Dear Editor,
We the residents of Charlestown have an urgent request to have a gentleman who goes by the alias “Short man”, be removed from the area permanently, as this individual has been a threat to the safety and security of innocent citizens of the Charlestown & surrounding wards of Georgetown area for many years now and nobody seems to be doing anything about it. Among the offenses this individual has committed in recent years are: –
1. Threats to burn down residents houses. All hours of the day and night he shouts using vulgar and threating language to those living close residents are unable to study or sleep
2. Stabbing of a Haitian national who lives in this neighbourhood. To everybody’s unpleasant surprise, “short man” was released from Police custody because the Haitian was “illegal” in Guyana.
3. Habitually and without being provoked, jumps over fences into residents’ yards, throwing broken bottles at people and in yards of this neighbourhood.
4. Regularly whipping out a sharp knife at and threatening to kill innocent passers-by who walk along the pavements of Charlestown, particularly the area between Princess and Drysdale Streets.
5. On several occasions released from police custody on self-bail for threatening to kill and physically attacking them.
6. Was placed before the court for attempting to kill two public servants. While the victims pleaded with the Magistrate to send him for a psychiatric evaluation or the National Psychiatric Hospital the magistrate claimed he had no knowledge on the process, instead he was placed on bail and sent home. Subsequently an arrest warrant was issued but he never returned to court and continues to roam freely.
7. As of the 24/12/2022 he was at the gate of a resident of Drysdale Street (video footage available) threatening the life of a public servant with a long knife.
Assistance is being sought from the Minister of Home Affairs and the Minister of Health. This is both a social and public health matter of concern if the present intolerable situation continues, there’s the fear that somebody will be killed. And it seems many people are afraid of “Short man”, because criminals like him seem to have more rights in Guyana than their victims. Sad to say, protection from the police from “Short man” seems to be non-existent. This nuisance to society is often seen standing for hours unending outside the Rentokil office at the corner of Charles and Drysdale Streets, Charlestown, day & night.
Grateful for an immediate and sustained action on this serious issue, before something dreadful happens.
Sincerely,
Concerned Residents of Charlestown
