– ‘stands completely adamant against any form of unprofessional conduct that besmirches image of Community Policing in Guyana’

THE Ministry of Home Affairs has issued a statement expressing profound regret at the death of 20-year-old labourer Mr. Godfrey Jhaggroo who was fatally shot by the use of a licensed firearm owned by the Chairman of the Belle Vue Community Policing Group (CPG).

The ministry made it clear that CPG members are trained by the police to engage members of their communities whenever breaches of the law are committed by such members, in a civil and polite manner.
Training in the use of firearms is also given to the members, who are required to exercise restraint when armed, and must discharge a firearm in accordance with the rules governing such action.
As such, the ministry said it “stands completely adamant against any form of unprofessional conduct that besmirches the image of Community Policing in Guyana”.
The conduct demonstrated will be investigated with the expectation of having a satisfactory outcome, the ministry said.
“Sincere condolences go out to the aggrieved at this time of their grief and sorrow,” the ministry stated.
In an initial report following the tragedy, the police said Jhaggroo, of Bellevue, West Bank Demerara, was killed at about 19:00 hrs on December 18, 2013, at Bellevue.
Initial investigations have revealed that Jaggroo was involved in an argument with his mother during which a man, who resides next door and operates an off licence liquor store, intervened and assaulted him with a piece of wood.
It is reported that Jhaggroo was on his way to the Wales Police Station to make a report when he was confronted by three men, one of whom is a licensed firearm holder, and who were at the off licence liquor store, during which he was shot to his back with a shotgun. Jaggroo was pronounced dead on arrival at the West Demerara Regional Hospital.

(By Michel Outridge)