SELF-CONFESSED former ‘Death Squad’ hit man, Shawn Hinds, has hurled even more startling revelations towards the Guyana Police Force, but this time against the Tactical Services Unit (TSU), claiming that TSU officers sold weapons to businessmen and criminals.Hinds disclosed while in an exclusive interview with HGP Nightly News’ Travis Chase that he would purchase the weapons for businessmen, because of his long-time connection with the Police Force.
Hinds alleged also that the selling of guns by the TSU happened after the formation of the ‘Death Squad’, of which he was a member, and the ‘Phantom Squad’, which fell under the supervision of former Home Affairs Minister under the People’s Progressive Party /Civic (PPP/C) Government, Ronald Gajraj.
The former ‘Death Squad’ member said at the time he purchased weapons from the TSU for businessmen, he was not a serving member of the Force. He disclosed that some businessmen had approached him asking for weapons for their protection, to which his only concern was how much they were willing to pay. Hinds failed to mention, however, the names of any such businessmen.
The guns, according to Hinds, were mostly weapons that were seized in TSU operations and held in custody by the Unit. “Most of these guns that they carry in in TSU deh, when dey hold ting, it lodge there for a lil’ while, and then they sell it.”
Hinds denied knowing if there were other buyers like himself, but disclosed that he had bought two or three guns from the Unit.
“At the time, I been buying gun for 50-60,000 dollars from de police dem at duh time, guns with rounds,” Hinds told the reporter in the newscast aired last night.
Hinds was called in for questioning by the Guyana Police Force (GPF). While some were of the opinion that the Force’s move was directly linked to the investigation into the death of political activist, Courtney Crum-Ewing, who was gunned down in the height of the May 11 election campaign, the Police have since arrested the bodyguard of former Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall.
That bodyguard was Rajput Narine. Narine’s arrest has somewhat exonerated Hinds for his alleged involvement in the Crum-Ewing murder, but Police are still asking for Hinds to turn himself in. Hinds continues to maintain his innocence, saying he will turn himself in in the presence of his Lawyer, who is currently out of the country.

By Derwayne Wills