Was another person in ACP Balram Persaud’s vehicle at time of accident?

• Traffic Chief admits ‘hearing’ such reports but says investigating ranks saw no one else inside vehicle at accident scene

By Kristen Macklingam

Two days after Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Balram Persaud succumbed to injuries he sustained in an accident earlier this month, reports are surfacing that another person had been in the Officer’s vehicle before it slammed into a utility pole.

Initially it was stated that Persaud was driving his car when the tragedy took place but reports  are that there was a female junior police rank in Persaud’s car and it is unclear as to whether or not she was the one driving the vehicle at the time of the accident.

Traffic Chief Deon Moore told INews that it has been circulating that there was another person in the ACP’s car when the unfortunate incident occurred.

However, he stated that the first traffic ranks who arrived at the scene of the accident said that there was no one else inside of the mangled vehicle.

According to the Traffic Chief, the police rushed ACP Persaud to the hospital for emergency medical attention and were unable to question him as to what had transpired or receive a statement since he was in a critical condition.

INews understands from the moment Persaud was hospitalised until the time of his death he could not have divulged any information to any officer about the accident because of the state he was in.

He eventually lost the battle for his life on Tuesday and the Guyana Police Force (GPF) is now mourning his loss.

According to the GPF, ACP Persaud had enlisted into the Guyana Police Force on May 05, 1984, with regulation number 12684 and was posted to ‘F’ Division following the completion of his initial training.

He attended the Anna Regina Multilateral School and the Government Technical Institute where he earned passes at the GCE ‘O’ Level and the Ordinary Technical Diploma in Building and Civil Engineering, respectively, and through his discipline, dedication and commitment to duty rose steadily through the ranks.

ACP Persaud earned his first promotion to the rank of Cadet Officer in 1986 after completing the Standard Officers’ Cadet Course; Assistant Superintendent in 1987, Deputy Superintendent in 1995; Superintendent in 1998; Senior Superintendent in 2002; and Assistant Commissioner in 2008.

INews was told that he was awarded the GPF’s 150^thand 175^th Anniversary Medals and has given almost 32 years of exemplary and yeoman service to the Police Force and citizens of the country, and will be remembered by many as a very approachable and experienced Police Officer.

According to a media statement from the GPF, the Commissioner of Police, Seelall Persaud, senior officers and other ranks of the Force express their sadness at his passing.

He met his demise just months before his retirement which was slated for August this year.