he had to pay the $1,000 entrance fee like everyone else.
The infuriated rank reportedly travelled to the Bartica Police Station, where he changed into his uniform. He then returned to the club along with three other policemen, including two “black clothes” ranks.
Miller said the cadet officer then demanded that the proprietor of the establishment step forward and when he (Miller) identified himself he was told that he was under arrest and commanded to enter the police pick up. “I ask he fuh what and he tell me don’t argue just get in, I am under arrest. I tell he that I ain’t going nowhere, until he tell me what I am under arrest for,” he said.
By this time, a crowd had gathered and, according to Miller, one of the TSU ranks cracked his gun and pointed it at him. He recalled being flung to the ground and trampled upon while being commanded to get into the police vehicle. “One of them kick me up in my belly and my temple where I had an operation about eight years ago,” he explained, adding that he held on tightly to the rank’s ankles. He started to get dizzy and seconds later the driver of the police vehicle came out to investigate the commotion. The rank, Miller said after realising it was him, commanded his colleagues to stop immediately.
However, during the commotion, a patron, Javid Hamid, tried to defend Miller but was gun butted. He eventually lost his balance and broke a few tables and chairs as he crashed to the ground. He had a visible injury to his chest.
Miller said public-spirited citizens took him into his home and later to the hospital for medical attention. His left eye, from which he was beginning to lose sight, was bandaged. He said too that he was experiencing pain about his body as a result of the blows he received. In relation to his now damaged eye, Miller said he will have to travel overseas for treatment.
Upset, Miller declared that after all his years of living in the community, the incident was his first experience of police brutality. He has met his lawyer and will be taking legal action against the three policemen who were involved in the incident. He said that he saw two of the ranks yesterday and all they did was stare at him. According to him, the three were recently transferred to Bartica and since their arrival they have been creating havoc.
He called for an investigation into the activities of the ranks, whom he described as “out of control and unprofessional.” He added that there have been instances where ranks rob Brazilians of their money and “youngsters are being made criminals.”
According to Miller, young residents especially, those who would be liming on the roadways, are arrested and beaten before being taken to the police station. In recent weeks there have been several reports of police brutality.
As recent as last week, three men were brutalised by ranks attacked to the Timehri Police Station. Police were at the time seeking the whereabouts as a gang leader known only as “Cobra.” After the incident was highlighted in the media, the ranks implicated apologised to the men.
