Wrongful act of the police  

Dear Editor

After the swearing in of President Irfaan Ali, thanks to my civility and belief in protocol, I publicly offered him and his government good wishes and best of luck.

For notwithstanding the cut and thrust of our election campaign, it is clear that unless there is a level of understanding, cooperation and most of all, the delivery of justice to every citizen and segment of society, Guyana will not realize its full potential and we will be remained divided and dysfunctional.

Statements made by President Ali and his colleagues are reassuring that good times and justice for everyone beckons. I live in the same community as with Former Minister Simona Broomes who has with the permission of the Georgetown Municipality, spent substantial sums to tidy and beautify an area east of Mandela and north of the extension of Princes Street, Lodge.

The area is maintained to a high standard. 

Two weeks ago, from information gathered from people who live in the neighbourhood, two persons, one a PPP/C City Councillor, using hammers to destroy some of the signs erected around this beautifully kept area.

Information is that Ms. Broomes and her driver caught the miscreants in this act of damage to property and followed the persons to a point in Sophia, where there was a confrontation.

What is bothersome to many of us is that the two persons were not charged for the damage they inflicted to the area, but instead both Ms Broomes and her driver were put on several charges each.

Worst of all, the driver of Ms. Broomes’ vehicle was detained at the Police Station in excess of seventy-two hours and was only released on the intervention of an Attorney who sought relief from the High Court.

Given the persona of Ms. Broomes and the persos who damaged the property, it seems strange that these two young men who damaged the signs in the area mentioned were neither apprehended or charged by the police. If the above statements are factual, I believe unless there was a political directive to the Police but the Police in charge of ‘A’ Division should explain the prosecution or is it persecution of only one side?

This is a matter of public interest and I believe the Commissioner of Police or the Minister in charge should offer a public explanation.

Hopefully to alia affairs that the police post is no longer a professional body of taking or acting on directions of the political directorate. For the sake of our country, there is a satisfactory explanation to what appears to be unprofessional behavior by some sections of the Guyana Police Force. All of us must know, but if our Police Force appear to be acting on the directions of politicians, it is a step in the wrong direction, which will lead the general public losing faith in that important institution, the Police Force.

Regards
Hamilton Greene