Battle lines drawn in Albouystown over Executions

Apr 05, 2016 News

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-Commander Hicken says situation under control
Last week’s execution style killings of two men have caused battle lines to be drawn in the volatile

community of Charlestown/Albouystown, with residents hoping that the police will bring the situation under control as quickly as possible.
But Police Divisional Commander, Clifton Hicken, is assuring that while the situation is cause for some worry, the police force has things under control.
The killings of Guyana Defence Force Lance Corporal, Kevon Payne and that of Gladstone Taylor, called ‘Tuffey’, have been described as a tit-for-tat and there are fears that there will be more retaliation.
But Assistant Commissioner Hicken told this newspaper that while he has ranks on the ground in Albouystown on a 24-hour basis, as part of ‘Project Impact Albouystown’, more focus is being placed in the neighbouring community of Charlestown, where the killings occurred.
Four persons are still in custody for the killings and several others have been questioned, and Hicken said that it is very likely that charges will be instituted soon in relation to both killings.
“We had some confrontations and we have statements. We’re getting cooperation from the community, we’re getting maximum support,” the Commander said.
He explained that the presence of his ranks on patrol in Albouystown led to the quick response of the police in both shootings.
However, residents have claimed that the quick police response pointed to their alleged collusion in the shooting of the GDF Lance Corporal and his friend Shaquille ‘Buck’ Wilson.
According to a reliable source in the Albouystown area, the killings are definitely drug-related.
“The root of the problem is competition (in the drug trade),” the source told Kaieteur News.

The source said that the feud started after an Albouystown resident closely linked to Lance Corporal Payne and his brother, Vellon Thorne, established a drug block to rival that of another popular drug dealer in the area, who is said to have links to some members of the Guyana Police Force.
This brought about a confrontation during which Thorne physically assaulted the popular drug dealer, who promised to get even.
The source said that Lance Corporal Payne, upon hearing of the confrontation, also approached the drug dealer and reportedly threatened him.
By now it was clear that the drug dealer, feeling disrespected had put out a “hit” on the two brothers and their associates.
According to the source, to facilitate this, he had to get the protection of his legitimate law enforcement “friends”.
The plan was executed last week Tuesday night when gunmen opened fire on Lance Corporal Payne as he was sitting in front of his yard, killing him almost instantly and wounding his accomplice Shaquille Wilson.
According to an eyewitness, Payne was standing at the side of the roadway with another man when two men on a white motorcycle rode up to Payne and shot him.
The eyewitness said that the gunman then walked east up Sussex Street towards a group of policemen in a vehicle. The man reportedly then turned and headed back to where Payne lay, and the police then opened fire.
This newspaper was told that some persons managed to identify one of the shooters, who they claimed to be a relative of the now dead Taylor.
According to the source, armed with this information, persons close to the murdered soldier vowed retaliation.
So when, Taylor was gunned down on Friday night, fingers were obviously pointed at Payne’s relatives.
The source said that persons fingered Payne’s brother Vellon Thorne as one of Taylor’s attackers and he along with another man were arrested and taken into police custody.
Thorne’s relatives are however claiming that he was nowhere near the scene of Taylor’s shooting on Friday, claiming that he was at his brother’s wake at the time.
Investigators had informed that they would have carried out tests to see if gunpowder residue was present on Thorne’s person.
However, up to press time last night, this newspaper was unable to get a feedback from the police.
Police had also earlier arrested other persons in connection with the soldier’s death, including the drug dealer who was said to have ordered the hit.
But this newspaper was reliably informed that in a surprise move the drug dealer was released last Sunday.
“Since when the police does release murder suspects pon a Sunday?” the source in Albouystown asked, suggesting that there was some connection between the drug dealer and the police.
“Albouystown is divided over the whole story. People vex that the soldier dead because he was not originally involved, but he pick up fire rage fuh he brother,” the source told this newspaper.

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