Inquiry to be held into alleged police shakedowns of mining camps

Aug 17, 2018 News

Amid allegations of harassment and shakedown by certain elements of the police force, the administration yesterday disclosed that it will be launching a Commission of Inquiry (CoI).
The disclosure will come almost a week after news that a Brazilian miner was shot in the back of his head at Puruni, Region Seven, by a policeman.
The policeman and his colleague had reportedly left their post, travelling hours to outlying areas, checking for papers at the different mining camps.
One of the policemen, now in custody, is claiming that he shot at the Brazilian mining after coming under fire himself.
However, eyewitnesses are claiming that the shooting was done in cold blood.
On Wednesday, the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) called on President David Granger to “establish a Commission of Inquiry into the ongoing neglect, corruption, shakedown and extortion and now murder of miners at the hands of the security forces and appointed government officers”.
Yesterday, questioned about whether the administration would be willing to consider the call, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, said that the Ministry of Natural Resources will be overseeing the CoI.
Harmon, who has oversight into aspects of the country’s security, via the Defence Board, noted that the question of security in the hinterland is one they pay close attention to.
Harmon pointed out that it was only a few months ago that Government approved the reorganization of police command areas, to ensure a greater level of command responsibility in the hinterland.
It was stressed that the large borders between Guyana and Venezuela and Guyana and Brazil pose major challenges. To help boost the police and army presence in the hinterland and border areas, the Ministry of Natural Resources has established a corps of wardens, which is an additional element in the security which is provided to the hinterland areas.
Recently, the army also acquired two fixed wing aircraft which will assist in surveillance over the hinterland locations.
Currently, Harmon said, there is aggressive exploration of drone use for applications in the security area.
The minister noted that the recent shooting death of the miner is more an aberration rather than the norm.
“The norm is for the police to provide security for the citizens, including miners. Some miners have security personnel which supplement what the Guyana Police Force is doing. Ultimately, the duty lies with the police,” the minister disclosed.
According to Harmon, it is the stance of the government to ensure that every unnatural death is followed by an inquiry to determine the circumstances.
GGDMA on Wednesday says it is “condemning in the strongest possible way” the alleged extra-judicial killing, by the Guyana Police Force, of the miner in the Puruni area.
“This is the latest in a series of contemptuous actions being meted out by the Government of Guyana against the mining industry, starting even at the highest level,” the mining association said in a strongly worded statement.
According to reports, Brazilian miner, Estevao Costa Marques, 29, was shot dead in a Puruni mining camp, Region Seven, over the weekend, by two cops who apparently were not supposed to be there. Brought to the city, the policemen are being accused of shooting the miner from behind.
According to the association, when the Minister of Finance takes to the media to “bemoan and lament” the dismal performance of the Guyanese economy, he must also address the outstanding issues under his portfolio that are negatively impacting the industry and then “look squarely in the face of his colleagues who, for the last four years, have mismanaged and neglected the industry which carried Guyana on its back. No one in the Government is doing anything to help miners, they are just applying pressure. We are demanding our respect”.

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