THE Ministry of Home Affairs said, on Wednesday, it is with firm resolve that members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) must, at all times, act within the confines of the law when carrying out their duties, especially when it involves the use of force. The statement, in light of the recent police fatal shootings, added that, at the present time, an analysis is being conducted of the current training, methodologies, anti-crime patrolling arrangements and general supervision of ranks during patrols to identify issues.
This would also involve the process of rationalisation of the functions of the anti-crime units which are tasked with the suppression of crime in the country, the ministry said.
The statement continued: “We are committed to working along with the GPF at the level of policy to identify the issues that may have contributed to the two recent shooting incidents in particular, with a view to taking effective corrective action. Again, the ministry expresses its regrets at these two unfortunate shooting incidents.”
The statement said the ministry is deeply concerned about two recent incidents of shooting involving police patrols in the Georgetown area, which resulted in the regrettable deaths of two civilians.
It noted that criminal prosecutions have been instituted against the ranks who were involved in the fatal shooting of Shaquille Grant of Agricola, Greater Georgetown on September 11.

EQUAL DISTRESS
The statement added that, of equal distress to the ministry, is the recent incident on the evening of Friday, October 5, where a police patrol that was, allegedly, attempting to arrest the occupants of a suspect vehicle resorted to the use of deadly force which resulted in the demise of an innocent bystander, Dameon Belgrave, of Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara.
The ministry said it has been advised by the GPF that the ranks, who were implicated in the incident, have been placed under close arrest and the advice of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) is being sought as regards the way forward.
The ministry expressed its deepest condolences to the parents, relatives and friends of Shaquille Grant and Dameon Belgrave and reminded that the United Nations and Human Rights Standards regarding the use of force and the GPF’s Standing Orders are instruments that must be used to guide the actions of members of the Force.