By Kurt Campbell
[www.inewsguyana.com] – A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) has expressed alarm at the recurring reports of unlawful killings by members of the Guyana Police Force.
In this regard, the Partnership has called for an independent judicial inquiry into all reports of police killings over the last eight years during the tenure of Clement Rohee as Home Affairs Minister.
Opposition Leader, David Granger at a press conference on Friday, May 16 recalled that the Force had admitted that between January 1977 to October 2012, Police Officers had killed 255 persons.
The Opposition Leader also noted that the United States Department of State, in its country report on Human Rights for 2013, stated that the Police Complaints Authority reported 14 unlawful killings by police for 2012.
“The pattern persists, there continue to be numerous confirmed reports of police killings,” Granger told the news conference.
He reiterated his Party’s call for Rohee’s appointment as Minister of Home Affairs to be revoked, adding that it is clear he is incapable of bringing the scourge of unlawful killings to an end.
Meanwhile, APNU Parliamentarian and Attorney – at – Law, James Bond contended that the problem has persisted for far too long. He posited that the police lack the confidence and self-esteem to protect and serve hence their resort to ‘inhumane, unconstitutional and downright wicked acts.’
Bond said there is a solution and it has always been below the nose of the ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP) and should be undertaken with immediate haste.
On a separate note, Granger and Former Police Commissioner Winston Felix lashed out at the leadership of the Force.
Granger said the recently appointed Commissioner (ag) Seelall Persaud seems to be suffering from a case of newness and is failing to pay attention to the internal problems in the Force.
Adding to this sentiment, Felix said he supports the reform process even as he remains concerned about the issues that continue to bedevil the police and the raising indiscipline among its ranks.
