A strange thing is happening inside the police force

Aug 05, 2016 Freddie Kissoon

On the night of Thursday, July 14, 2016, a policeman from the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) walked into Kaieteur News and approached the editor-in-Chief, Adam Harris. After a brief discussion, Mr. Harris called me to talk to the gentleman. I was the person whose help the officer sought. He was sent by Superintendent Wright of the OPR. Mr. Wright was acting on an order that came directly from the Commissioner of Police. This was what Mr. Wright told me.
The officer wanted my help in contacting a woman named Lisa Smith. She was the subject of a column of mine in January this year when I saw traffic ranks stop her at random. Mr. Wright explained to me that the reason why the Commissioner wanted a statement was to use it in the investigation of the ranks who stopped Ms. Smith as a random act, since the ranks knew they were no longer empowered to do so. I offered to supply Mr. Wright with a statement, as I have seen routine traffic stops literally countless times since the police force announced that it was discontinued.
Mr. Wright said I wasn’t a victim and they need a statement from a victim. I don’t know what came out of that story. I don’t know if Lisa Smith gave a statement. Since Thursday, July 14, 2016 when that officer walked into Kaieteur News and I spoke with Superintendent Wright, I have seen random traffic stops more times than I could count. I saw it yesterday on the Railway Embankment about 20 seconds drive from the private residence of the Prime Minister. I was heading to the National Park to jog. The time was 7.35 a.m.
I pulled over and went to the three policemen. Two of them were traffic personnel – Mr. Saul and Mr. Patterson. The officer in charge was Inspector Griffith or maybe he was a Superintendent. I asked Mr. Griffith if the operation was from Sparendaam, he said yes. I showed him numerous documents I had that is evidence that the police force has discontinued the policy. He walked towards the police car and together with Mr. Saul and Mr. Patterson, they drove away; the vehicle number is PKK 1264. There was a witness to everything.
They had stopped this driver who had his family with him; they were heading to the hospital. He agreed to speak to the press. He permitted the publication of his personal details. His name is Adesima Newtown – licence plate PKK 6670. Mr. Newton told me he would give a statement, because he is fed-up with the police stopping people as a matter of routine. I drove into the National Park and called the officer in charge of traffic at Brickdam, Mr. Ashraf. He said he has no jurisdiction over Sparendaam. I called the officer in charge of Sparendaam. He said he would contact the divisional commander, Mr. Marlon Chapman, who is based at Cove and John.
Here is the part that readers are going to be curious about. On my way home, I got a call. The voice on the other line said he was travelling up the Corentyne Highway on the very morning at the same time he was speaking to me (he said he pulled over) and he saw at Number 73 village, traffic cops stopping people as a routine process. I asked if he was willing to be identified. He agreed, because he said he does some occasional correspondence work for Kaieteur News. When he gave me his name, I immediately recognized him, because he writes frequent pieces in the letter section of this newspaper. He is Mr. Ashan Bacchus, school teacher at Friendship Primary School at Sisters Village in Berbice. I called the commander of Springlands, Superintendent Ralph Park. He readily admitted that he is aware that random stops are no longer in force.
My intervention yesterday on the Railway Embankment marks the fourth time in the occurrence of routine stops. On each occasion, the police packed up and left. On each occasion, I have penned a column on the incident. I think I am tired writing about this aspect of police behaviour. It is important to note the courage of Mr. Newton and Mr. Bacchus – that they are willing to give statements and were prepared for their personal details to be published. More citizens need to emulate Newton and Bacchus. So the question is; why do the traffic ranks still stop drivers at random? Strange indeed!
Attorney, Patrice Henry has a plausible explanation. But I haven’t got his permission to quote him.

2 thoughts on “A strange thing is happening inside the police force”

carl veecock August 5, 2016 at 10:14 am

As yet change is not fully operative. Bear in mind Freddie, each job has some sort of perks! The police must know where the perks are and how to get them! Is it possble that you are “interfering”??
rs dasai August 5, 2016 at 11:46 am

Freddi
You do remember that female wrestler, The Fabulous MOOLA?