Re-migrant suing police over vehicular accident

May 15, 2008 News

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A Buxtonian was forced to resort to legal action following months of frustration, after waiting on police action in relation to an accident involving his vehicle and a police pick-up near the Friendship Public Road, East Coast Demerara.

Leslie Griffith, a re-migrant whose bus BHH 4204 hurtled into the Friendship trench after it was struck from behind by a speeding police vehicle PJJ 9969 on February 21, last, told this newspaper that since the accident occurred, the errant driver has not been charged despite the recommendations of the Director of Public Prosecutions that is done.

Griffith, who operates a grocery store at Ithaca, West Bank Berbice, believes that the frustration over the significant loss, coupled with the police’s inaction, led to the death of his wife, Carlotta Paul, one month after the incident.
The driver of Griffith’s bus, Hemraj Sheonarine, recalled that at about 15:30 hours on the day of the accident, he was transporting passengers into Buxton and had indicated that he was about to turn into the village from the public road.

According to Sheonarine, he had already turned into Friendship Road when he heard the screech of tyres and then felt an impact.

Before he could react, the bus ended up in a nearby trench.

Sheonarine told this newspaper that when he emerged from the bus with the remaining passengers, he was accosted by the driver of the police vehicle who told him that he had failed to obey the siren.
“The vehicle didn’t have no siren and the rest of passengers confirmed this,” Sheonarine said.
He explained that when this did not work, the police driver then accused him of transporting criminals and urged him to get the bus out of the trench.
When this could not be done, the police driver went away.

A while later a traffic rank arrived on the scene and after the bus was pulled from the trench, he advised Sheonarine to report to the station “whenever you feel like”.

Griffith was contacted and when he thought that this was a straightforward case he was in for a surprise. He told Kaieteur News that upon arriving at Buxton, he contacted the police at the nearby Vigilance Police Station where he was advised that the matter will have to be sent for advice.

When he learnt that the police vehicles are not covered by insurance, Griffith contacted his attorney.
He subsequently obtained the registration number of the police vehicle with a view to proceeding with legal action.

“I kept checking with the police to find out what the position was and I ended up going to see the Traffic Chief two weeks ago. He was very helpful,” Griffith related.

He said the Traffic Chief informed him that the DPP had returned the file with the recommendation that the driver of the police vehicle be charged, and that he, Griffith, should check with the police on the East Coast of Demerara, which he did.

On Tuesday last he learnt that the file was actually at the Vigilance Police Station.
This newspaper was on hand when the police informed that a message was sent for the police driver so that the charge could be read to him.

Yesterday, the police again contacted the driver and Griffith waited for several hours for the driver to turn up, but he never did.
“After I left, the police promised to call me but so far I have not heard from them. I must say, though, that the police at Vigilance, especially Corporal Payne, have also been very helpful,” Griffith told this newspaper.
Kaieteur News understands that the driver of the police vehicle has been informed that he is to appear at the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court today.
This has caused a lot of stress. My wife died one month after because of this,” he added.
According to Griffith, when the accident occurred he stayed at Buxton to get his vehicle repaired and his wife visited him from Ithaca.
She complained that she was feeling unwell and Griffith advised her to see a doctor, who eventually diagnosed her as having high blood pressure.
“I asked her what she was worrying about and she told me that it was the bus,” Griffith who returned home from Antigua a few years ago told Kaieteur News.
He explained that since returning to Guyana, he and his wife had invested heavily after having secured loans from a private lending institution. They were also planning to establish a bakery at Ithaca.
But the recent running around to get justice from the police has taken a heavy toll.
“I don’t cry to people but I cry every night. I try to remain calm. It’s frustrating. I could have stayed in Antigua but I decided to invest to make a home.
Now I am planning to just sell everything and quit,” Griffith lamented.
He said that he has already spent more than $500,000 to repair his bus and will be keeping his lawyer informed about the progress of the matter.

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