Absent Joint services statements hindering commission’s work

 

• seeks assistance of former army chief to recover
• allegation brought against the officers was “troubling” according to former GDF Chief of Staff

DPI, Guyana, Monday, May 14, 2018

The absence of over 24 statements from members of the Joint Services, who were patrolling the Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice region during the time of the Lindo Creek massacre in 2008, seems to be eluding the ongoing Commission of Inquiry.

COI Chairman retired Justice Donald Trotman said finding those statements would be a plus to the commission’s work.

The Chairman was forced to seek the assistance of former army Chief of Staff the Rear Admiral Gary Best to use his “good offices” to help retrieve the reports. Best had handed the statements over the Guyana Police Force (GPF) back in 2008.

Best, who was head of the army during the time of the massacre, appeared before the commission today. He was questioned about his missive for an internal investigation to be carried out on the joint services members.

The former army chief recalled being on travel duties overseas in June 2008 when he received a call from former President Bharrat Jagdeo, informing him of the “horrific deaths.” Upon his return, he ordered on June 25^th that an investigation be carried out by a team from the GDF.

The now practicing attorney maintained that the inquiry was not to investigate the deaths of the miners, but the alleged involvement of the joint services ranks in the death of those miners. He said the allegation brought against the officers was “troubling” to him.

Justice Trotman expressed concern about the 24 statements and inquired whether the army head had seen them. Best said no, explaining that it is not a usual practice of the army that the chief reads that statements of officers being investigated.

“At the moment it is puzzling to the commission that those transcripts are eluding the commission although they have been requested. And there does not seem to be any indication that they are being made available to the commission to find out the truth of the circumstances surrounding the deaths”, the chairman said.

Best said while he agreed with Justice Trotman, at that time he felt comfortable that the police were capable of carrying out the investigation. He said his responsibility was just to determine why the allegations were being made against the joint services, especially members of the Guyana Defence Force.

The joint services ranks were all part of “Operation Restore Order” established to reinstate order following the 2002 prison jailbreak.

 

By: Alexis Rodney

Images courtesy of Jules Gibson.