MINISTER of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, on Thursday told reporters that some execution-style killings that are cold cases will be re-opened once new evidence or sufficient information surfaces.He added that those cold cases will be re-visited once there is new evidence, or there is good reason to go forward with them and having stored them in the cold storage as it were, generally requires some good reason why they must be re-opened.

With that in mind, he added that there must be a basis for re-opening of cases to take place: is there any new witness coming forward? Or is there new information that something suspicious went wrong to cause a re-opening?

Ramjattan told reporters that with the advent of newer technology, including DNA testing, that would have caused differences of opinions to be had for a re-opening; and so there are some cases that might be re-opened, but not necessarily all, but there would have to have good grounds for doing that.

He said, “The public out there, if you have any information for any cold cases to come forward in this new dispensation, but don’t come with anything manufactured.”

The minister stated that he will be dealing with core police functions and policies.

Increased security at ministries
Following the swearing in of President David Granger, there has been increased security at all ministries and more so, since the arson attempt a day after a forensic audit was ordered by new minister Ronald Bulkan at the Ministry of Communities, the former Local Government ministry.

There has been some increase in some areas, as well; the police have given the assurance that there has been a beefing up of security arrangements in most ministries, Ramjattan said on Thursday.

On Wednesday, fire was deliberately set in the accounts department of the ministry when someone filled two office chairs with pieces of cloth laced with an accelerant (kerosene) and started a blaze which was observed by staffers. The Guyana Fire Service was summoned and a conflagration was averted.