IN an issue of the Guyana Chronicle of the late 1980s, there was a story of two males being caught in a yard, in a crouched position before a chicken pen, somewhere in the North East La Penitence area, where they were bludgeoned to death by stone-throwing residents. Such an incident was clearly one of citizens taking the law into their hands a la vigilante; and may have been the first of its kind in Guyana.
Is this the way forward for a society that has laid down laws? Most important, are citizens empowered to take the law into their hands, being judge, jury and executioner? And do our laws allow  such an illegality?
These questions and the aspect of vigilante killings come into sharp focus again, against the background of a 35-year-old man, recently beaten to death, after allegedly stealing pieces of scrap metal, and whose battered remains were found aback of the old incinerator.
Over the years, this country has followed such incidents as reported in the press. Two of these can be vividly recalled, portrayed in one of the dailies in all their brutal and gory details: that of an alleged thief chopped to death in a West Bank village; and that of a young teen, allegedly caught breaking into a North Ruimveldt residence. He was savagely beaten to death, and almost nude, laid out on two pieces of boards. There was also the incident on the East Bank Demerara a few years ago, when the body of a male was found with marks of violence in the Craig village cemetery. This particular incident of vigilante justice, prompted a very strong warning from the then Commissioner of Police against persons “taking the law into their hands.” Some persons were initially charged for murder”, and after an initial court appearance, the charge was reduced to that of manslaughter and bail granted. Is this not murder, pure and simple?
Now, this is a country of laws and as citizens we are bound by such. There are two institutions that are responsible for the preservation and execution of the laws of this land: the Police and the Judiciary. They both have distinct functions. Further, it is not the understanding that citizens are authorised under any of the nation’s current laws to carry out any of these institution’s functions, especially those of deciding an alleged wrongdoer’s fate. That clearly is not the law of the land, though as law-abiding citizens, one is obliged to assist the law in its daily functions, but not in such an unlawful manner.
There was once a story in the British press, where a judge handed down a custodial sentence to a citizen, for shooting an unarmed man found in his home. The judge ruled that the convicted man used more force than was necessary. Perhaps the need for such an extreme is justified against an armed intruder, from whose posture violence is expected. But then a mob surrounds him, why savage/kill, when he is outnumbered, and can easily be apprehended and handed over to the law for processing? Even unarmed intruders are administered this murderous fate, with the junkie category made to pay for their acts of petty thefts. This is the type that can be characterised as street justice and is a definite usurpation of lawful authority, as well as a serious infringement of our laws, and sends a very distorted message to our young in their understanding as to how law and order must function in a society.
Almost everyone seems to be taking the law into their hands these days, for such has become a common culture of the Guyanese milieu, in every region throughout Guyana. Almost three years ago a gang of young men, on being informed about a theft in a South Ruimveldt locale, set upon a middle-aged man, with murderous consequences. Investigations when completed, revealed that the only offence the poor man, a television repairman, had committed, was that he had been cycling home apparently under the influence, when he was attacked. As to whether anyone had been apprehended, much less charged is doubtful, since in most of these cases, the perpetrators have never been sanctioned. Even more disturbing is the stony silence from acknowledged institutions. In the circumstances, therefore, it is reasonable to assume that because of failure to condemn such a desecration of the law, such bestial behaviour is accepted as legitimate in our midst.
This most recent incident of vigilante killing is as shocking, lawless and vulgar for the boldness and obscenity that it portrayed. The act of battering the alleged thief is unlawful enough, but to dispatch his remains in daylight, points to a frightening boldness, and calculated disrespect for the law; and, a cold effrontery to the sensitivities of those who were at the site where the body had been dumped.
It is time that the relevant authorities, especially the judiciary, confront this dangerous and unlawful practice in a decisive manner. This is a signal hallmark of a frontier society, which Guyana is not. The fact that it is a way of social life, speaks of the general citizens’ perception of their country’s laws. It is also a challenge to the authority of those who are custodians of the justice system.
Is vigilante justice the law of the land?