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– Ali promises int’l probe into criminal, race-hate violence
The Irfaan Ali Government has signalled its intention to seek International assistance to help solve the massacre of three boys on the West Coast Berbice in recent days and has also threatened to launch an International inquiry to get to the ‘bottom’ of the violence that ensued in the aftermath, which the opposition has pinned on his administration due to its posture after taking office early August.
The PPP has historically frowned on International help in criminal investigations- notably its refusal of assistance in wake of the killing of one of their ministers Satyadeow Sawh and his siblings along with a string of other massacres that took place during what former President David Granger has described as the ‘Decade of death’.
Ali’s announcement also comes after calls by the Guyana Human Rights Association and prominent attorney, Nigel Hughes for international forensic assistanc to find the killers of the Henry boys. Hughes has said that the Guyana Police Force lacks the capability to conduct the kind of investigation required.
In a televised address his second for Wednesday Ali said that he will reach out to the UK Government and to the Barbados-based Regional Security System to help solve the killings of Joel and Isaiah Henry as well as Haresh Singh- all teenagers of the West Coast Berbice.
“Fellow Guyanese, we have to get to the bottom of this and whatever support is needed, I will reach towards that support. As a result, in helping and ensuring that we do all that we can to get to the bottom of this investigation, as quickly as possible in a professional manner, I will be reaching out to the British Government and the RSS,” Ali said in the statement.
International probe
Additionally, Ali said the nation needs to understand who instigated the violence in the aftermath of the killings. ” I am exploring the commissioning of an International Commission of Inquiry (COI) to look at every aspect of this situation, to look beyond what took place on the ground, to look at the behaviours that came about as a result of statements made. The COI is important for us to have a comprehensive understanding as to what took place,” Ali said.
He said too he has asked the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs to explore, within the United Nations system, all means available to hold to account, all those who spread race hate and instigate racial strife.
“So, these are the three things, in addition to the hard and tireless work that the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Defence Force are doing. These are the three additional things I wish to communicate to the Guyanese people; the support to the investigative arm by the British Government and the RSS, the international COI and exploring all systems and protocols available within the United Nations system itself to deal with persons who spread hate and racial strife in speech and in action.”
Break down in law and order
Despite deploying the army and the police, government has been unable to quell the disturbances, which has spread across the country. Protests have been held in almost all of the black villages on the East Coast in Linden and at Crane, West Coast Demerara where citizens have been demanding justice for the Henry boys and respect for Afro-Guyanese.
Tireless work
Ali also thanked the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Defence Force for what he described as their tireless work that they have been doing. “I am confident that they will bring the situation to order. They have assured me that they will be using all available resources and laws, in keeping with the protocols and guidelines, to ensure that the situation does not escalate. I call upon all Guyanese to refrain from endangering each other’s life, as I assure you that this Government will work to bring justice to every single person who has been affected in these circumstances,” the President said.
No political gain
Ali asserted that the time has come “for us to deal with this issue very frontally. The time has come for us to deal with it very seriously and no one must believe that they can use situations like these for any political gain.” He said there is no gain whether politically, socially, economically, morally or culturally. “There is no gain that you can get out of this. The only persons who lose are the families who are suffering, the people who received and who were inflicted with blows and loss of property and the country; the credibility and image of our country suffers greatly,” the Guyanese leader said.
“We must not leave these things unanswered. We cannot leave them unanswered and so as President, I have decided to proceed with these three steps, in addition to what is going on, to bring swiftly all those who were part of these horrific acts, to justice,” Ali asserted.
