Dear Editor,
Cognisant of statements attributed to the President of the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) Mr Colin Bynoe, concerning the arrest of teacher Ronald Forde at the Fort Wellington Secondary School, West Coast Berbice, on Monday January 24, 2011, which have been published in the media, the Guyana Police Force is refuting claims that excessive force was used, that heavily armed ranks blocked the entrance to the school, that the teacher was arrested in his classroom, and that students were taken away for interviewing without the Headmaster’s consent, and wishes to clarify the matter.
Following a report received the very day of alleged sexual molestation of female students by a teacher at the school, at about 10.00h on January 24, 2011, Divisional Commander Assistant Commissioner Steve Merai and a team of plain clothes police detectives including a female rank, who were all unarmed, went to the Fort Wellington Secondary School where contact was made with the Headmaster Mr Brian George in his office.
While in his office the police informed the Headmaster of the allegations being made against the teacher and that they wished to speak to him. The Headmaster then summoned the teacher to his office where he was subsequently arrested and escorted to the Central Police Station. The use of handcuffs by the police in effecting the arrest is standard operations procedure and cannot be considered as the use of excessive force.
Members of an armed police patrol that was passing at the time and who had observed the police vehicle and ranks, stopped on the roadway in front of the entrance to the school to make enquiries. These ranks were not a part of the team that went to the Fort Wellington Secondary School to deal with the matter and at no time did the armed ranks enter the school compound.
Subsequent investigations led to two female detectives returning to the school where the Headmaster was again contacted and informed that the police wished to interview four female students who were in the school at the time. Contrary to reports in the media that the Headmaster turned down this request, the police ranks were given approval by the Headmaster who sent along the Deputy Head teacher Ms Kim Lewis to accompany the students to the station.
While on their way to the Central Police Station they were joined by two female officers from the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security based in Region 5, Ms Nicholson and Ms Davidson, who were at the school at the time.
The parents of two of the children also subsequently came to the station. The children were all sent away with their parents after the interview.
The Guyana Police Force wishes to reiterate that it has to do its duty and take action when reports are made, which in this instance was professionally done in keeping with the official procedures, and while there may have been some amount of trauma to some students the Force has a job to do.
Yours faithfully,
Ivelaw Whittaker
Public Relations and Press Officer
