Dear Editor,
I dictate this letter, after speaking with persons from the Linden community after the second fatal shooting within twenty-four hours.
Their language suggests that the situation in this upper Demerara community is disgusting, dire and dangerous. We are told by the Government Information Network that a Policeman, who allegedly discharged a round that fatally wounded Ronaldo Peters last evening has been placed under close arrest.
Observing an emerging pattern within the Guyana Police Force, the person or persons to be put under close arrest are the high command of the Police Force, for it is my view that the existing attitude and behaviour of certain ranks emerged out of an attitude and philosophy engineered by the top brass and passed on to the subordinate ranks.
The case last evening according to the police is that the young man was shot by a police officer using a 9mm pistol. A 9mm pistol is a safer handgun than a revolver. It requires an action to put a round in the breach of the weapon, and every trained person will then put on the safety latch. To discharge a weapon therefore requires the holder to first activate the safety catch. This is unlike a revolver, which discharges a round, once you pull the trigger.
I am not au fait with the recent instructions, nor have I seen a manual; however I am aware of the basic direction in the good old days. To every police and security officer, it was as follows in this order – To employ your boots, then your baton, then the bayonet and if neither works, the bullet. It appears that the bullet is now the first option.
What about the bull-horn to tell the crowd that they are being unruly and must pull back. What about every unit being armed and trained to use the tear-gas, rubber pellets and water cannons. This is not the first such incident at Linden, but unless there are changes in attitudes and training, incidents at Linden and elsewhere as I dictate this letter will certainly not be the last.
Editor, what is worrisome are two factors. One, with this boast that we are the fastest growing economy, the police and security services cannot be short of money to acquire the appropriate materials of self defence and appropriate communication. Second, the tragedy seems to be the constant curse of putting square pegs in round holes.
The third element to this situation is today within the ranks of the Police Force – senior and junior, there are men and women of competence, a high sense of patriotism and a commitment to country, the problem is if they are not perceived by the hierarchy as being loyalist to the powers that be, they are stultified, suffocated and sidelined.
I pray and hope for change so that we dispel a statement made today, that this may be part of a plan to eliminate a certain set of people and frighten others into silence. Three cheers for democracy.
Change and hope of change for the better is the fodder that gives us hope even in the darkest of days.
Yours truly,
Hamilton Green
Elder
