Harmon says int’l  investigators frustrated with CID’s sloth in solving killing of Berbice  teens

– calls on Min. Benn to provide an immediate update on probe

Leader of the Opposition, Joseph Harmon said that the APNU+AFC has received information that regional investigators contracted to assist in solving the murders of the Henry boys and Haresh Singh have expressed frustration with the sloth of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in doing it a part to solve the crimes.

The Opposition has therefore called on the Ministry of Home Affairs to provide the public with an update on investigations and subsequent regular public updates instead of the current “absence of public information”.

“The investigators which were brought in from the Regional Security System (RSS) that were meant to assist in the investigation have expressed some levels of frustration in the corporation which they received from the police and the timely release of information by the Senior ranks of the Criminal Investigation Department. It would appear to us as though the Guyana Police Force has no urgency in solving these heinous murders and bringing justice to the families. The APNU+AFC calls for an urgent update from the Minister of Home Affairs on these matters and for regular public updates on them until justice is served,” Harmon said.

The RSS Team, led by an Assistant Commissioner of Police, arrived in Guyana on September 28, 2020. It comprises officials from countries within the Regional Investigative Management Systems (RIMS). Their visit was made possible by a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Government of Guyana and the Caribbean Community Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (CARICOM IMPACS).

However, in an exclusive interview with the Village Voice earlier in October, the attorney representing the family of the Henry boys, Nigel Hughes also observed a lack of urgency on the part of local law enforcement.

“There’s nothing that I’m aware of now that leads me to believe that we’re any closer to solving this than we were two weeks ago or four weeks ago, absolutely nothing, and that’s not a good place to be,” Hughes told the Village Voice.

On September 6, the bodies of 19-year-old Joel was found with wounds across the body, seven to eight chops to the head, and defensive wounds in both palms from a sharp object. It was concluded, from those injuries, that he fell to the ground then received a chop to his back 14 inches x 3 and 6 inches deep that severed his spine. There was also evidence that he bit his tongue and his throat was slit.

The body of 16-year-old Isaiah was also found with a severed spine. His wound was 14 inches long, 4 inches wide and 6 inches deep. Isaiah received several chops to his head, and his throat too was slit, almost to sever his head from his neck. Attorney Hughes said that there is nothing about these events that have led lawyers on the case to believe that it was an average execution.

Then, on September 9, 2020, the body of another teen, 17-year-old Haresh Singh, believed to be a relative of one of the suspects held for the slaughter of the two cousins, was found dead aback No.3 Village.

Though President Irfaan Ali has expressed that no stone will be left unturned in solving the murders, the family of the Henry boys have cried out that several acts of the police have jeopardized possible evidence and there seems to be a watered-down effort towards ensuring justice is served.