These two police ranks are terrorizing Albouystown residents

Aug 05, 2012 Letters

Dear Editor,
I write to draw to the attention of the public and those in authority a pattern of abuse towards the residents of Albouystown by two police patrols headed by Cadet Officers (names given) which, if left unchecked, could further tarnish the image of the Guyana Police Force and the reputation of the hardworking and honest members of this law enforcement body. It is lamentable that this type of indiscriminate behavior comes at a time when the force is striving to rebuild the trust it lost in citizens of communities such as Albouystown and also at a time when the cooperation of law abiding citizens is needed to combat heightened criminal activity.
The former Speaker of the National Assembly, Ralph Ramkarran was spot-on when he noted (Stabroek News 2012-05-14) that “young men in their twenties and thirties who drive motor vehicles, especially if they are new cars, SUVs or pick-up trucks” and those also “riding motor cycles” are being targeted by “rude, power hungry policemen.”
From my own personal experiences this seems to be the case with these cadet officers. If the former speaker’s son (also a member of the legal profession) could be treated in such a manner by these ranks, who by their own admission are acting without the fear of recrimination, then one can just imagine the abuse hapless residents of this community are being made to endure. One such incident which immediately comes to mind is the brutality meted out against Gregory ‘Bird’ Payne in full view of at least 50 persons on May 27 by one of the cadet officers and his squad. Payne was searched and taken out of a yard, then repeatedly stomped about his body. One rank held unto a GPL lamp pole as Payne lay on the ground in an effort to better position himself for the assault. He also had his bicycle thrown on him in the police van. This happened even as onlookers who were warned against filming the incident berated them, only to be told ‘alyuh could tell who the (expletive) ya’ll want’. Payne who was later charged for possession of a firearm and 4 matching rounds of ammunition had his initial ‘guilty’ plea changed to ‘not guilty’ after he related his ordeal to the presiding Magistrate. Video evidence depicting some parts of the assault was provided along with this letter.
Payne’s case is by no means an isolated one as another member of this community and her brother were similarly brutalized. A female resident as assaulted and insulted when she tried to rescue her brother from a “sound thrashing” by the other cadet officer and his men.
The woman later said she believed the policemen “stormed through the area with the intention of killing someone.” Similar stories of abuse, extortion, harassment and brutality by these ranks can be heard at almost every corner throughout Albouystown.
My most recent encounter with this rank and his men happened on the evening of July 3rd when a relative of mine parked his motorcycle on our bridge and proceeded to a friend’s home a few corners away. The rank made some enquiries as to the owner of the motorcycle and even though the owner’s location was pointed out and an effort made to have him provide the necessary documentation they still took possession of his motorcycle after becoming very abusive, issuing threats and charging “ya’ll cud call who eva ya’ll wan”.
Enquiries were then made at the Ruimveldt Police station about the location of the seized motorcycle and my relatives and I were shocked when we initially learnt that no one was aware of its location. A rank that recognized me from an earlier visit I made at the behest of a senior police officer than radioed the cadet officer who turned up by himself to say that the seized
motorcycle was at police headquarters, Eve Leary and that a verification of the authenticity of the documents will take several days, thus it will remain impounded.
Over the past two months or so residents of Albouystown have had to suffer a host of abuse at the hands of patrols headed by these two ranks who are yet to be confirmed as officers. The level of disdain and disrespect shown is alarming and even more so is the fact that these guys act as though they are beyond reproach. I was told that one of these ranks has at least four disciplinary matters currently pending before the police OPR. It is time that serious action is taken against this rank and his like-minded colleagues.
(Name provided)

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These two police ranks are terrorizing Albouystown residents

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