– lawyers want testimony from self-confessed witness, Dwayne Williams

Retired Colonel of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Fitzroy Warde, said he along with other ranks had journeyed to Lindo Creek at least five days before the gruesome discovery was made, after self-confessed murderer, Dwayne Williams, disclosed that the notorious Rondell “Fineman” Rawlins gang, of which he was a part, had killed eight miners at a camp in the area.

This is the first time a rank of the Joint Services, which comprises the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and Guyana Police Force (GPF), has confessed to being at Lindo Creek prior to the discovery of the charred remains of the miners by owner of the camp, Leonard Arokium on June 21, 2008. Additionally, this is the first time the Commission was informed that the GDF and the Police had information about the Lindo Creek Massacre before June 21, 2008. Rear Admiral Gary Best, who was the Chief of Staff at the time, had earlier told the Commission that he had no knowledge of the Lindo Creek Massacre up until June 21, 2008, so did Sergeant Rodwell Sarabo – a detective, who had played a critical role in the investigation of the massacre.

During the period June 6, 2008 and June 25, 2008, Retired Colonel Warde was the Task Force Commander for the Joint Services Operations in Kwakwani, Christmas Falls, Goat Farm and UNAMCO areas under the umbrella of Operations Restore Order.
On Monday, when he appeared before the Lindo Creek Commission of Inquiry (COI) headed by Justice (Ret’d) Donald Trotman, Colonel Warde disclosed that 15-year-old Dwayne Williams, who was arrested after acting in a suspicious manner in Ituni, Region 10 on June 16, 2008, said he witnessed the murder of eight miners at Lindo Creek by ‘Fineman.’ According to Colonel Warde, Williams made the disclosure in a caution statement at the Ituni Police Station the same day he was arrested. “Williams confessed of being a member of the Rondell Rawlins’ Gang and gave several accounts of the gang’s activities, that included the Luisgnan Massacre, the Bartica Massacre, Christmas Fall shootout with the Police, and the killing of men at a mining camp,” the retired Colonel told the Commission.
Based on his analysis, Colonel Warde said Williams’ account matched activities which were carried out by the criminal gang and presented a “pictorial of the scene at Lindo Creek.” Williams reportedly told the then Task Force Commander, that ‘Fineman’ upon arriving at Lindo Creek had a conversation with the miners, and the following morning he woke up and began shooting at them–the miners. Further relating what he was told by the then 15-year-old, Warde said one of the shot miners was crawling on the ground when “Fineman” picked up a hammer and dealt him a blow to the head.

“A skull found at Lindo Creek crime scene by the crime scene team of the Guyana Police Force was reported to have a hole consistent with Williams’ account,” the retired Colonel told the Commission. However, Williams reportedly did not specify the date on which this heinous act was committed.

Additionally, he told the Commission that the Williams’ account of the shooting at Christmas Fall corresponded with the evidence at the scene.
Under the guidance of Legal Counsel Roysdale Forde, who is representing the interest of the GDF, along with three other lawyers, the retired Colonel described several photos he had taken following a shooting incident at Goat Farm resulting in the death of two suspected criminals and following a similar incident at Christmas Falls where one member of the ‘Fineman’ gang was shot dead by the police.

The images showed burnt equipment and buildings at Christmas Falls along with a number of bullet holes on buildings and equipment in the area. Those photos were taken by Colonel Warde around June 10, 2008 – two days after the incident occurred.

Other photos showed the two dead suspected criminals who were killed at Goat Farm, camouflage clothing belonging to the criminals, and items linked to former Agriculture Minister Satyadeow Sawh, who was assassinated in April 2006.

However, while being crossed examined by the Commission’s Legal Counsel, Patrice Henry, the retired Colonel disclosed that based on the information he received from Williams, he along with a team of military officers visited Lindo Creek in search of the miners, but found nothing.

“I went to Lindo Creek, I found the first camp Sir… (but) I didn’t go to the crime scene,” he said while fielding questions from Henry. According to him, the search was aborted at the first mining camp, after it was becoming late. They reportedly flew to the UNAMCO trail, and then trekked for about 45 minutes before stumbling upon the first camp. The GDF reportedly had information about the camp’s location, based on conversations and contact with one of the miners, and a man who was familiar with the mining area.

“There was an individual who was brought from Georgetown who said he knew where the camp was,” Colonel Warde said; however, he could not recall the name of the individual. Additionally, he could not recall the date he went into the Lindo Creek area, which is located in the Upper Berbice River, Region 10. In fact, the retired Colonel could not have recalled key information with respect to his contact with Williams, and actions thereafter.
Henry: You can’t recall the date you went in?
Colonel Warde: No Sir.
Henry: And you said that this information you got was received in the presence of the police?
Colonel Warde: Yes Sir.
Henry: What is the name of the rank?
Colonel Warde: I can’t recall sir.
However, according to him, following his contact with Williams, a statement was sent to GDF Headquarters in Georgetown. Commissioner Trotman, in weighing in on the issue, questioned whether the GDF had seen any sign of smoke while conducting aerial survey and the retired Colonel responded in the negative.
The Retired Colonel’s statement, however, contradicted those given by the then Chief of Staff and CID officer Sarabo, both of whom also appeared before the commission on Monday.

Under oath, Best told the Commission that he departed Guyana on June 16, 2008 on travel duty and returned June 22, 2008. He said on or about June 20, 2008 he received a call from the Commander in Chief, then President Bharrat Jagdeo, informing him of the horrific deaths of eight miners at Lindo Creek. Best said the same day, he was informed by the Acting Chief of Staff Colonel Mark Phillips of the murdered miners. Sergeant Sarabo, who worked closely on the case, and was the last to appear before the Commission on Monday, said he was present when Williams gave police at Georgetown a caution statement on June 16, 2008 after arriving from Ituni.
He said the statement entailed details about the Luisgnan and Bartica Massacre. The detective said it was not until July 4, 2008 that Williams gave another statement, this time implicating himself and the ‘Fineman’ gang of committing the mass murder. That statement was made after the discovery was made, and according to Sarabo, it did not include anything about a hammer being used.

Based on the variation in the statements reportedly given by the then 15-year-old, Attorney Forde and Attorney Leslie Sobers requested that Williams appear before the commission via skype. He is reportedly in the custody of the Police.