Citizens’ rights are being trampled upon by the police

Aug 24, 2016 Letters

Dear Editor,
It is the second time I have been stopped by police patrol vehicles in two weeks while heading home aback the Providence Stadium. On the first occasion patrol ranks had set up an illegal roadblock demanding documents from drivers. Knowing that this road block was illegal, I refused to give up my documents and explained to the ranks that their actions were unauthorized, and questioned whether they were, that senior police officers had pronounced that these roadblocks were illegal. I even mentioned the stir up caused by Frederick Kissoon in his columns on these illegal road blocks. The ranks accepted what I had said and immediately broke up the road block.
Just around 4:00pm on Monday, (August 22), I was again on my way home when the driver of a police van heading towards me began “flagging me down” from a distance. I stopped and from the passenger side of the van, another rank shouted, “Let me see your documents.” I peered into the vehicle since I could not even see the rank asking for my documents. I later told that rank that I could not give him my documents because he was acting outside of procedure.
The policeman, Lance Corporal McKenzie, whose name I later learnt, immediately exited the police van, gun in hand. I concluded that he was the senior rank since the younger ranks with their guns, followed McKenzie and began surrounding my car. By this time I am uncomfortable because I was travelling alone and the road had no other vehicles. It was just me and about four armed ranks.
One rank said to me, “You are not above the law,” then said. “If you never give no police your documents, you gone give we today.” I nonetheless held firm that the ranks were trampling on my rights. The whole ordeal ended however, after I placed a call to Senior Sup Clifton Hicken who referred me to Commander Stephen Mansell who spoke with McKenzie from my cell phone. Mansell more than likely told them what they were doing was wrong because after McKenzie claimed he was checking for “guns or something” he handed back my phone and told me to carry on. But this was not before one of the younger ranks gave me as we say in Guyana ‘a royal buse out’. The rank sucked his teeth in disgust and said “girl you stupid.” I said what, and he replied, “you is a jackass” repeating that about three times. I was unable to see the license plate number, but it was a PTT vehicle beginning with numbers 4 2. I believe.
Editor, indeed Perseverance housing scheme has had its share of break ins and robberies, but it is no reason for police officers to flout the law themselves, especially when according to McKenzie, “Ya’ll get one set a break in at de back deh, and we trying fuh help yall out.” I have had many unfavourable run-ins with police ranks to the point where I was stopped ( at another illegal road block) while heading to Timehri once, asked for my documents and when everything was straight, the rank still wanted me to “bless” him a $1000. I have the utmost respect for peace officers but this is too much. I believe it is time the police’s Traffic Department makes a clear pronouncement on this matter and the authority of those ranks who are authorized to stop and even search vehicles; or this bad habit by ranks will remain a negative shadow.
Zena Henry
Journalist

Discover more from Kaieteur News

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Latest News