…points to pattern of unnecessary arrests, detention
Opposition Leader, Joseph Harmon said on Tuesday that he has observed a pattern of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) of arresting persons of interest, who pose no flight risk, for as long as possible with the hope that they will say something self-incriminating while in custody.
Harmon said that not only this new practice seemingly influenced by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration but it infringes on the rights of persons to freedom. He spoke on the matter following the arrest of Attorney-at-Law and People’s National Congress/Reform (PNC/R) Member, James Bond earlier on Tuesday. Bond was arrested in relation to an ongoing land transaction investigation but is still being held although he has expressed a willingness to cooperate with the police. He was first questioned at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and then arrested and transferred to the Brickdam Police Station.
Similar treatment was met out to the likes of former head of the Special Purpose Unit (SPU), Colvin Heath-London and Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Deputy Chief Elections Officer (DCEO), Roxanne Myers.
“I believe that the police have settled now on a particular practice which says that they will arrest you, question you and detain you hoping that you will make a statement that incriminates yourself. From all of the reports I’ve receive, the persons that they have arrested so far, and detained in my view, unlawfully, that this has been the situation,” Harmon said in a statement to the media.
He said that Bond does not pose a flight risk and the option exists for him to return for questioning at any time based on the request of the police. However, the Opposition Leader said that the GPF is well aware of this which suggests that their intention is to break the will of or embarrass certain persons in their custody.
“I take serious offence to that,” Harmon said. “The arbitrary detention and throwing people in the lockups is a bad practice. It’s like in the old Western movies where you shoot first and ask questions later…I believe that what is happening here before us is the clear directions given by this PPP regime to the police to harass black professionals. They have gone after these professionals with a vengeance.”
He further accused the governing party of holding the perception that they are the “owners of Guyana” and also of going the extra mile to prevent selective persons from owning or acquiring land. He called on the Guyana Police Force to remain objective in its duties and to arrest and detain with good reason rather by instruction.
