It appears that the police stole my car battery at the station

Dec 01, 2015 Letters

---

Dear Editor,
I will like to bring to Minister Ramjattan’s attention the poor security system in Guyana. And the lack of decisive action to stem the crime situation is now a life threat to the Guyanese People. I was recently robbed at my business premise on the 4th of November 2015 around 14:00hrs by four armed bandits who pretended to be customers and held us at gunpoint. The ordeal lasted for closely 45 minutes, a customer who was approaching the store to do some purchases saw what was happening, left her bicycle and ran to the Mahaicony Police Station to make a report. Several calls were made to the said Mahaicony Police Station and was ignored by a female constable, who kept saying that there was no vehicles or male ranks at the time. 45 minutes and no police rank came to our premises and still the police have the mouth to say “We was aware of the robbery but we can’t do nothing, it was dangerous”. The four armed bandits made their escape with my vehicle after demanding the keys. They drove the car with excessive speed to manage their escape but failed to do so. After they lost control they ended up into a nearby trench and made their escape into the backlands. The Mahaicony residents were able apprehend one of the bandit where he was given a sound trashing moments before police ranks turn up at the sense.
Nevertheless, my car was pulled out from the trench and handed over and lodged at the Mahaicony Police Station with the battery. The Mahaicony Community Policing Group and residents still continue that night to hunt and search for the rest of the bandits which was still hiding in the backlands. During that night I was at the Mahaicony Police Station, where I heard the telephone rang, and was answered by the constable. A resident who made that call said that a sliver blue car passed by and picked up one of the bandit up and making his way out. He asked for police back up and road block. 15 Minutes after ranks finished signing out for weapons and went out to search where the car made its escape. I even made contact to the 911 emergency around 10:50pm and was ignored.
Early Thursday morning residents, police ranks and members of the Mahaicony Community Policing Group were still searching and hunting for the bandits. The residents decided to set the bushes on fire where the two other bandits were captured and handed over to the police. A cell phone was recovered at my premise which said to be the bandit’s phone. That cell phone has vital information like photograph of the bandits, text messages and even telephone calls. The said phone was handed over to the detectives to assist with investigation. A close source from the Guyana Police Force said that a female rank is said to have connection to the robbery.  He said she was also making several calls to a phone. That very female rank later came to my business premises crying, saying that she will now lose her job because she release information to Kaieteur News and Social Media.  I am calling on the Minister to launch an investigation into this matter since it is a disgrace to Guyana Police Force.
On Monday,9th of November 2015, one of the bandits, Stephen Hopkinson, 22, also known as Alexander Williams of Laing Avenue, Ruimveldt Georgetown made his first Court appearance in the Georgetown Magistrate before Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan and slapped with several charges. He was remanded to prison.
On Monday, 18th of November 2015, I was present in court waiting for the case to call but after hours was told by an officer that the Magistrate’s jacket did not come. This is more than ridiculous in our court system and as such, I am calling on you Honorable Minister to step into this matter as early as possible. However, the other bandit made his first court appearance on the said date. He was slapped with 6 charges. I stand before the court asking for the release of my car and items that was recovered. Permission was granted by the Magistrate who told the police rank to take proper photos of the items. After running to the station several times with unnecessary excuses to have the car and phone cards release, I observed that the battery of the said car was missing at the Mahaicony Police Station where it is inexcusable for the officers for not giving account for it. On Monday, November 30, 2015, I made my self-present in court again to hear that one of the case jackets did not arrive again and the other bandit granted bail in the High Court that was slapped with six charges on November 18, 2015. Mr. Ramjatan it is becoming an injustice to the Guyanese people. I do hope you take the rightful step into this matter due to it seriousness.
 Roopnarine Singh

---

---