The Barbados-based Regional Security System (RSS) is scheduled to visit Guyana to help in the probe of the recent murders and unrest that occurred in sections of the country.
This was revealed by Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo during a recent online live forum.
According to Jagdeo, the team will be dispatched to Guyana shortly, to ensure that a transparent investigation into the killings of two cousins – Joel Henry, 16 and Isiah Henry,19 along with the killings of two others-Haresh Singh,17 and Chatterpaul Harripaul, 34.
The RSS – is an international agreement for the defence and security of the eastern Caribbean region. It was created in 1982 to counter threats to the stability of the region in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
“We have already contacted the RSS and they will be sending in a team of people; the regional security group to assist our police with the investigation because we want everybody to know. There’s always a say that there is a coverup. We want this investigation to be done transparently with international help. They will be coming in to assist the police with the investigation,” Jagdeo said.
While the RSS will be working in conjunction with the Guyana Police Force, the Administration has taken a proactive step of contacting the United Nations to identify those who were responsible for fuelling hate and ethnic division among the people.
According to Jagdeo, the International Commission of Inquiry (CoI) will look at the series of events holistically and draw much-anticipated answers.
“We are also writing the United Nations because we don’t believe that people who stir up hatred and ethnic fear should go scot-free…Hopefully, the Commission of Inquiry done internationally will look at the killings but they would also look at all the subsequent events thereafter,” Jagdeo said.
The police report that on September 6, the bodies of the Henrys were discovered and a post mortem found that they died as a result of haemorrhage and shock due to multiple incised injuries.
Their bodies bore several chop wounds.
Isaiah had the letter ‘X’ carved on the back of his head and forehead, while Joel’s chest was cut open, exposing his organs and also suffered several broken bones.
The discovery of their bodies led to protest by residents of the West Coast of Berbice.
Meanwhile, the police assured the country that they will leave “no stones unturned” in the investigations into the murder of Singh, the grandson of one of the seven suspects.
Singh was last seen alive leaving his home on his motorcycle last Wednesday morning to attend to his farm, he was later found unresponsive after a relative reported seeing smoke rising from the area where the farm is situated.
Singh’s body was found lying motionless and bleeding from the nose, while his motorcycle was also discovered burnt.
A post mortem examination conducted on Singh found that he died from brain haemorrhage and blunt trauma to the head, compounded by compression injuries to the neck.
In the case of Harripaul, it’s reported that on Thursday, he was seen exiting his vehicle with a gun and discharged one round into the air before discharging three rounds towards a crowd of protesters who were about 60 meters away.
As a result of his actions, he was attacked by the crowd and beaten.
Police officers, who were some distance away, having observed the commotion, rushed to the scene where they discovered the victim lying on the ground with several injuries about his body.
He was subsequently picked up and taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead.
According to Jagdeo, the perpetrators must be found to bring justice to the families.
“We have to find the perpetrators. These are not human beings to kill people, youngsters in that manner. I’ve seen and witnessed how a personal tragedy of the parents and grandparents of the individuals who were killed, who only wanted justice for their kids, who only wanted us to apprehend the killers.”
The Vice President also expressed confidence in President Irfaan Ali who has ensured that the matter will be resolved and normalcy will be restored.
CMC
