Protestors at Home Affairs Ministry call for inquiry

Aug 18, 2011 News

Allegations of police links with drug dealers…

After damning evidence of links between senior police officers and local drug barons surfaced, calls were made by protestors yesterday in front of the Ministry of Home Affairs for an independent inquiry into the allegations.
Present at the protest were; Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) General Secretary Lincoln Lewis, Kaieteur News Columnist Freddie Kissoon, GTUC President Norris Witter, Social activist Mark Benchop and a concerned citizen.
Some of the placards read; “Merai name the politicians in drugs”; “Investigate CANU”; “Why Rohee couldn’t get a VISA?”; “We need justice, the police cannot investigate itself”, “Greene and team must give way” and “Rohee must act on Merai’s allegations.”
According to Mark Benchop, the allegation which revealed that senior police officers are protecting drug lords in the country is despicable, and it is time that the Police Force start protecting citizens instead of being involved in illegalities.
“The Minister of Home Affairs, Mr Clement Rohee needs to ensure that an independent inquiry is carried out. We do not want police to be investigating police. That is a no, no!” Benchop asserted.

Protestors in front of the Ministry of Home Affairs yesterday.

Political activist and Columnist Freddie Kissoon said that there must be an investigation of ruling politicians’ links to drug traffickers.
“It is not senior policemen only, its politicians. Why Mr Merai has pinpointed only police officers? He may have his reasons because he works in the Guyana Police Force, but Mr Merai knows that there are ruling politicians too and we want a total investigation….and this must not be done by police or Mr Rohee.”
According to TUC President Norris Witter, the Police Force has a negative image and many allegations in the organization and government need to be investigated for there to be a clean slate and for them to have a new image.
GTUC General Secretary Lincoln Lewis said the allegations being made are only at the tip of the iceberg since, “when a senior police officer has to make allegations that his peers are being part and parcel of protecting drug lords…it tells you what is happening in society since they are being paid to serve and protect, but they are serving by breaking the law.”
Lewis said that the cancer of corruption is spreading too quickly and the situation needs to be dealt with before it worsens.
“If the top ranks are so corrupt at that level what do you expect the Corporals and Constables to do when their money can’t pay a house rent?…When people call for an investigation they feel you are anti-government but its anti-injustice, anti-wrong, anti-breaking the law, it is declaring a war on illegalities in society,” Lewis said.
Recently Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee had told reporters that he was having ‘serious discussions’ with Police Commissioner Henry Greene about alleged police involvement in the drug trade.