PPP/C General Secretary Clement Rohee

Controversial NICIL operation

People’s Progressive Party General Secretary Clement Rohee wants the identity of the “mysterious” second driver, who reportedly fled the scene of the accident before investigators arrived, to be revealed to the public.

In fact, Rohee is calling for the relevant authorities to break their silence on the entire situation and come forth and address the nation on a matter that rapidly generated immense public disquiet within a matter of days.

GDF Sergeant Robert Pyle

During the Party’s weekly media conference Monday, Rohee highlighted that the public is still in the dark with respect to basic information relative to the high-risk operation and blasted the government for condoning the lack of transparency surrounding the issue.

He pointed out that the identity of the second driver remains unknown.

“We haven’t heard anything yet about who is the second driver… the authorities are silent on the matter,” he expressed.

Eyewitnesses and a police statement written by Alana Seebarran, the individually who was wrongfully chased and who incidentally is the wife of PPP/C Member of Parliament Charles Ramson Jr, confirmed that three vehicles were involved in the high-speed chase along Carifesta Avenue: one driven by Seebarran’s brother, one by Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Sergeant Robert Pyle who was accompanied by his wife Stacy, and another that disappeared moments after the deadly crash.

Stacy Pyle

According to reports, that vehicle was driven by a police officer who escorted the body of the GDF Sergeant to the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Pyle was seconded to the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) for a special assignment: an investigation into the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) and its Executive Director Winston Brassington.

Pyle was at the time on his annual vacation leave and it remains unclear why he was summoned to take part in a civilian surveillance operation.

It also remains unclear why the army officer’s wife was with him whilst he was on a legitimate operation.

Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud had told Guyana Times that he was unaware of the nature of the operation, how many other GDF ranks were seconded, and how many other persons were placed under surveillance.

Meanwhile, according to Rohee, reports indicate that the GDF Sergeant was driving a private vehicle which he had borrowed from a friend.

On this note, the General Secretary demanded to know whether the GDF will be providing any compensation to the vehicle owner.

“I understand that this vehicle is a privately owned vehicle and he borrowed it from a friend and the GDF is refusing to compensate the owners of the vehicle up to now,” Rohee said.

Furthermore, the General Secretary emphasised that the authorities’ handling of the situation is a clear demonstration of the “lack of transiency”, and “cloudiness” involved in the governance of the country.