Dear Editor,
Please allow me space to have a burning issue raised through your paper.
I have had several persons come to me and report that they were beaten and/or shot by police and some of these reports made the newspapers. The question is what has been done to make the victims feel that justice was done and that they should be assured that this type of bullyism by the police would be curbed.
On all of the occasions that I mention the victims were advised to go, and we went together, to the office that houses the Police Complaints Authority in New Amsterdam. There, statements were taken from each victim and they were all told that the matter would be handled. Yet after years, no complainant has ever heard anything about his/her complaint.
I will mention just two matters for now to make my point. That of Chan and Rooney. To date, and some five years later I have not heard anything in relation to the complaint filed against Plater and Williams in the matter of Chan and after two years plus I have not heard anything in relation to the matter of Rooney against (Insp Cumberbatch). Cumberbatch who is based in Georgetown came to Berbice on an apparent mercenary mission and shot an un-armed Rooney. Cumberbatch has not been charged. In fact all of the police mentioned are still employed and even promoted and the victims are still wondering what has become of the complaints they made. As a matter of courtesy or perhaps right, the complainant should be informed as to the findings of the complaint filed.
The question I would like to ask the Chairman of the Police Complaints Authority is what is he doing in relation to complaints filed against police personnel?
Does he have a part to play in the investigation and/or findings or the disciplining of guilty police—or has anyone been found guilty at all?
Let me add that it was just a few days ago that the Chairman of the Authority, Justice Kennard (retired) made available a list of complaints filed and those that were deemed frivolous but the goodly gentleman has made no mention of what action (s) was/were taken against any police. I still ask, why is Cumberbatch still a member of the force?
The truth of the matter is after going public and filing a complaint against the police, the persons who file the complaints are targeted by the police.
Audrey Cummings is one such person. She filed a complaint against Cpl Thomas, alleging that Thomas broke her hand. A few weeks later the police ranks invaded her home, without a warrant and damaged her door, wardrobe and wrestled with the woman to take her camera away because she was filming the uncivilized actions of the very disciplined Guyana Police Force.
This woman had her hand in a cast for weeks and still cannot use her fingers after she was allegedly beaten by Thomas and yet ranks of the CID, which has Thomas as the SO, were involved in a raid on her home, where she lives with her two very young children. Oh, nothing was found (hhmmmm) and Cummings was charged with assaulting a policeman and damage to property. Yes, Audrey Cummings was charged. As a matter of principle Thomas should have stayed out of any allegation against this woman until the complaint against him is resolved. But will I or Audrey Cummings know anything about the findings of the Complaints Authority?
Yours faithfully,
Charrandass Persaud
Editor’s note:
A copy of this letter is being sent to the Police Complaints Authority for any comment it may wish to make.
