As questions continue to linger as to why the police were unable to protect hundreds of persons who were stranded during the October 11 Agricola protest from criminal elements, security expert and opposition leader, retired Brigadier David Granger puts it down to bad policing.
Granger, a former member of the Disciplinary Forces Commission said that from his assessment there was an inadequate number of policemen who were unable to bring the protestors under control during the early stages. Another failing of the force, he said, was the inability to anticipate the gravity of the disturbance.
There had been reports that persons were robbed of valuables and vehicles damaged during the unrest and although police have not publically addressed the issues, officials had said that while there was information circulating about the criminal actions, no reports were filed by the police.
Stabroek News made several attempts to contact Police Commissioner (ag) Leroy Brumell to clear up outstanding questions surrounding the events of that day, but was unsuccessful.
Speaking to Stabroek News last Friday, Granger, leader of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), expressed the view that the actual police procedure in dealing with disorder on that day was clearly inadequate. He said this was reflected in the number of policemen deployed and their failure to maintain the security of the East Bank Highway.
He said that based on reports the unrest began around 1.30 pm and had policemen been deployed in the appropriate strength around that time then they would have been able to maintain control.
According to Granger, more emphasis should have been placed on keeping the roadway clear.
He said there was the actual failure to anticipate the gravity of the disturbance as later that afternoon police were still finding it difficult. It was pointed out that police should not have used tear gas. During this period several residents including babies had to be rushed to the hospital for medical attention after inhaling the tear gas.
Granger who has over the years been critical of the force, noted that it has not had the benefit of any serious security sector reform, which could come in useful when disturbances occur. “Government needs to go back to the drawing board and get some serious security sector reform,” he stressed.
He said the police need proper resources and to be properly commanded.
Further, he added that because of the building tension between the force and the community, which increased following the September fatal shooting of 17-year-old Shaquille Grant, the disorder should have been anticipated.
Granger again made it clear that his party had not organised the protest, noting that it was of a spontaneous nature.
Meanwhile, another former member of the DFC, Attorney General Anil Nandlall admitted that the police did not respond to the situation as they should have, but he noted that the ranks were also victims.
He said that because of the onslaught which has been launched against the police by the opposition politicians and organisations purporting to represent human rights after the Linden incident, “the police obviously found themselves in the very invidious position of not being able to discharge their statutory mandate and responsibilities under the police act and public order legislation to prevent crime to arrest persons committing crimes and maintain law and order.”
He said that when a police force is placed in such precarious position “you will have a rise in public disorder and criminality”.
According to Nandlall, “Police went into a passive mode essentially absorbing the attacks and not responding to repel such a situation using minimum force as the law requires them to do.”
He told Stabroek News that the DFC never recommended or contemplated the police displaying impotence in the face of a breakdown of law and order and criminal conduct, which is not something that should ever be recommended.
He said that it was quite unfortunate is no victims made reports. “The police themselves were victims of criminal assault based on the TV footage that I saw. Apparatus which the police were issued with were taken away including their shields.
“The police in my view should be urged to institute criminal charges against these people based upon their own eyewitness accounts and the several footages which are available. The law is there for that to be done.”
Police have since issued a warning over lawless protests. According to a press release, on October 11, a large number of persons who claimed to be protesting following the death of Shaquille Grant who was fatally shot during a police operation on September 11 in Agricola, blocked both carriageways of the East Bank Demerara roadway with the use of burning tyres, other debris and obstacles, bringing traffic to a standstill and leaving thousands of commuters, including the elderly and school children, stranded for several hours.
“In addition, criminal elements seized the opportunity presented and proceeded to rob and beat persons who had sought alternative routes through the village. The unruly protestors, some of whom were armed with cutlasses and pieces of wood, continually threw incendiary devices, bricks, bottles and other missiles at the police ranks engaged in maintaining law and order, resulting in many of them being hit. One rank, Corporal Kwesi Lawrence of the Tactical Services Unit, sustained burns to both thighs and an injury to his left eye,” the release said adding that as a result of the protestors’ behaviour, police used rubber bullets and tear smoke.
“While we have been showing considerable restraint, the force cannot and will not allow persons who appear to be using the pretext of protesting to cause mayhem and confusion in the society,” the police said while noting that it was the primary law enforcement agency responsible for public safety, the maintenance of law and order and the protection of life and property.
Crime Chief Seelall Persaud told Stabroek News subsequently, that the police have received information that persons were robbed during the unrest but no one had come forward to make an official police report.
One victim had recounted to this newspaper that men with jerseys tied around their faces attack her and her husband and demanded that she hand over her valuables. She did as she was told. This was around 8:30 pm. The following day when she was as she was attempting to drive pass the community the front windscreen of her car was broken.
The woman who owns a business in the city had said that she did not report the matter to police since she felt that the amount taken was insignificant and because of the fact that she was not harmed during the incident.
Based on information from police sources about 50 ranks were deployed to the area but they only paid attention to the actual protest and not the hundreds of people who were stranded on both sides of the thoroughfare for hours.
