Dear Editor,
The screaming front page news that CANU Officers, Annick Hossanah and Jamine Goddard were recently charged for stealing a quantity of diamonds from a Surinamese man, comes as no surprise to me, as an active member of the Guyana Bar. The swallowing of the diamonds to conceal it however, is surprising. This reveals the length to which these CANU officers would go to carry out their nefarious conduct. As a Defence Attorney-at -law, I represent clients charged with possession of narcotics. One common revelation coming from my clients concerns the conduct and behaviour of CANU ranks, always demanding money, as a bribe to let them go. When none could be given, the CANU tact changes to aggression, physical beatings, etc. to extract admission and confession. I am currently involved in a matter, where my clients instructed me that $10,000,000.00 (Ten Million dollars) was demanded from them to be released. Because they could not pay the bribe demanded, they were stripped naked, tied like iguanas, waste oil poured over their bodies, and a rag lit and passed over them, threatening to cremate them alive. Because this matter is still sub-judice, I will not divulge any more details, save and except to say, that the example provided above is not dissimilar to the experience of other persons detained by CANU, and told to me.
Most recently, in a video recording that went viral several CANU Officers were seen invading a Lethem resident’s private property, armed with long guns and shot at a dog that was barking in the yard. The aggressive behaviour of the CANU officers, clearly was unwarranted and attracted another Law Enforcement Agency’s intervention. On Sunday June 25/2023, CANU ranks in Lethem arrested Lorlyne Nadine Jeffers, after they allegedly found in a small open building in the yard where she resides, detached from her home, a quantity of narcotics (Cannabis Sativa). It was not found on her person, nor in her in her home but in a yard that was unfenced. Ms. Jeffers denied any knowledge of the narcotics. Ms. Jeffers who is 6 months pregnant, was placed in custody and kept for over 72 hours in detention. Being pregnant she began to suffer severe side effects, as a result of her having to sit on a chair and bench for protracted periods of time and not allowed to move around. Her feet were swollen, back aching and she began to experience side effects that still could impair her pregnancy. Despite her obvious painful condition, she was subjected to rigorous interrogation by CANU ranks headed by one Quinsi Holder.
I made contact with Quinsi Holder, to whom I am no stranger, as he was subjected to severe cross examination by me, in matters before the Court. Our conversation was generally cordial, in the beginning. However, after learning yesterday that my client was moved from the Lethem Police Station and taken to an unknown location, I made contact with Quinsi Holder. I advised him that my client has nothing new to provide to him, but he insisted in a most aggressive, arrogant, rude and disrespectful manner, to state he can interrogate her, notwithstanding being warned about violating her legal and constitutional rights and protection.. I told Holder, and will repeat here that he should focus his energy on finding the missing diamonds belonging to the Surinamese man stolen by CANU ranks, rather than subjecting my pregnant client, who was in pain to his aggressive conduct. I cautioned him that were my client to suffer any medical mishap, lose her child, that he and CANU would face the consequences of their criminal conduct, in a competent court of law.
After our conversation ended Holder called me on my cell phone in a most threatening, aggressive and loud manner, stating that I was being disrespectful. He made no mention about the care and welfare of my client who was in pain and six months pregnant. I am instructed by my client that another CANU Officer, Ryan Williams, who was present in her company, when all of this was taking place, declared to my client Nadine Jeffers, that when he returns to Georgetown, he will seek me out and slap me, because I mentioned about the missing diamonds and that was disrespectful. Those who know me, know that I am not fearful of anyone, and not moved by any threat or aggression. God spared my life to help people and at my age and station in life, no one could intimidate me. However, when there is threat of physical violence directed to an Officer of the Court, it becomes a very serious matter. The question that surfaces is whether this is symptomatic of a culture within CANU where threats, force, intimidation and outright criminal wrongdoing, are the order of the day.
Notwithstanding my protestation, and my client’s protest the CANU group in Lethem led by Quinsi Holder, proceeded doing video interviews on 2 separate occasions with my 6 months’ pregnant client. She refused to do the interview but was forced to participate. Late yesterday afternoon my client was released on her own recognizance, after being detained for more than 72 hours.
She is to report back on Monday to the Lethem Police Station. I have not reported this matter to James Singh, Head of CANU, as I think it would be a waste of time. Moreover, his energies are needed to find the Surinamese man’s missing Diamonds. “CANU was established in 1995. Our National Drugs and Psychotropic Substance (Control) Act 1988, was amended in 1999 to facilitate the legal preparation of the Unit and to give it the same authority to enforce it, as the Guyana Police Force”. When any agency like CANU goes rogue, as appears to be the case here and other instances, it must be re-examined to determine whether it is serving the purpose for which it was created, and whether it operates outside the law.
Sincerely,
Jerome Khan
Attorney-at-Law
