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Police note PPP speakers’ comments on Crum-Ewing murder
By Dale Andrews
Recent political utterances on the death of anti-government protestor, Courtney Crum-Ewing, including
President Donald Ramotar
those made by President Donald Ramotar and former Head of State Bharat Jagdeo, have not gone unnoticed by the police.
While the statements have political undertones, both Crime Chief Leslie James and Divisional Commander, Clifton Hicken, are maintaining that the investigations into the matter will not be influenced by persons who have their own axe to grind.
“What the politicians say has nothing to do with the direction of the investigations,” Hicken declared when contacted by this newspaper for a response to the insinuations and finger pointing.
The latest utterance occurred on Sunday when former President Jagdeo suggested that Crum-Ewing might have been killed to boost the opposition elections campaign.
Crum-Ewing was gunned down on March 11 in Diamond while using a bull horn to urge residents there to vote against the ruling party.
Speaking at the People’s Progressive Party’s rally in Kitty, Jagdeo said that Crum-Ewing, a former army officer, could have been killed for the PNC to send their messages of racism.
“The police need to find out urgently who did this and I am telling you if they do that you would probably be shocked to find out who killed this guy,” Jagdeo told the crowd of PPP supporters.
His sentiments echoed that of President Ramotar who two weeks ago, told Berbice businessmen that
Former President Bharrat Jagdeo
Crum-Ewing was more a nuisance than a threat to his party.
“If his death was political as they are saying, well I would say that he was pawn that was sacrificed for their own political ends because we certainly don’t have anything to gain by that type of activity,” Ramotar stated.
“Which government will want to do something like that, to destabilize itself?” he asked.
When contacted yesterday, Crime Chief James said that while it would be unethical for him to comment on the statements made by both Jagdeo and Ramotar, the statements are of some concern to the Guyana Police Force.
It was James who contacted Dr. David Hinds via telephone all the way in Arizona, USA to caution him about certain statements he had made, which were deemed insightful, following Crum-Ewing’s death.
James explained that the Crum-Ewing matter is a very sensitive one, given the time it occurred (two months before General Elections).
However, he assured that the Police Force is adopting a professional approach with regards to their investigations, and every bit of information is examined carefully despite its source.
“What we found very early in the investigation, persons were saying things that suggest that they have evidence but they weren’t coming forward. What we did we asked them, if they have evidence, even
Courtney Crum-Ewing
if it be provided anonymously, they can go ahead and do so… Because we want to bring the matter to a closure,” the Crime Chief stated.
He did not indicate if information was provided to the police that would support the contentions of President Ramotar and Jagdeo.
So far, according to Commander Hicken, the police have detained and questioned eight persons and have also impounded a car during the investigations.
However, nothing concrete was obtained although, several surveillance camera footage were carefully examined.
He brushed aside the statements made by Jagdeo and President Ramotar, stating that they are not part of the investigations.
He said that he would not be drawn into any politicking over the matter.
“Whatever we release you have to go by that. All the people who are talking are not police investigators. I am a policeman. If I wanted to be a politician I would not have joined the Guyana police force,” Hicken told Kaieteur News.
Meanwhile, Crime Chief James said that the Police have not attached any political slant to their investigations.
“Somebody has met his death, violently; you’re looking at a murder investigation and we need to deal with it. So if information comes from all sources, we will note it. It’s not that we want to be pulled into this (politicking),” James said.
He said that the ranks who are involved in the investigations were given clear instructions on how to go about their work on the matter.
James said that he has no control over how people want to view the Crum-Ewing killing, but he is appealing for good sense to prevail and not let it become a matter that could escalate politically.
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