After Ramdass murder…
PRESIDENT Bharrat Jagdeo has exhorted anyone who has information regarding misconduct by law enforcement officers to report the incidents.

Addressing guests at the Private Sector Commission (PSC) gala dinner at Pegasus Hotel in Kingston, Georgetown, last Friday night, he also undertook to have published what the Coast Guards are allowed to do under the laws.

The Head of State was responding to questions by a concerned member of the gathering about the recent murder, allegedly committed by Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Coast Guardsmen, of a 23-year-old man in Essequibo River.

President Jagdeo said he, too, is horrified at the occurrence as those are the people who have a duty to protect and serve.

They swear an oath and it is even worse when crimes are committed by people who you turn to for help,” he asserted.

Mr. Jagdeo, noting that alleged perpetrators have since been charged with the unlawful killing and the case is before the Court, said he could not promise it will never happen again “because we recruit people from the society.”

We train them and, sometimes, the same problem we have with the rest of the society we import into these structures,” he acknowledged.

However, President Jagdeo said he has told the GDF Chief-of-Staff to meet with all the people in the riverine communities because they have fears.

We have to use both the military justice system and the civilian justice system to come down hard on these people…its just atrocious,” he emphasised, still commenting on the killing.

Asked if what occurred in the Essequibo River was not an aberration, President Jagdeo said he has heard that such incidents have been occurring with regularity and wondered why they were not being reported.

I think, if there are others, we have an open society, we have a free media which can expose this,” he offered.

President Jagdeo said, if people know these things, they should report them.

Three Coast Guard ranks, Sherwyn Harte, Deon Greenidge and Devon Gordon, are facing a joint charge for the capital offence following the death of 23-year-old Dweive Kant Ramdass of Bartica, who was robbed of $17M.

They have been dishonourably discharged from the GDF, as well.