Unravelling the criminal network
President David Granger
President David Granger

…President says Lindo Creek CoI will shed light into intellectual authors of Jagdeo-era killings

PRESIDENT David Granger said the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the Lindo Creek Massacre is pivotal in unravelling the tapestry of criminality that engulfed this country between 2000 and 2008.

Speaking on the sideline of an accreditation ceremony for the new Cuban Ambassador at State House, and minutes before Retired Justice Donald Trotman was sworn in to head the CoI, President Granger on Thursday reminded reporters that eight innocent lives were lost at Lindo Creek on June 21, 2008 and gave the assurance that the perpetrators will be brought to justice. He said while there were approximately eight massacres during the period of the “Troubles,” the investigation into the Lindo Creek Massacre is critical in exposing the intellectual authors behind the criminal network that wreaked havoc under the Bharrat Jagdeo administration.

“We feel that the way in which the investigation was handled indicated that there was a high level of collusion by the government of the day. We feel that this will be a pivotal investigation, which will unravel the criminal network, which was behind the killings in what is now called the Jagdeo era, during the troubles,” the President said.

He said the report of the Donald Trotman-led CoI will lead to other inquiries, including that of former Minister of Agriculture Satyadeow Sawh. “It is really beyond belief that a president of a country could have one of his Cabinet ministers assassinated and not even hold an inquest, not even hold an inquiry,” President Granger posited.

While stating that he is heartened by the fact that the former President Bharrat Jagdeo now leader of the opposition has expressed a willingness to provide evidence, President Granger shot down the opposition leader’s claims that launching inquiries into these crimes committed against humanity will polarise the nation.

“What has polarised the nation is the killings, the troubles, the death squads, ministers using state letter heads to sign for people to get permission for equipment. That is what polarised this nation. The role of the government under President Jagdeo polarised this nation more than anything else in our history,” the President Granger stated.

Back in 2003-2006, convicted drug-trafficker Shaheed Roger Khan, had set up a criminal network here, including active policemen and a number of former ranks, ostensibly to go after criminals, but at the same time protecting his narco-trafficking interests. He was nabbed in neighbouring Suriname in 2006, while fleeing local police, and was later handed over to U.S. authorities.

Although the PPP government had sought to distance itself from Khan, the drug-trafficker had stated publicly in advertisements in local newspapers that he was fighting crime on behalf of the Jagdeo-led government. Khan had also implicated Dr. Leslie Ramsammy in his escapades, and documents bearing the then minister’s signature authorising the purchase of a sophisticated wire-tapping device were produced in U.S. courts during Khan’s trial.
Meanwhile, owner of the mining camp at Lindo Creek, Leonard Arokium, had accused the joint services of killing the eight miners. He had said that the servicemen at the time might have mistaken the men for members of the Rondell ‘Fineman’ Rawlins gang.

Over at the Ministry of the Presidency on Thursday, Minister of State Joseph Harmon, who presented Justice Trotman with his instrument of appointment, in justifying why the Lindo Creek Massacre was selected against any other, explained that while the Lindo Creek Massacre occurred close to 10 years ago, it is one of the most recent incidents to have rocked the country during the crime wave. According to him, the crime is still fresh in the minds of Guyanese, and there are still persons who can come forward and give evidence.
“Only recently I received a letter from the mother of one of the persons who was killed at that time asking for something to be done,” he pointed out.

Meanwhile, in a press statement issued hours after Justice Trotman was sworn in, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) said it has taken note of the launching of the inquiry into murder of the eight miners – Dax Arokium, Cedric Arokium, Compton Speirs, Horace Drakes, Clifton Wong, Lancelot Lee, Bonny Harry and Nigel Torres – whose burnt remains were discovered on June 21, 2008 at the Lindo Creek. Contending that the commission has a political objective, the PPP opined that persons with vital information may be reluctant to come forward due to the alleged lack of impartiality.

“The PPP would find it difficult to participate, given the nature of the commission’s establishment, including the decision to start an inquiry with the incidents at Lindo Creek, as opposed to a more comprehensive review of the crime wave,” it stated. It also registered concern over the appointment of Justice Trotman who is the father of a sitting Cabinet minister and Leader of the Alliance For Change (AFC), one of the partners in the coalition government.

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