By Rabindra Rooplall
A FIVE-MEMBER team of investigators from the Regional Security System (RSS) arrived in Guyana on Monday to assist the Guyana Police Force (GFP) with investigations into the three high-profile murders in Berbice.
The investigators will look into the murders of Joel Henry, Isaiah Henry and Haresh Singh. The killings occurred at Cotton Tree and Number Three Village, West Coast Berbice (WCB).

The team, which is led by an assistant commissioner of police, comprises officials from countries within the Regional Investigative Management Systems (RIMS).

Their visit is within the framework of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Guyana and The Caribbean Community Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (CARICOM IMPACS). It follows a decision by President Dr. Irfaan Ali to seek regional assistance to investigate the West Berbice murders.

The regional law-enforcement officials were met on arrival at Police Headquarters, Eve Leary, by Commissioner of Police (acting) Nigel Hoppie; Crime Chief Senior Superintendent Wendell Blanhum and ranks of the Criminal Investigations Department and Major Crimes Unit (MCU).
Acting Commissioner Hoppie welcomed the team to Guyana and assured them of the Guyana Police Force’s commitment to make available all the necessary resources to facilitate a conducive environment for their work.

Police Press Officer Assistant Commissioner Royston Andries-Junor said the visiting team will be assisting with the investigation and has been given scope to review and explore all avenues necessary to find answers relating to the murders.
On September 6, the bodies of teen cousins Isaiah and Joel Henry were found in the backlands of Cotton Tree, WCB, almost one day after they were reported missing.

They had left their Number Three Village, WCB home to pick coconuts in the backlands, but did not return home. Their butchered bodies were found in clumps of bushes partially covered in mud, after relatives went in search of them.

The news of their deaths sparked protests across several villages along the West Coast Berbice corridor and commuters were beaten and robbed. With blocked roads, some vehicles were also torched.

And then, on September 9, Haresh Singh, 17, was found murdered in the Number Three Village backlands.
It is suspected that his death was in retaliation for the murders of Isaiah and Joel, since he is related to one of the persons initially held by the police.
Meanwhile, several persons who were arrested for the murder of the Henry teens were released on station bail, but no arrest has been made in relation to Singh’s murder.

Police had explained that the location where the bodies of the Henry boys were found was not the primary crime scene; that is, it was not the location where the young men were killed.

President Ali expressed confidence that the GPF, together with the expected support from the foreign team, will lead to “that justice we all so badly want.”
The President, who remains deeply disturbed over the events, plans to launch an international Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the entire West Coast Berbice events.

“The CoI is important because it was not only the murders, but what took place after. So our immediate task is to get the investigation concluded then, as I said, we’re exploring an international CoI,” the Head of State had noted.