THE Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has commended the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Guyana Police Force on its efforts in solving several crimes, including cold cases.The PPP has also recommended that Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum be immediately promoted from the rank of Senior Superintendent to that of Assistant Commissioner of Police.

“The Crime Chief must, at all times, be of the rank of an Assistant Commissioner,” the party said in a statement on Monday, adding that the Crime Chief must be able to act independent of instructions or directives of a non-professional nature.

The party also noted that the Force’s human resource capacity should be explored. “There was a time when everything civilian was ignored and disregarded, to the detriment of successful investigation and prosecution,” the PPP said.

That party has advised that “effective use of human intelligence and civilian common sense is the way to go”, noting that the dispersion of CID sleuths to areas where useful information can be obtained is proving to be productive and effective.

Recently, a number of high profile cases which had been unsolved for several years were pursued by the police, and the alleged perpetrators have been placed before the courts.
The list includes the 2007 murder of Joseph Willy, called “Jeff-man”, who was allegedly shot by Alvin Calder at White Water Landing in the Potaro area. Calder was recently nabbed by the cops, and was placed before the courts on May 4 in relation to the crime.

In September 2012, the country was rocked by the triple-murder of Anna Catherina liquor store owner Jennifer Persaud and her two young sons. Following a report of abuse by his wife, barber Abishai Caesar, 31, appeared before Magistrate Rochelle Liverpool late last month, and was charged with the gruesome crime.

In January this year, Aaron Wilfred Hing, 20, called “Neutral”, and his friend Staymon “Sherwin” George, 24, both of Kildonan Village, Corentyne, were arraigned at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, where they were not required to plead to the capital charge, which alleged that they murdered British teenager Dominic Bernard on October 14, 2015.

The teenager Bernard had reportedly arrived in Guyana on the evening of October 14, 2015, and had not been seen since. His father, during a visit to Guyana for news about his son, met with Blanhum, who promised that the police would do everything in their power to solve the mystery.

Hing, the teen’s god-brother, became a person of interest after he disappeared when police attempted to contact him. As law enforcement officers continued to dig for information, George was added to the list of suspects.

Wanted bulletins were issued for the two men as suspicion grew about their involvement in the teen’s disappearance.

And last month, Simone Hackett of “C” Field Sophia, a mother of one, was reported missing by relatives on April 17, after she had not returned the previous night from going to collect a package allegedly sent from Mahdia by her child father, Clevaughn Hamilton, called “Quarters”.

Her body, which bore multiple stab wounds, was discovered along the roadway at Cummings Lodge several days later.

Diligent work by the cops led to Hamilton being charged with the crime, and days later taxi driver Ranachal Singh of Good Faith, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara appeared before Sparendaam Magistrate Zameena Ally-Seepaul to answer a charge of murder committed on Hackett. The man’s blood stained car was also impounded by the police.

On May 13, Stafrei Hopkinson Alexander, who escaped from the Mackenzie Police Station on December last, and who was wanted for the murder of a Linden woman, was apprehended during a checkpoint search at the Kurupukari Crossing on the Essequibo River.

The police said Alexander, of Laing Avenue, West Ruimveldt, Georgetown, was in a vehicle at the checkpoint when he was apprehended.

On May 17, five teens appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court to answer a charge of murder committed on 75-year-old retired professor Pairadeau Mars, who on May 12 was bound, beaten and strangled in his home.

The teenagers were charged jointly for the alleged murder of the former University of Guyana Professor, reportedly committed at his Lot 395 Bissessar Street, Prashad Nagar home during the course of a robbery.

On Sunday, police dug up a shallow grave at Lot 51 Seaforth Street, Campbellville and unearthed the remains of a person suspected to be 28-year-old Babita Sarjou, who disappeared without a trace on the eve of Diwali in November 2010.

Her husband Anand Narine, who was long suspected of playing a role in the woman’s disappearance, and an accomplice are expected to face charges soon in relation to the woman’s death. Blanhum told reporters that the woman’s disappearance is now being treated as a homicide.

Sarjou’s mother, Champa Seonarine, praised the Police Force, especially Blanhum, whom she noted was the real force behind the investigations. Seonarine stressed that if the woman’s husband is found guilty of the crime, he should be hanged.