A LETTER of caution has been dispatched to Constabulary Officer Quacy Baveghems who is said to be bringing disrepute to Mayor Patricia Chase-Green and Town Clerk, Royston King.

Baveghems allegedly witnessed sexual misconduct against a 15-year-old boy in the constabulary lockups by Lance Corporal Clifton Pellew.  The two officers were fired by King, but subsequently reinstated and made to proceed on administrative leave.

At Monday’s statutory meeting at City Hall, King reported that the human resources officer was asked to issue a letter to Baveghems because of certain “calculated” remarks he made to the press following the incident.

King said the officer cannot afford to continue down this path as he is still a member of the Constabulary.  Now that the matter has been referred to the Local Government Commission (LGC) and the criminal aspect of it is with the police, King said the Council now has nothing more to do with this matter.

King told reporters a few days ago that the Council adopted a report on the matter from the Legal Affairs Committee, and forwarded it to the LGC, based on legal advice received.  King said he forwarded the matter on December 5 to the LGC Chairman, Mr. Mortimer Mingo, who has since responded that the Commission will “address this matter soonest”.

The Guyana Chronicle understands that the juvenile was approached by the officer in the wee hours of the morning and made to engage in the act. The incident reportedly occurred between August 22 and 23 last.

Chief Constable Andrew Foo had told this newspaper that although he was aware that the lance corporal at reference had faced a similar charge in 2016, he believes everyone is innocent until proven guilty. Pellew’s 2016 matter was reportedly dropped, because the victim did not pursue it.