– No word yet on whether police have provided requested documents

THE Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) is optimistic that the government will consider utilising the experience of the Argentine Team of Forensic Anthropology (EAAF) following President Irfaan Ali’s commitment to facilitate any additional help needed by the police.

At the sidelines of a recent event, President Ali was asked whether his government will facilitate the offer of assistance by Dr. Luis Fondebrider, the Argentine Forensic Anthropologist who recently visited Guyana on a fact-finding mission, to assist in the probe of the murders of teenage cousins, Joel and Isaiah Henry, and Haresh Singh.

Then, he said that the government will facilitate whatever additional help the Guyana Police Force (GPF) needs to solve these murders. On Monday, in an invited comment, Co-President of the GHRA, Mike McCormack, said that the President’s remarks were “very helpful” and the body was happy to hear him make such a commitment.

“There is clearly a willingness to consider this, which is what we were hoping to achieve, and let’s see now how it goes forward,” McCormack said.

The GHRA facilitated the recent visit by Dr. Fondebrider, in accordance with the wishes of the affected families. The body was instrumental in connecting the anthropologist, who is the Director of the EAAF, with key agencies.

“Our role at that stage, we feel, is completed and if later there is the need for more facilitation, we’re willing to provide it,” McCormack said on Monday.

During his visit, Dr. Fondebrider met with the affected families and visited the crime scenes at West Coast Berbice (WCB). On Tuesday, he met with Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn and top police officials. Last week, before departing Guyana, Dr. Fondebrider said that he requires key documents from the GPF in order to make recommendations on how the EAAF can assist with the investigations into the murders.

These documents, which include the autopsy reports, reports from the crime scene, the complimentary analysis, inter alia, would enable him to offer his opinion and advice.

Though it was not communicated by what specific date these documents will be made available to him, Dr. Fondebrider said, “I am optimistic. I feel the government has intention but intention is done with concrete acts.”

The Guyana Chronicle understands that those documents were not yet sent to Dr. Fondebrider, as of Monday. Calls and messages to both the Commissioner of Police and Crime Chief went unanswered, while Assistant Commissioner, Royston Andries-Junor, who is the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the GPF, could not provide any update on this.