WPA outrage over alleged assault on policewoman by lawyer

Apr 08, 2022 News

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– calls on President to speak out on the matter

Kaieteur News – The Working People’s Alliance (WPA) has added its voice to those who have expressed outrage at the alleged verbal abuse of police officer Shawnette Bollers by Attorney, Nirvan Singh.

If these allegations are true, then they represent a new low for race relations in Guyana, the party said in a statement Thursday. “It is not lost on the WPA that this incident comes in the wake of the outburst by a Minister of Government a few months ago in which he opined among other things that African Guyanese young people do not have role models. Taken together, these incidents signal a worrying development whereby persons with privilege in the society seem to feel free to openly express racial prejudice.” The WPA said it views this sense of freedom on their part as emanating from the unwillingness of those in authority to sanction such expressions when they come from some quarters. “In this regard, WPA is outraged by the lack of action by the police on the matter at hand. That institution of State has not seen it fit to act on an allegation coming from one of its ranks speaks volumes about the rule of law in Guyana. WPA is equally outraged that neither the government nor the ruling party has spoken out on the matter. When one adds the stony silence of Indian Guyanese Interest groups and commentators, there appears to be a coordinated effort to play down this issue. WPA, therefore, calls on the new Commissioner of Police to treat the Bollers matter with the seriousness it deserves by launching an immediate investigation. The people of Guyana must not support a Police Force that is quick to harass and execute powerless citizens but is prepared to protect the powerful. The overarching role of the police is to serve and protect all citizens regardless of sex, ethnicity, race or social class. . The charges leveled by Ms. Bollers cry out for a police investigation now. WPA views the Commissioner’s action or lack thereof as an early test of his stated intention to introduce reforms of the Force and as proof of his independence from the political bosses. “
Similarly, WPA calls on the President to speak out on the matter. “As Head-of-State, he ought to represent the wholeness of the country rather than a political faction. His failure to address this clearly worrisome development tarnishes the office he holds. How can a President talk about “One Guyana” and then turn his back on charges of racial discrimination against one section of the society? Until the President addresses the issue of racial discrimination, we call on Guyanese to heap scorn on his “One Guyana” slogan. Towards this end, we call on Guyanese to ignore and boycott his proposed National Day of Prayer—do not dignify an empty slogan that seeks to mask governmental institutionalization of racial domination and discrimination. A government that remains silent in the face of public displays of the rhetoric and imagery of slavery does not deserve to govern.”
“For us in the WPA, we call for national solidarity with Ms. Bollers and all victims of Racial Prejudice and Domination. Racism is a sin. WPA feels that Guyana has reached the point of a State of Emergency in race relations. The malady has always existed just below the surface, but it has taken

on frightening dimensions since the return to power of the PPP in 2020. We reiterate the view that unless we as a nation confront our deep-seated racial problems, our country would remain vulnerable to political instability and economic underdevelopment. Further, if these expressions of racial prejudice are allowed to flourish, the alienation of a significant section of the society would increase to our collective peril. WPA also calls for a national conversation on race relations aimed at sensitizing all Guyanese about the dangers of racism and turning the country’s face away from that scourge. Finally, we call for the immediate activation of the Ethnic Relations Commission with the expressed mandate of policing racial discrimination and racism in an evenhanded manner.”
Bollers, a Special Constable attached to the Guyana Police Force last week through her lawyer, Eusi Anderson field a $150M lawsuit against Singh. Bollers is suing for GY$150 million for slander allegedly published orally by Mr. Singh on March 20, 2022. She noted that the lawyer used derogatory words to describe to wit he referred to her as “a monkey, a black monkey, you Black people have no purpose in life.”Bollers said that she was at the time operating on guard duties at the Middle and Cummings Streets Georgetown home, owned by his father, Carl Singh who is a retired Chancellor of the Judiciary. She alleged that at the time of the incident, Mr. Singh approached her and chased her out of her duties area and subsequently, off the property, forcing her to abandon her post and duties for the said night.
According the claim filed on behalf of Bollers, the lawyer used certain words in a “loud and aggressive manner which amount to defamation of character. “The willful malice in the slander is observed in the fact that he used these words to her whilst she was in uniform including full police regulation number and other police markings.”
Further, the female SC alleged that Mr. Singh’s behaviour amounted to “an absolute disregard for the authority of her uniform.” Bollers’ claim explained that the words allegedly published by the attorney were untrue, maliciously uttered and undiluted falsehood, she said they expressly or by innuendo meant that she was not a human being of the homo sapien species and by extension not worthy of recognition in her humanity or human dignity.”
The policewoman said she believed that her race as a Black/ Negro person was not worthy of respect, is a group whose purpose and worthy of insult, was not worthy of respect, visibility and a human identity. As such, she is also claiming exemplary damages.
The document outlined that, “Exemplary and aggravated damages are warranted, further, because of the nature of the comments in the context of slavery and its effect on Black people and the universally accepted norm that Black and monkey are derogatory terms forbidden from use on anything other than monkey and apes.”

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