An eyewitness has substantiated the account that Shaquille Grant, 17, was gunned down by police in Agricola, according to AFC Chairman Nigel Hughes, who said the party would share the evidence with the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in order for criminal charges to be laid.

Both the AFC and the PNCR have visited Agricola in wake of Tuesday’s incident, which saw Grant, of Lot 72 ‘BB’ Eccles, East Bank Demerara fatally shot some time after 11 am at Third Street, Agricola,where Romel Bollers, 19, was also shot. The police force has said that ranks opened fire after they were first fired upon and that a gun was later recovered.

PNCR Leader Brigadier David Granger and former police commissioner Winston Felix speaking with the mother of the slain teen, Shonett Adams.

The parties condemned the actions of the ranks involved in the shooting, which are being seen as another blow to the worn image of the force, coming on the heels of the intense criticism of its conduct at Linden, where three men were killed in July after police opened fire on protestors there.

“We have been able in less than 24 hours to gather a signed statement from an eyewitness. In the circumstances of what we gathered, we’ve also interviewed other witnesses from the scene who have confirmed this sequence of events and there is absolutely no reason why criminal charges shouldn’t flow within the next 48 to 72 hours,” Hughes, also an attorney, said yesterday, while adding that the eyewitness is too petrified of the police to have her identity revealed.

“Once we have provided adequate security for the eyewitness… and we have adequate assurances that her physical safety will not be compromised, we will certainly be sharing her statement with the other statements we have,” he added, later noting that other eyewitnesses provided the party with a photograph of the officer who shot the teen and also photographs of the crime scene.

He said evidence acquired by the AFC will be shared directly with DPP Shalimar Ali-Hack and he expects that charges will be laid against perpetrators. “My confidence in the police to do anything is marginal. What the AFC’s investigation team will do is as far as possible, gather the evidence so that there will be enough evidence available for criminal proceedings,” he said.

Stabroek News was told that police launched an operation in the community on Tuesday after receiving information that a gang was planning to commit a crime. Despite the police’s account that when the ranks arrived at Third Street someone opened fire, resulting in an exchange that left Grant dead, eyewitnesses had said that one officer was seen standing over the teen as he fired about six bullets into his body. Police in a press release later said that a .38 Smith and Wesson revolver was recovered from the scene.

‘You ain’t dead yet’

Sister of Shaquille Grant, preparing a placard before his relatives protested yesterday at the Brickdam Police Station.

Hughes yesterday relayed the account of the eyewitness, a woman, who said that she was in her home at 11.55 am when she heard a single gunshot. On peeking outside, she observed several police officers surrounding three young men who were lying on the ground.

“One of those young men was holding his stomach, grimacing in pain saying “ow my belly, my belly”. She said one of the policemen said “‘you ain’t dead yet?’ and at that stage she left to get her daughter because she was afraid,” Hughes related.

He said she subsequently heard several gunshots and on her return, she saw the body of the young man who was previously grimacing with pain lying motionless. The policemen were reportedly standing over the three men with their guns drawn.

The witness told officials of the AFC that one policeman was completely agitated and he had to be urged to calm down by the other officers, who kept telling him to “rest yourself.

“They left the motionless body on the ground bleeding for at least 15 to 20 minutes and then they dragged the body along the ground with the chest of Mr Grant on the ground and threw him into the back of the vehicle before departing,” Hughes said.

According to Hughes, Grant was shot twice; to the stomach and to the head. “The second [shot] that entered his head, directly in the middle of his forehead, was fired from an angle immediately above him. So it would appear that he was executed while lying motionless or almost motionless on the ground. The eyewitness confirmed that she did not see any other weapon apart from the police weapons that were there,” he added.

He pointed out that Grant holds no record of conviction for any criminal offence in Guyana and noted that the AFC considered the case another police execution. “We in the Alliance for Change wish to express our condemnation of the excuse offered by the police which is the men were planning a crime because I think the citizens of Guyana need to be very keenly aware that even if people are sitting down conspiring to commit a criminal offence, that is not a reason for them to be executed by the police,” he stated.

Hughes said that during the examination of the crime scene by party officials yesterday, no bullet holes or any other evidence were found to support the claim that any weapon was fired by any of the young men. Bollers, he further stated, is currently in police custody and when contacted Senior Superintendent of Police Winston Cosbert could not provide any clarification. “I spoke to Mr Cosbert who could not provide me with any explanation as to why he was arrested. He said he was unaware of any arrests connected to yesterday’s incident,” he said.

Further, Hughes declared that there are elements within the police force that are completely uncontrollable. “It is clear that the citizenry in certain neighbourhoods can no longer expect the police to protect and serve them and we believe this is a very dangerous assault on the rule of law in Guyana. We will be taking this up most vigorously and aggressively because unless all citizens can feel that they are protected and served by the police and will not be executed by them, we will find ourselves in very grave circumstances,” he said.

Meanwhile, in a statement the PNCR reported that its leader Brigadier David Granger, who is also opposition leader, condemned the killing of Grant and called on the Police Commissioner to interdict ranks involved and the holding of an inquiry.

Granger visited Agricola on the evening of the shooting and he expressed condolences to the grieving mother and relatives.

The statement noted that he was able to see the garments and congealed blood where the boys were sitting under a shed in a yard.

“Brigadier Granger blamed Grant’s death on the recklessness of the Guyana Police Force. He called on the Commissioner of Police, Mr Leroy Brumell to: immediately interdict the subordinate officer alleged to have done the shooting; conduct an inquiry into the incident; meet with the parents of the boy who was killed and those who were injured and implement measures to ensure that minimum force is used to arrest persons alleged to have broken the law,” it said.

It was added that in this case, there was no evidence that the youths had actually broken the law and there was, therefore, no justification for the extreme measures employed, such as using lethal force.

Granger also said that the Agricola community had been stigmatised during the crime wave from 2002 to 2008. He called on residents to show the same steadfastness they demonstrated during the crisis ten years ago and to resist attempts to criminalise their youths.

The PNCR also pledged to continue to stand with the families and victims until justice is served.

‘Justice’

At an AFC news conference, Grant’s mother, Shonett Adams, said she wanted justice.

“All I need for my son is justice. I don’t even want the policeman in jail, truly speaking. That was my only son. I did everything in my power to give my children what is best. Even if they want to offer some sort of money, money can’t replace my child’s life. My child already gone. Even if he [policeman] gets 25 to life that would not give me any satisfaction…” Adams said.

She noted that her son was not the first to be killed in the community in such a manner. She made reference to a 1996 incident, during which Marlon Black was shot and killed.

The woman said that police later justified their actions by claiming that Black was armed with a knife. However, she said she had witnessed that event and he was dressed only in a green army pants and held nothing in his hands as he was shot.

As a result, she called on the acting police commissioner to thoroughly investigate her son’s death and in “the right way.” “Do it by the book, satisfy the people of this nation… The other four guys should be released from police custody, they’re innocent,” she said.

The post-mortem examination on Grant’s body is expected to be conducted on Friday morning.

At Adams’ Agricola home, family gathered and recalled in disbelief what had happened, reiterating several times that Grant would have been celebrating his 18th birthday yesterday.

“I don’t know any of the young men to be involved in criminal activities,” one aunt said, disclosing that the name of a third boy who was beaten by police is Jamal Henry.

“Jamal is work. Romel father got dredge in the bush, Shaquille was going to sign up with the army today… they are not bad boys,” she cried.

“We cannot trust these police. [Home Affairs Minister] Mr Clement Rohee has no power over the Guyana Police Force and that means he got to go. These criminal elements within the force make the government look bad. They are out of control,” aunt of Grant, Melissa Grant, said.

Grant had graduated last year from the Community Skills Programme, an initiative by the Home Affairs Ministry to help youths in various communities. He was eager to join the Guyana Defence Force but was unable to do so until he was 18. He had planned to do so yesterday when he would have celebrated his birthday.

“I never see someone with so much love in their heart. He could have his last and someone ask him he will give without thinking twice. He was always contented, never fussy over clothes or anything like other young people,” his aunt added. The boy was said to have enjoyed dancing and football and was a member of the Rhythm Squad Football Team.

Meanwhile, the mother of the wounded Bollers, Carol Bollers, at the AFC press conference, told reporters that she considered the shooting inhumane and very cruel. She recalled that after receiving the news as the incident was transpiring, she rushed to the scene where she saw her son. But she was barred from getting too close to him.

“They didn’t have anything to say because when the incident took place I was in Third Street and I said that is my son sitting there and they said, ‘we are not looking after that right now.’ I continued standing to see the result and they took him to the Georgetown Hospital but they didn’t have any answers to give anybody,” she said.

Please notice the speed at which they ran to Agricola 'gathered evidence' 'took statements', tried and convicted when a person is allegedly killed in confrontation by the police..............

Now a police who had been making a significant impact on the denting of the drug trade is killed by criminals and we are yet to hear from them and their colleagues at GHRA and Red Thread. However, their propaganda agents are already spinning the conspiracy theories........ 

QUit politicizing simple shit. The PPP and its lax laws that saw street vendors building malls and owning hotels, and eco parks  facilitated the rise of the narco state. Many of the "big" people in Gy are drug runners so speak to that there. This person, whomever he is, is just a casualty in the rise of a drug culture that began and is reaching a crescendo in the society completely during the tenure of the PPP.

Political leaders need to act responsible and top defending criminal elements in the society, APNU/AFC needs to hold their horses and not jump to per-mature conclusion, the law has to take its course

 Is that what the PPP or you for example do? Did you not take it upon yourself to call Gerald et al terrorists and extremists without a finding as to who did what in linden? You talk at both sides of your mouth.

the ppp government is responable for the crime rate in guyana the bottom line is they are the ruling goverment of the day and is in power for 20 yrs this is the culture that they have the guyanese people living with

Defending criminal elements in society is not the way to go, the Agricola incident and this recent incident the opposition rush to the defense of questionable characters in the society....they should be ashamed of themselves

how you know the kid was a criminal and he was commiting a crime and how about arresting the youth instead of shooting him is this the kind of country you want for you and your children maybe that okay for you and your family but its not okay for honest hard working people

Show me your company and I'll tell you who you are....the lad was "probably" at the wrong place at the wrong time...to say those young men was a group of Sunday school boys....would be far fetch....

what a ****ing ass people like you scare the shit out of me i suggest you stay in guyana and i mean in guyana donot and i mean donot bring it to canada or your own friends will kick your ass when the ppp have supporters like you they donot need no enemy

The death of this brave young man should rise a call to stem the drug trade. The government has refused the help offered by the USDEA in dealing with the drug trade. WHY??? Could it be they are afraid of being in bed with the drug lords? If that could be proven true then we know the gov't has only two things in mind: staying in power and profiting from the drug trade so they can fill their pockets.

The Opposition acting like hungry dogs going after every dry bone out there.  This poor young officer is killed and the vultures wasted no time in turning his into another political football.  How about all the killings in Mexico and Columbia, can we say those Govt are laxed in enforcement?  How about all the drug-related killings and violence here in the US, are law enforcement laxed here?

Drug dealers are shadowy and getting them is not always clear cut.  Infact, if the Govt go after suspects, any mistake will become another political football for the Opposition.

This was the AFC's media release YESTERDAY on Dianand's brutal slaying:

The Alliance For Change extends condolence to the family and relatives of Detective Jirbahand Dianand of the Guyana Police Force whose body was discovered this morning in a car at Number 70 Village, Corentyne with a gunshot wound.

The AFC condemns the killing of the young police detective and urges the Guyana Police Force not to be deterred by this brazen act of murder which was clearly designed to intimidate members of the Force and keep them away from carrying out their lawful duties.

The AFC will not condone the murder of any citizen and especially condemns the murder of law enforcement officers.

[END]

The release was also carried in today's Stabroek News:

 

A young narcotics detective, who was gaining a reputation for making big drug busts, was early yesterday morning found dead in his car, shot to the head execution-style, on the public road at Jackson Creek, Corentyne, Berbice.

 

The murder of Detective Constable 20682 Jirbahan Dianand, 23, of Lot 70 No. 64 Village, Corentyne, sent shockwaves throughout Berbice yesterday. Up to press time, Stabroek News was told that there were three persons in police custody and a search was on for other suspects.

 

Slain Detective Constable Jirbahan Dianand (in plain clothes) and two of his co-workers on Thursday. He was found dead in the clothes he is wearing in the photograph.

 

Dianand, who was also known as ‘Bachan’ and ‘Justin Dianand,’ was stationed at the Moleson Creek Police Outpost and attached to the Narcotics Section. In a statement, police said that around 5:30 am, Dianand “was found in motor car PHH 6528 on the public road at Jackson Creek, Corentyne, with a suspected gunshot wound to the head.”

 

Commissioner of Police Leroy Brumell told this newspaper that from all indications, Dianand knew his killer, pointing out that the car was stopped on the lonely roadway. Crime Chief Seelall Persaud later said that the motive for the killing remained unclear, when asked if the murder might be linked to the policeman’s work. He said that investigators still have a lot of work to do in the case. According to Persaud, Dianand had made several significant drug seizures. He also said that during his time there, the force never received any negative complaints about his behaviour.

 

Dianand, who was also a Second Year student at the University of Guyana Tain Campus, had been in the police force only two and a half years.  He was said to be especially good at finding narcotics hidden in vehicles. He currently has a few cases in the courts, including at Springlands, where he was the main witness. 

 

Stabroek News learnt that the discovery of the body was made by passers-by, who alerted the police. When police arrived at the scene, Dianand was found with his head faced down in the driver’s seat of his burgundy tinted vehicle. A source said that the young policeman received a shot to his forehead on the left side. His body was later transferred to the Skeldon Hospital, while the car is currently lodged at the Springlands Police Station. When Stabroek News visited the station, police officers were carrying out a thorough search on the vehicle.

 

The car in which Detective Constable Jirbahan Dianand (inset) was found dead in at Jackson Creek, Corentyne, Berbice yesterday morning.

 

When Stabroek visited Dianand’s home, his grieving mother Drupattie Dianand was distraught. The woman cried uncontrollably, while her son’s family and friends converged at the house. After she regained some of her composure, she told this newspaper how she received the brief but life changing news of her son’s death. Her husband, “Dutchie” (only name given), a tapir driver, called her around 7am and informed that their son was murdered. “They shoot he,” she recalled him telling her, while adding that the news left her traumatised. Drupattie said the last time she had spoken to her son was on the previous afternoon. He had told her then that he would go to the gym and then to work, she recalled. She added that he loved his job and never complained about it. She also said that he had no dispute with anyone, since he was a very jovial person.

 

At the Springlands Police Station, black flags were seen in the compound and the atmosphere was sombre. It was the same at the Tain Campus, where the university flag was flown at half mast. Students who knew Dianand were either devastated or shocked at the news of his death. Some mourned openly, saying they would miss a great friend. A student from Dianand’s Public Management class expressed sympathy to his family and loved ones on behalf of the entire campus, including his class.

 

Dianand’s body is currently being stored at the Skeldon Hospital mortuary until a post-mortem examination that is likely to take place on Monday. Dianand is survived by his parents and an older brother.

 

Meanwhile, opposition party AFC condemned Dianand’s killing and urged the police force not to be deterred from carrying out their lawful duties by intimidation. “The AFC condemns the killing of the young police detective and urges the Guyana Police Force not to be deterred by this brazen act of murder which was clearly designed to intimidate members of the Force and keep them away from carrying out their lawful duties,” it said in a brief statement. “The AFC will not condone the murder of any citizen and especially condemns the murder of law enforcement officers,” it added. The party extended condolences to Dianand’s family and relatives.

 I do not see anyone picking on the young man that died. The fact that he died in this manner and why has both social and political ramifications. You are being an ass if you think this is picking bones. This is pointing to a failure in the society.

Are there lax laws with respect to drugs in the US? The severity of the laws with regard to piddling infraction is a course of contention since it has a million black men in jail. You are making a stupid comparison. Further, why should we excuse our nations inability to act because what may or may not be the case in other places? Would you excuse being robbed because robbery happen elsewhere?

First of all, I would like to offer my deepest sympathies to the family of this brave you man.

It is now apparent that crime and drugs have taken a new turn in Guyana where the criminal elements are now bold enough to kill narco detectives. This is a serious matter. 

This incident happened in a PPP stronghold and it would be wise for the PPP to be bold enough to admit that there is a serious drug and crime problem in Guyana and the police are ill equipped to handle this type of criminal activity.

It would be wise of the PPP to work in cooperation with the opposition and the international community to combat this evil of crime and drugs. It would strengthen rather than weaken the PPP. 

It now seems that that the PPP want to blame the opposition for a problem that they need to address immediately. Now is not a time for defending a weak strategy but to include others in working to rid Guyana of a serious drug problem.

I support the PPP but cannot support them on this issue. If we are genuine, we need to call a spade a spade.

I would not have thought the Gov't culpable if they didn't enjoy close relationships with the underworld, if they had engaged in meaningful security sector reform, including having accepted the British Security Sector Reform Project (SSRP), and had allowed the US DEA to set up office in Guyana.  

It would have been difficult to fault the Gov't if they had done that and were seriously trying to eradicate the drug scourge.  However, for the past two decades they have only been catching the small fish.  And yes, the drug problem did not begin under the PPP, and of course it would have been there regardless of who was in power, but the issue is the PPP's track record of hardly fighting the trade.

I agree with GNIer, "God", when he says, "The PPP promoted the drug trade in Guyana since it is a big boost to the economy and sugar is in the latrine. This is the fallout from the PPP being in bed with drug barons like Roger Khan."

ONLY AN ILLITERATE, SHAMELESS ROBBER BARRON WILL SAY SO. YOU DEPTHOF SHAMELESSNESS IS BEYOND ONE'S IMAGINATION. YOU AND THE KFC ARE THE WORST KIND OF POWER HUNTERS IN THE WORLD. MOSES HAS LOST HIS HUMANITY BECAUSE OF IGNORANT AND ILLITERATE PEOPLE LIKE YOU. THE BOTTOM LINE IS THE ONLY THING IMPORTANT TO YOU AND THE METHOD OF ACHIEVING YOUR GOAL IS TO DO "WHATEVER" POSSIBLE, SELL YOUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS OUT, LIE, CHEAT, DESTROY, DISTORT AND WORST!!

Thank you, Stormborn.  In Mexico and Columbia the authorities go after the drug lords in a concerted manner and have had many successes.  Guyana does not, and naturally, cannot report any significant success.  The PPP's record spans some 20 years and, therefore, it is not a case of me being harsh on a young administration.  To be clear, I am not giving the US a free pass on the issue, as it is their demand that primarily fuels the trade.

I hope this crime is invstigated and the perps brought to justice.  This was a young man.

Police must be allowed to keep their guns with them always.

DESPERATE, LYING, CHEATING HO, NOW YUGI IS THE MANTLE OF AUTHORITY!!!!! SAME PERSON HE TALK ABOUT LIKE DIRT!!!! PEOPLE, THIS IS THE KING OF SHAMELESS PEOPLE WE ARE DEALING WITH. I AM NOT SURE THEY ARE HUMAN!!!!

yuji22, you and I have had strong disagreements on GNI (and no doubt we will have more in the future), but in our exchanges did I ever get personal, insulting or disrespectful?

Gerhard you continue your Great Positive work and you are reconise by many and i must say it was a pleasure meeting with you.See you soon Sir,take care .

Likewise, thank you, brother.

It is quite the opposite. I used very distasteful comments to describe Gerhard in the past, but not once did he use a distasteful comment.

We will continue to disagree politically, but that is what makes a democratic system work. 

Gerhard is right on this issue.

My brother, it was not my intent for you to beat up on yourself.  You only had to acknowledge that I am generally civil in my discourse

And it is not that I do not understand the emotional reaction to my politics, especially from those who do not live in Guyana and are essentially caught in a time warp as it relates to the PPP.  I do appreciate how difficult it is for many to discern between us and them politics, and national politics.  

When I supported Linden, and the truth being that the PPP and PNC had a deal on the rate hike issue, and it was Linden, in its totality (religious, business, workers), and independent of the politicians that rose in protest, I was roundly condemned and accused of furthering a black agenda.  How quickly those persons forgot I was at the forefront of the sugar workers struggle at Enmore and Blairmont, and I stood with the people of Cane Grove on their dust pollution issue, including being on the picket line - all having occurred a mere few months before.

While in no way am I comparing myself to Uncle Cheddi, it was along those lines his politics was defined.  He stood with the Bauxite workers, and even before he did, the Bauxite workers stood with him; in 1971 against the sugar levy when they marched from Linden to Georgetown supporting the strike by GAWU and again in 1974, the Bauxite workers supported the Corentyne rice farmers in their protest against the toll stations there.  In retribution, Burnham removed the toll stations on the Corentyne but left those on the Linden Highway.

And if the price of my national politics is to be accused at different times of all sorts of agendas, so be it.  I live my beliefs and so it will not daunt nor deter me.  Eventually more and more people's eyes will open to the fact that Guyana's struggle is not a "racial" one but one of class; those who have and those who do not.

The death of this very young(23) and enterprising detective is to be placed on Clement Rohee, Roger Luncheon and the PPP/C for continuously refusing assistance from foreign professionals.

This is another death that will be unsloved. In this so called paradise of a country, cops are difiguring kids and recently murdered a 17 year old.

Did Ramotar or Rohee visit the grieving family?

READ COBRA'S COMMENTS IN ANOTHER THREAD:

==================

 

 

yuji, you're a judass. I see you embrace the AFC sentiments and you became a democrat overnight. I just saw a movie name "enemy among us" and I remember you instantly. I hope you will have the heart to contribute your fake condolences to every Guyanese citizens who lost their life tragically and blame in on the PPP. Please do that for me. Join the ranks of GR and company.

cobra:

You've hit the nail on the head regarding Berbice bai yuji---a lot of Berbicians are sell-outs----look how easily they were tricked by Moses, Ramjattan and the AFC in the 2011 elections.

When yuji supported Romney and the Republicans he was attacked mercilessly on this board---called a racist and all the names in the book.

SO YUJI DECIDED TO DO A 180---HE DECIDED TO SEEK LOVE AND RESPECT ON THIS FORUM---AND THE BEST WAY FOR YUJI TO BE LOVED WAS TO SUPPORT OBAMA---A MAN HE HAD ENDLESSLY ATTACKED AS THE FOOD STAMP PRESIDENT.

Hopefully in his next life yuji is blessed with an ounce of conviction---men of conviction dont sell-out!

Rev

yuji22, you are anti-Obama???  LOL, you and I will "go up the road" for that!  Anyway, let's leave that for another time and another thread.

By the way, yuji22, you see how they've turned on you for merely taking a principled stand?  They recently did the same to a once rabid PPP supporter who after she came back from Guyana began pointing out the PPP's neglect of its own supporters.  What you got here was soft to what they did to her.

The drug trade has been very good to the PPP, their close associates and the banking sector in Guyana. Corrupt, incompetent and weak law enforcement is THE essential part in the lucrative, cynical dance Guyana's ruling party has been engaged in as a direct result.

TOO MUCH is owed by PPPCrime to the major drug traffickers - making Ramotar 'powerless' to change anything. As Gerhard reminds us . . ., Jagdeo’s idea of GPF "reform" was to spurn help from Scotland Yard and the DEA, and offer the criminal Bernie Kerik US$7 million to advise them on how to smokescreen de ting.

Nothing will change without a change of Gov’t . . .

Condolences to the family of the young officer

A SNAKEOIL CRABDAAG LIKE YOU WILL BE WORST!!!!!!!!!!!!

yaaaawn . . .

Nehru patacakeman, when will you learn to type and make sentences that really mean something. You rass ever tried reading your own posts? I'm sure you'd say the same as most here do,
"What a butthead"

Yo Cain, Is not my fault you used to Skulk.

That's like the stupidest answer. ROTFL