Ranks still to receive Neil Bovell reward

Nov 07, 2008 News

“We went on that operation even without vests and we could have lost our lives”

“I ain’t killing nobody no more. I just protecting meself,” said a frustrated police rank who was part of the team that tracked down and killed notorious fugitive, Neil Bovell.
It’s been almost two years since Bovell’s reign on terror ended on the West Bank of Demerara and to date the ranks who risked their lives to kill him have not received a penny of the promised reward of $3M.
Yesterday ranks on the West Demerara complained about the situation even as they were called out to hunt down a gang of criminals who had robbed the GUYSUCO Wales Estate payroll.

Joint Services ranks hunt criminals on the West Bank of Demerara.

Their complaints came in the wake of news that their colleagues in the Joint Services had benefited from the $60M reward that the government offered for the killing of wanted men Rondell ‘Fine Man’ Rawlins and Jermaine Charles, called ‘Skinny’.
Earlier this year, this newspaper had contacted Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee who had indicated that the ranks were paid.
This newspaper also understands that the person who provided the tip had indicated that he was not interested in the reward.
But according to one of the 10 ranks who were on the Bovell operation, apart from the annual police reward, no mention is being made about the government reward that was offered for the capture or killing of the late fugitive.
“We went on that operation even without vests and we could have lost our lives. They ain’t telling we nothing about de money,” the rank said.
On December 27, 2006, the three-year manhunt for Bovell ended when he was gunned down by the police at Inner Stanleytown, West Bank Demerara.
The ex-cop was riddled with bullets as he fled from his father’s house in an attempt to seek refuge in a thickly vegetated area nearby.
The police had received a call from someone in the area that Bovell was at his father’s house. A senior rank and a party of policemen responded in an unmarked car.
Upon seeing the ranks, Bovell, who was reportedly preparing to cook a meal, made a dash for freedom, but by then the ranks had managed to surround the area.
Bovell led the ranks on a dramatic chase through a muddy track, dodging bullets.
He managed to flee as far as a few lots away but was eventually cornered and killed.
Bovell’s father is currently before the courts charged with harbouring a fugitive.