President chides GPF over number of unsolved murders

Apr 25, 2014 News

– says low rate of prosecution also cause for concern

President Donald Ramotar expressed his dissatisfaction with the increasing number of unsolved crimes which are plaguing the Guyana Police Force. The Head of State while delivering the feature address at the opening of the Police Officers Annual Conference yesterday said that there is an alarmingly high incidence of unresolved crimes and low rates of prosecution, resulting largely from police failures.
According to Ramotar, these two issues can have serious consequences. He stressed that these could lead to heightened criminal activities within the country.
The president said that all the blame “should not and is not being place solely on the police”. He said that he has already spoken to the Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall to address the issue with the judicial authorities.
Ramotar expressed his total disapproval at two highly debated cases. One is the ‘Bourda shooting’ when local club cricketer Carlyle Barton was seen on surveillance camera shooting another man. Several months after being charged, Barton was released after pertinent witnesses failed to attend court and give evidence.
The second case which the Head of State made reference to was that of businessman Randy Jagdeo. Jagdeo was charged with the murder of biker Kurt Davis. According to the president this case was truly heart-rending and shows possible scheming.
“He had a motorcycle waiting on him at the court…It shows that he must have known what was going to happen that day!” the President stressed.
Ramotar noted that it was totally unacceptable for persons to escape justice because of poor preparedness of cases by Prosecutors, failure to ensure witnesses attend Court, failure to apply for witness summons, discrepancy in evidence and Police Officers failing to attend Court, all of which have been the result of failed prosecutions in recent times. He said that there must be an improvement to ensure that there is value for money.
The President also said that there should be greater collaboration between all the disciplined forces and the judiciary. Working together, he stressed, would help to put an end to criminal activities, lest it is encouraged and fostered locally. He said that if this is continued they would create an avalanche of crimes within the society.
The Guyana Police Force has been coming under increased criticism for its failures with many cases in the court. There have been concerns that the Force has not been doing enough to get witnesses to attend court and ensure that they offer evidence in matters before the court.
Meanwhile, the Director of Public Prosecutions, Shalimar Ali-Hack, who was also present at the Police Conference, said that she has given the Magistrate direction to reopen the Barton case and to find and get a further statement from the missing witness in the Jagdeo matter.
According to the DDP, they had sent for the depositions in the Jagdeo matter and the witness who didn’t testify was supposed to give a further statement when it came for advice. The file was sent back to the police for them to find the witnesses, take further statements, and return it to the DPP Chambers.

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President chides GPF over number of unsolved murders

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