CGID wants Crime Chief to demit office immediately-

The organisation said it is now very clear Blanhum has compromised the basic standard of his profession and law, that is, to be truthful. Drawing attention to the press conference held by the Guyana Police Force last Wednesday, CGID attacked the “blatant lies to the nation…in a pernicious attempt to wrongfully discredit Sergeant Dion Bascom. ”

Bascom and his attorney, Nigel Hughes, in a press conference on Friday, one by one, debunked the claims made by the Force against Bascom, including the claim that the Police does not have the technological capacity to track and trace calls. Retired Assistant Commissioner, Clinton Conway, in conversation with Village Voice, said the Police has triangulating equipment and persons from Special Branch were sent abroad to be trained in its usage.

Bascom has been the subject of attention since releasing a social media post, which he has since removed, casting serious allegations on senior officers in the Force and accusing them of unprofessionalism. In that post, he implicated Superintendent Mitchell Caesar in a cover up with a city businessman, Nazruddin Mohamed, in the killing of Ricardo Fagundes aka ‘Paper shorts’ on March 21, 2021. Both have denied the allegations. Fagundes was killed in a hail of bullets in front of Palm Court nightclub, Georgetown. The Force has distanced themselves from Bascom’s allegations and said they have enlisted international support in solving the killing of ‘Paper shorts.’

However, the Bascom/Hughes press conference is adding to doubts about Blanham’s credibility. According to CGID, Blanhum is so transparently dishonest, untrustworthy and corrupt, which the organisation stated is exacerbated by statements issued subsequent to the Force’s press conference which continues to attract public condemnation.

CGID has expressed concern that despite Bascom reiteratation he took Rondell Bacchus to the CID Headquarters, which Blanham and others are fully aware, the crime chief continues to engage in denial. Bacchus, subsequent to the Bascom/Hughes press conference, in an interview with Travis Chase said he was taken to CID headquarters by the sergeant.

Rickford Burke, CGID President, in conversation with Village Voice said in light of new and evolving developments, Blanhum must resign forthwith and save the Force further embarrassment. “He is dishonest, unscrupulous, of an immoral character, and therefore unfit to be a law enforcement officer.”

CGID further pointed out this is not the first time Blanhum’s integrity has been questioned, drawing attention to previous removal as Crime Chief during the A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) government. Burke said, “the People’s Progressive Party/Civic government brought him back [and] unfortunately we have the same result; incompetence and corruption.”

Blanham must be fired, GCID said as the organisation reiterates its call for an international investigation of the allegations by Sergeant Dion Bascom.