Why is Motie Dookie being targeted?

May 20, 2018 Letters

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Dear Editor,

After reading the Editorial’s article published in the Stabroek News dated Tuesday May 15, 2018 relating to “The case of Deputy Superintendent Motie Dookie” …one would want to ponder what is meant by “a definitive position can be reached on Mr. Dookie’s fitness to continue to serve and protect”.
Did Mr. Dookie at any point of time compromised Guyana’s security and the welfare of its people so that a decision needs to be taken about his fitness to continue to serve and protect the nation?
What transpired was a case of “tax evasion”. Tax evasion according to Google is “the illegal non-payment or underpayment of tax”.
Almost 50% of the taxpayers of Guyana are tax evaders, including minibus drivers and conductors, taxi drivers, sole traders of established businesses, carpenters, labourers, smugglers etc…
A minibus/taxi driver would take home approximately $10,000 daily; six days a week, totalling to $60,000. That totals about $240,000 monthly or about $2,880,000 annually.
Please note my father, now deceased, was a driver, hence the knowledge of what a driver daily income looks like. A carpenter maximum daily salary is $8,000.
Mr. Editor, the point I am trying to make is that none of these categories of workers declare their true and correct earnings to the Guyana Revenue Authority. They are all tax evaders! How should we solve this problem? Ask them to close their businesses? Stop their trade?
Should Mr. Dookie be sent home from the Guyana Police Force? Should he not be entitled to continue to serve and protect?
We look back at the former Commander of SWAT, prior to Mr. Dookie, Deputy Superintendent Lonsdale Withrite who was robbed at gun point of his service revolver and vehicle- the revolver contained 16 live rounds. This officer was at the Industry seawall in the company of a female at around 21:00hrs.
“He was on his own, doing his own thing, doing whatever he was doing”.
Did it occur to anyone that Mr. Withrite placed the nation at a great risk? The revolver which was stolen is currently being used for the numerous robberies that are currently taking place. What is worse? Robberies/deaths of innocent or tax evasion? Why aren’t concerns being raised about Mr. Withrite’s matter and the urgency of the Police Service Commission to look at his case?
Deputy Superintendent of Police, Motie Dookie was alleged to be fingered in the smuggling of 30 cases of Johnny Walker on December 30, 2017.
Mr. Ramjattan stated that “he will be dealt with departmentally; he did not rob or murder anyone. The criminal aspect of the probe will come from the Guyana Revenue Authority”.
Mr. Dookie did not commit any criminal activity under the Police’s Act.
On March 6, 2018 Stabroek News stated in its article that the driver of the minibus has taken fully responsibility of the act and the matter is being dealt with by the GRA. I would want to assume the GRA’s aspect of this case has been dealt with.
In Tuesday May 15, 2018, the Editorial asked “Is he (MotieDookie) seriously asking us to believe that he had no clue as to the vehicle’s cargo?”
Please be advice that the media did not report whether the minibus Mr. Dookie was travelling in was categorized as “B” meaning Hire or “G” meaning Goods. The media also did not state who is the owner of the mini-bus.
Mr. Dookie could’ve very well had no clue with regards to the vehicle’s cargo if it was a “G” series minibus. These buses have three seats in front and the side of the vehicle is completely sealed with metal and not glass; no seats are fitted in the rear of the vehicle.
The Editorial article is stating “that having an officer directly involved in an investigation into the alleged smuggling of alcohol serving in what is, in effect, a management position in the Force, does the image of the Force sorry little good”.
I am sorry to disappoint you but it is the media that gives the Guyana Police Force a poor image.
Firstly, Journalist Leroy Smith reported that the SWAT Commander escaped from police custody after being detained. This false declaration took a toll on the GPF displaying how incompetent it was.
Secondly, Smith posted another article via an online news on January 4, 2018 “SWAT Boss: More than just a Whiskey scandal”.
This particular article is what infuriated the public.
He stated that: “Dookie was demoted from the rank of Cadet Officer after it was discovered that he faked the certificates which he submitted to the Police Force to be sent on the cadet course”.
The GPF stood mum on this article. The GPF did not choose to defend their image that the force and its administration do not encourage misgivings of officers.
They did not represent one of their senior officers whose character was deteriorating at the moment.
Smith did not, however, indicate that Mr. Motie Dookie along with Mr. Karl Wilson (who is currently also a Deputy Superintendent in the GPF), who were both Cadet Officers at the time, were demoted to the ranks of Sergeants.
Now did both officers faked their certificates?
In August 15, 2010 the Kaieteur News published an article that the “Police Service Commission orders reinstatement of Cadet Officers”.
Both Officers Dookie and Wilson were reinstated effect from October 2008 since they claimed that their demotion was without reason.
“That matter did not die off” as indicated by Smith in his article nor were they demoted for faking their certificates.
This proves that the media is very scandalous and can tarnish a man’s character. Leroy Smith needs to write factual article(s).
Thirdly, the intervention of former President Ramotar to return Dookie’s firearm after his case was dismissed regarding the “accidental shooting”.
The GPF should/must have a grievance policy. Dookie reports to his Commander/Police Commissioner/Minister of Home Affairs-Minister of Security/President of Guyana.
If Mr. Dookie made several requests following the chain of command and no favorable response; by rights one should address their issue to the higher personnel providing proof that they did follow the chain of command.
I am sure Mr. Ramotar would not just order to return Mr. Dookie’s firearm without further investigation into circumstances of the event and seek recommendations to verify whether he was worthy of this responsibility once again.
The bigger question is, why is Motie Dookie being targeted? Isn’t this victimization? There are dozens of senior officers who have severe allegations/charges against them that needs to be addressed by the Police Service Commission.
Is Mr. Dookie special or is his case that important that it needs to be addressed urgently?
Uree Varswyck, a former member of the GPF turned into a criminal. Is this what the public and the GPF wants? Mr. Dookie to become into a criminal after the GPF shuns him as they are presently doing?
What good will re-assigning him from the No. 2 sub-division do? Please the public? Is the GPF and the government so adamant on pleasing the public or should they be making decisions for the public’s best interest?
Priya Persaud

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