Information gathering begins on extra-judicial killings –Head of State

May 19, 2017 News

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By Kiana Wilburg
One of the many campaign promises of the APNU+AFC coalition included thorough inquiries into the extra-judicial killings of the 2000 and 2008 period.
While this has not been the most sensational topic in the news as of late, and much has not been said about this since the coalition assumed office, President David Granger noted, recently, that he has not forgotten this issue.
President Granger, asked if the matter remains a priority for him and his party, answered in the affirmative.
The Head of State added, “We are working on the evidence…It is still a commitment to the mothers of the children who either disappeared or died. We are collecting information, not in a formal way but some information has to be collected from various sources because many of the actual eye witnesses have been killed during the troubles.”
Furthermore, the AFC faction of the coalition administration has often said that the PPP rule, particularly the period for which Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo was President, was synonymous with corruption, extra-judicial killings and drug lords.
This description was proffered by the Party specifically after Jagdeo had given the government in February last, an “F grade” for its performance.
The AFC said, “Mr. Jagdeo has no moral authority whatsoever to speak on the performance of a government when as president his performance was mired in failure. Mr. Jagdeo’s presidency is synonymous with obscene corruption, hundreds of extra-judicial killings, drug lords overrunning the nation and a narco-state, fear embedded in the hearts and minds of citizens and failed foreign relations.”
The extra-judicial killings to be probed by the Granger administration include the death of former Agriculture Minister with responsibilities for Fisheries, Satyadeow Sawh, and the Bartica, Lusignan and Lindo Creek Massacres.
SATYADEO SAWH
Former Agriculture Minister Satyadeow Sawh, his sister Phulmattie Persaud, brother Rajpat Rai Sawh and security guard, Curtis Robinson, were gunned down on the evening of April 22, 2008 at the Minister’s La Bonne Intention, East Coast Demerara, residence.
The killing sent shockwaves throughout the nation. Sawh was a Minister of the then People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government but the questions over his death were many. No inquest was ever held.
One man was charged with the murder. The promised external assistance that Government had announced it would have been seeking following Sawh’s death never materialised.
Fallen Policemen
Since the establishment of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), 62 officers and ranks have died in the line of duty. Interestingly, 31 died during the period President Granger vows to investigate.
Among those fallen heroes are Sergeants, Constables, a Chief Inspector, a Superintendent, an Assistant Superintendent, a Lance Corporal and a Special Constable. It started with Constable Allan Higgins in 2000 and ended with Constable Oslyn Glasgow in 2008. Among the slain lawmen was Superintendent Leon Fraser in 2002.
His death had however, left questions and calls for investigation.
Bartica, Lusignan and Lindo Creek Massacre
On January 26, 2008, heavily armed gunmen stormed the village of Lusignan, slaughtering 11 persons, including five children.
The victims were Clarence Thomas, 48; Vanessa Thomas, 12; Ron Thomas, 11; Mohandan Goordat, 32; Seegopaul Harilall, 10; Seegobin Harilall, 4; Dhanwajie Ramsingh, 52; Seecharran Rooplall, 56; Raywattie Ramsingh, 11; Shazam Mohammed, 22; and Shaleem Baksh, 52.
On February 17, 2008, a number of gunmen invaded the mining community of Bartica, Essequibo They attacked the Bartica Police Station, where they killed Lance Corporal Zaheer Zakir, Constable Shane Fredericks and Constable Ron Osbornes.
After murdering the three police officers, the gang stole cash, arms, ammunition and a vehicle from the police station. Using the stolen police vehicle, they drove through the streets of Bartica shooting at civilians, fatally wounding Irwin Gilkes.
They then proceeded to CBR Mining, where they killed Irving Ferreira, stole arms and ammunition and removed two safes containing cash and gold.
Next, they shot and killed Dexter Adrian before returning to the wharf. At the wharf, they executed Abdool Yassin Jr, Deonarine Singh, Errol Thomas, Ronald Gomes, Baldeo Singh and Ashraf Khan.
After their one hour rampage, the gunmen departed Bartica by boat.
The Bartica Massacre was immediately linked to the Lusignan Massacre. While some initially questioned the link, the Guyanese security forces attributed all of the murders to Rondell Rawlins and his criminal gang. In the end, Michael Caesar, Clebert Reece, Mark Royden Williams and Dennis Williams were all convicted. The two Williamses were sentenced to death while Caesar and Reece were given lengthy jail terms.
Eight gold miners were slaughtered at Lindo Creek, Berbice River. June 21, last marked seven years ago that the unidentified remains, inclusive of feet, bones and skulls among other body parts, of Nigel Torres, Bunny Harry, Clifton Wong, Dax Arokium, his uncle Cedric, Compton Speirs, Horace Drakes and Lancelot Lee were discovered in their camp at Lindo Creek, Berbice River.
To date, that is still being considered as one of the major mysteries of the crime wave. For the police the case died with the notorious gang leader Rondell ‘Fineman’ Rawlins who along with members of his organization was blamed for the gruesome killings.

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