WITH sectors of society expressing concerns about the surveillance activities that led to the death of Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Sergeant Robert Pyle, President David Granger expressed his sadness about the loss of lives but brushed aside concerns about the role of the joint operations.The President says that joint collaboration between the various security forces is nothing new and it is something that has been ongoing for over six decades.
Pyle and his wife, Stacy, were killed in a collision with a truck on Carifesta Avenue, Georgetown on Wednesday, December 30, 2015 while chasing a car with a number of persons who had escaped Pyle’s roadblock with his vehicle. The other victim was Linden Eastman of Prashad Nagar, a truck driver who operates in front of Courts on Main Street.
Speaking to members of the media at the Ministry of the Presidency yesterday, President Granger said “there has always been a pattern of Joint Service collaboration between the Defence Force and the Police Force and whenever the need arises, the Police Force would call on the Defence Force for assistance. This has been taking place over the past 60 years when the British troops were here. There have always been joint service operations; in fact, there is a Joint Operations Centre so joint operations are part of the DNA of the two forces.”
INTERNAL PROBE
He said the death of any member of the GDF results in an internal probe which if not carried out would be advisable. However, there is no need for a probe to be executed or stretched beyond an internal one since the sergeant was part of a legitimate operation.
The President said that based on the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) investigations, a request may be made for the assistance of the Police Force or the Defence Force if necessary.
“We are aware that an operation was taking place, but we don’t get involved in the detailed operational use of the two forces. This is vested in the Police Commissioner and Chief-of- Staff, no politician gets involved in directing operations,” the Commander-in-Chief explained.
The GDF on Tuesday noted that Pyle, a member of its Intelligence Unit, had been deployed on a legitimate operation in support of the SOCU.
The Private Sector Commission (PSC) has said in correspondence that it is saddened by the deaths of the Pyles and Eastman, but is also alarmed by media reports regarding the circumstances leading up to the accident since the soldier had been engaged in a surveillance operation targeted at civilians; and further that he had been engaged in a high-speed deadly car chase through the streets of Georgetown, chasing a vehicle which he believed contained a relative of Winston Brassington, embattled Chairman of government holding company, National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL).
Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan on Monday debunked claims by General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Clement Rohee that the security forces were being used for political work. He is insisting that investigations into alleged wrongdoing by Brassington will continue.
He said that units such as the SOCU, of which Pyle was a part, will go after those whom they suspect of wrongdoing. The PPP claimed that the government might be using members of the security services for political proposes, but Minister Ramjattan asserted that senior officers who might have given Pyle that assignment are not to be blamed, neither can (the operation) be classed as political.

By Rabindra Rooplall