Something is rotten in the state of Guyana

Dear Editor,

Please forgive me but I am experiencing some degree of mental difficulty in coming to grips with a recent report in your newspaper. According to the recommendations by Chairman of the Police Complaints Authority, Cecil Kennard, manslaughter charges would be laid against the civilian individual who allegedly beat fisherman Asham Khatoon, while the pair were handcuffed at the Leonora Police Station. Failure on the part of the wife of the fisherman to identify the rank(s) who may have been the primary assailants, have led to the dropping of charges against the ranks.  Even more baffling is the situation underpinning how the deceased and his alleged assailant met. The common denominator is the venue—Leonora Police Station. The deceased was arrested at his home, taken to the police station and detained for allegedly having beaten his wife, his so called assailant on the other hand was arrested following the tendering of counterfeit money as payment to a restaurant owner, who later decided on non-pursuance of the matter. Here they are at the Leonora Police Station, preparing for Act 1 Scene 1 Death to one both handcuffed to each other. Which of the two afore-mentioned criminals warranted being handcuffed? But before anyone decides to proffer a response or the semblance of an answer, let me unashamedly inquire as to the number of ranks that were present on duty on that fateful day and time. I would hate to think that this comedic saga was not playing out to an adequate audience. Again, I sincerely hope that the ranks were both familiar and comfortable with the circumstances surrounding the use of handcuffs. Assault is defined as any intentional application of force to the person of another, the usage of handcuffs amounts to such an assault, and is considered unlawful unless it can be justified. Yes, I am in total agreement that the deceased provided an objective basis for the ranks to handcuff him, as violence had been displayed in the circumstances leading up to his arrest. This being said, then pray tell me why was he not fully handcuffed rather than being handcuffed to an individual guilty of a far lesser charge? The Guyanese public at large is no stranger to the fact that there have been reported cases when the ranks have failed to act like real policemen, instead behaving like the Keystone Cops where criminals under their care have escaped. Notwithstanding such negative encounters, each situation should be judged on its own merits. Let us not forget that while the ranks are concerned about their safety, the same safety should be accorded those in their custody. Another disconcerting aspect of this sad seeming allegory, is that as reported in the Kaieteur News of November 29, 2014 wherein it reads as follow, ‘victim reportedly told police other prisoner had assaulted him”. Here again, he was handcuffed. Was he not being supervised, especially since he was handcuffed to another prisoner thereby limiting his freedom of movement etc. to some degree? What departmental rules, if any, are in place regarding the protocol to be followed in the case of handcuffed detainees? If he was being not only supervised but properly supervised then the cops would have seen and known and he would not have to be the bearer of news that heralded his eventual demise. The two policemen, initially under close arrest are now cleared of any charges, despite the fact that the wife in a corroborating statement said that her now deceased husband reported  to her that the police had beaten him, She had also seen a short, stocky man strike her husband on the back with a long gun after arresting him at his home.  Sadly, she was unable to clearly identify the perpetrator, due to diminished light at night. Even Watson could have solved that as there should be some record of the names of the arresting officer. A very compelling piece of evidence is the fact that the husband maintained that he was beaten by the ranks. The famous phrase from Act I, Scene 4, of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Marcellus states: “Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.” Let me unequivocally state that “Something is rotten in the Police force of Guyana”, and in order for a better smell to emanate, I am calling on the powers to be to take a clearer look at this incident. The ranks should at least be held accountable for a beating leading to death that took place on their watch. Perhaps it calls for better handcuffs if bodily injuries of a fatal nature can take place using the current handcuffs. Incidentally, on behalf of he who cannot speak for himself, I am awaiting answers as to the duration of the encounter with the assailant, documentation of the state of the deceased following the altercation.  And above all how long were the handcuffs on the hands of the deceased, and the skin integrity following its eventual removal? After all dead men tell no tales.

Yvonne Sam