Police Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum yesterday said that protests along the West Berbice are inhibiting investigations into the gruesome murders over the weekend of Isaiah and Joel Henry.
During a press conference yesterday afternoon convened by Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn with the Heads of the Joint Services, Blanhum assured that a “thorough and comprehensive” investigation is currently ongoing in the matter.
“We promise that we will be doing a thorough investigation. A very comprehensive investigation and that is currently being done,” he said.
As of yesterday afternoon, Blanhum said seven suspects remains in police custody. Among them are a coconut estate owner, his son, three of his employees and two coconut vendors.
The suspects hail from Cotton Tree Village and Number Three Village, West Coast Berbice.
Blanhum added that the police are also pursuing three other individuals.
He explained that efforts are being made to locate these individuals but the investigators are being obstructed by the protestors. “We are trying our utmost to locate these individuals. However, because of the prevailing circumstances, our efforts have been stymied to some extent. So I would want to take this opportunity also to ask persons not to obstruct investigators,” he said.
According to Blanhum, ranks investigating the matter experienced difficulties when attempting to visit the crime scene. On their way back to Georgetown on Monday night, he said they were also stranded in Berbice. “And these are some of the difficulties that we are confronted with in terms of conducting our investigation in an expeditious manner,” Blanhum noted.
As such, Commissioner of Police (ag) Nigel Hoppie urged members of the public to be patient as the police conduct a “professional” investigation into the matter.
“….We are continuing to urge citizens to exercise patience while we conduct a professional investigation…..We need to ensure that we are permitted to engage the residents and to revisit the crime scene which is critical in this investigation,” Hoppie said.
Meanwhile, Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Brigadier Godfrey Bess assured that the Joint Services, especially the Guyana Police Force (GPF) will leave no stones unturn during the probe.
“…The Joint Services, more so the Guyana Police Force will leave no stones unturned in assuring that this matter is investigated thoroughly and the perpetrators are brought to justice,” Bess noted.
Blanhum added that “some” evidence was recovered from the crime scene which will be submitted to the Guyana Forensic Laboratory at the earliest opportunity for processing.
He said no suspected murder weapon/s was found.
Benn stated that he saw statements being circulated, suggesting that the crime was “racially motivated”.
Benn described this as very “unsettling and unfortunate”. “I find this very unsettling and unfortunate that certain of these statements have been made. I want to call on those persons to lend their efforts to have those persons and communities with whom they have influence to desist from unlawful practices related to these events,” the Minister urged.
The police on Sunday said that the bodies of Isaiah Henry and Joel Henry were found about 600 feet from each other in clumps of bush near to a coconut farm.
Isaiah, 16, a student at the Woodley Park Secondary School, and Joel, 18, attached to the Blairmont Estate, went missing last Saturday after they left home to head to the backlands to pick coconuts.
Army support
Benn during the update yesterday said that the operation is now a Joint Services one which aims at restoring normalcy in the affected areas. “The police operation has now moved on to having the support of the Guyana Defence Force, the Guyana Fire Service, so that it is now a Joint Services operation to restore calm and order to the affected areas,” he said.
Benn said “unfortunately” there have been repeated incidents whereby motorists and other individuals have been attacked, robbed, vehicles damaged and other “unlawful” and “unruly” incidents which run the risk of a descent into lawlessness.
“I continue to urge the Guyana Police Force and all law abiding persons in the area and beyond to lend support and to execute the task of restoring order to the area so that commuters are safe and that normal activities can be conducted in safety,” Benn noted.
He pleaded with members of the public to desist from unlawful actions and to support the efforts of the Joint Services in restoring law and order in their respective areas.
“The continued blocking of the roadways will only continue to create a situation where the early resolution of the determination of who are the perpetrators of the crime could be determined. So again, I want to point out that persons who have interest in the area, whether it’s political or communal, that those persons should continue to urge persons from the communities to avoid having a continued breakdown in the law and order situation on the West Coast of Berbice area and to avoid a situation where we bring harm to each other,” Benn urged.
Hoppie noted that members of the Joint Services remain on the ground and are working “tirelessly” to calm the situation.
No longer tolerant
As the situation continues to escalate and in some instances resulting in violence, Bess said that members of the Joint Services have exercised restraint but cannot exercise tolerance when the protest actions degenerate into unlawful acts.
“At this time, we wish to apprise that our ranks are exercising extreme restraint in consideration of the circumstances surrounding the deaths of Joel and Isiah Henry. Notwithstanding the circumstances, the Joint Services … while acknowledging the rights of individuals to peaceful protest can no long exercise tolerance when protest actions degenerate into unlawful acts,” the Chief of Staff explained.
Similar sentiments were expressed by the acting Commissioner of Police who said that the force will have to take the necessary actions and responses.
“The Guyana Police Force takes this opportunity to warn residents to desist from blocking the roads as it is illegal….we urge that you work with us as we continue to strengthen the relationship with the communities,” Hoppie urged.
