PUBLIC Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan has debunked claims by General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Clement Rohee, that the security forces were being used for political work.He is insisting that investigations into alleged wrongdoing by Privatisation Unit/National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) head, Winston Brassington, will continue.

Following recent reports of surveillance being carried out on Brassington’s residence, the PPP is questioning the act, which involved the use of a now dead Guyana Defence Force (GDF) sergeant.

Sergeant Robert Pyle, his wife Stacy Pyle, and a third person were killed in a head-on collision last week on Carifesta Avenue. There have been reports ever since that Pyle was on a covert operation which involved staking out Brassington’s home.
Police have launched a criminal investigation into the operations of NICIL following recommendations by a commissioned audit. At his weekly news conference yesterday, Rohee called on the Government to issue a public statement on the reported surveillance of Brassington’s residence. Rohee wanted to know who authorised the use of the GDF rank to conduct surveillance of a civilian.

“In keeping with the subsequent media reports, the PPP now wants the Government to say who gave the political directive to the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) to carry out such an operation, and make use of the GDF sergeant to conduct the alleged surveillance,” said the PPP General Secretary, while highlighting that Pyle was attached to the Military Police of the GDF and worked under the SOCU.

In an immediate response, Minister Ramjattan told the Guyana Chronicle: “Pyle was part and parcel of the investigation, and was doing his legitimate function…” He said that units such as the SOCU, of which Pyle was a part, will go after those whom they suspect of wrongdoing.”

The PPP believes the Government might be using members of the security services for political proposes, but Minister Ramjattan asserts that senior officers who might have given Pyle that assignment are not to be blamed, neither can (the operation) be classed as political.

“Nevertheless, we will proceed and prosecute, because we are doing our jobs by ensuring that persons who have breached the law, whether Government official or any other citizen, are penalised,” said Minister Ramjattan.