The Colwyn Harding affair

Jan 27, 2014 Letters

Dear Editor,
The saga of the alleged torture/brutalization of a young man by the most junior rank (Constable) in the Guyana Police Force (GPF), in the presence of a Subordinate Officer (Corporal) and an Inspector (a junior gazetted rank), all from that institution (GPF), speaks volumes of the extent of the degradation and volatility, of what was, and should be described as a “Contitutional and disciplined service.” There has been a spate of break and enter and larceny offences committed on the dwellings of residents within our community.
These incidents were reported to the police on every occasion. The results were anticipated, as it became a norm; the police paid little or no attention to the complaints of the victims. It was also observed that there were several suspicious looking characters lurking about. Other events that were suspicious to us, but purely speculative, lend credence to a collective suspicion about the inactivity of the Police. Information reaching our community suggests that all is not what it appears to be at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), and with its Management wielding undue influence and assumed authority over the police high command at Timehri Police Station. Due to the state of ‘limbo’ that the government would have our residents live under, a smattering few have removed themselves, and in so doing, abandoned their homes.
An exaggerated guess would suggest an amount close to four. This includes the house where Mr. Colwyn Harding was apprehended, and allegedly tortured and sodomized by the members of the GPF and witnessed by members of the Soesdyke Community Policing Group (CPG). It must be noted that the Guyana Fire Service Station and its senior officers are no less than 150 feet and 50 feet respectively from the house in question. There are other dwelling houses and a Church in closer proximity. At the time of the alleged incident, the area would have been very quiet.
It must be noted also, that the CJIA management came out with a statement subsequent to this incident, as was published in the dailies (Kaieteur News Thursday, November 21, 2013 p15 and 24 respectively) and of which an endorsement and caution with further intimidation by the Minister of Public Works and Transport , Mr. Robeson Benn. These series of events allowed us a strengthening of belief and a deeper insight into the deceptiveness and shenanigans being employed to frustrate and our residents and to demonize our community. The incarceration of a resident and his wife as a result of cannabis found in their home and which was selected for disclosure by the Airport Authorities, failed to speak on the removal of all the furnishing etc. that were in the home which included a large sum of cash that was allegedly unaccounted for at the station and in its record.
We are repeatedly regaled by Mr. Benn about the alleged criminal Rondell Rawlings and what possibilities that could have been, the sad thing is that we will never know. He was killed, bullet riddled so that no information could have been forthcoming! The touting of, and the , reference to the ‘stolen runway lights valued at thousands of US dollars,’ is a story better told by the Airport authority under oath and cross examination.
Its recovery and whose possession it was in along with why was the culprit, not charged is the same as, whose possession was the expensive cell phone that was stolen from the assaulted Chinese national, found and why he too was not prosecuted. The Navigational Aids storage facility is far removed from Timehri North, but its proximity to the Kali Road community (Timehri South area) is unbelievably close. Yet the Timehri North is called into focus.
While we support the “Guyana Police Force” for taking any professional action consistent with acceptable procedure and norms as is stipulated it its Standing Orders, we condemn, in the strongest manner, any rogue type action by its members and call on the Parliament of Guyana and more so the people of this Cooperative Republic, to wake up and take back Guyana from the clutches of the evil that prevails.
Daniel Fraser
Chairman, Timehri Community Development Council

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The Colwyn Harding affair

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