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COI into Lindo Creek killings…Relatives anxiously await response on COI recommendations
Relatives of the Lindo Creek massacre victims are anxiously awaiting a response from the authorities on the findings and recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry, (CoI) into the matter.
Back in 2008, miners Dax Arokium, Cedric Arokium, Compton Spiers, Horace Drakes, Clifton Wong, Lancelot Lee, Bonny Harry and Nigel Torres were murdered in their mining camp at Lindo Creek in the Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice Region.
Police had blamed the notorious Rondell Rawlins `Fineman’ gang for the ‘Lindo Creek Massacre.’
But the recent Presidential Inquiry into the matter suggested that the gang may not have been responsible for the killings.
The eight miners killed at Lindo Creek in 2008.
The COI Report stated that ranks of the Joint Services as the most likely individuals to have committed the crime.
The report recommended that the criminal investigation into the massacre be reopened to determine who are really responsible for the murders. It also recommended compensation for the relatives of the slain men.
Additionally, some of the recommendations included offering scholarships to the children of the murdered miners, providing counselling for family members, and financial compensation.
The report was handed over to President David Granger last August and relatives have been anticipating a response of the authorities.
However, family members who have been seeking closure for many years are yet to have a response and they are growing anxious.
“We have been patient with the authorities and waiting for months for officials from the Commission to tell us something; either they tell us or take some form of action. But all we have received so far are promises,” a female relative of one of the slain men stated.
The woman noted too that relatives of the murdered men relived the ordeal while testifying at the COI.
“We hope that our wait is not in vain and all the work that was put into that Commission of Inquiry does not prove futile.”
“I believe I speak for all of us when I say that we are anxiously awaiting a reaction from the State on the findings and recommendations into the Lindo Creek CoI.”
Based on the report, eleven public officials were implicated for failing to properly execute their duties “before and after” the killing of the eight miners.
These persons were identified as then President and current Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, along with former Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee. The report stated that the identified officials “failed and/or neglected to perform their duties in all material respects”.
The other individuals are the Director of Public Prosecutions, the then Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Commissioner of Police, the Crime Chief, Deputy Crime Chief, Head of the Office of Professional Responsibility, Head of Police Major Crimes Unit, Police Commanders of the ‘E’ and ‘F’ Divisions, and Divisional Detective Inspectors of ‘E’ and ‘F’ Divisions.
Justice Donald Trotman, who chaired the COI, had noted that during the public hearings, that there were several gaps in the testimonies of police officers and those who were tasked with investigating the murders, as well as, the allegations of the involvement of the Joint Services.
Justice Trotman said the investigative teams were all negligent in carrying out their duties.
“There was some investigation but that investigation in the estimation of the Commission was not adequate, was not competent and could not have brought about accurate results,” he was quoted as stating.
Based on the Terms of Reference (ToRs) of the Commission of Inquiry, charged the Commissioner to investigate and make findings of fact on all matters in relation to the killings of the eight miners in the Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice Region in June 2008. It will also make recommendations on actions to be taken against all persons and/or organisations that are deemed responsible for the deaths of those persons.
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