Attorney-at-law Nigel Hughes testifies as Lindo Creek COI continues

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DPI, GUYANA, Wednesday, April 4, 2018

Attorney-at-law Nigel Hughes today testified before the Lindo Creek Commission of Inquiry (COI) that information he received indicated that ex-policeman, Urie Varswyck, now deceased, was present at the camp in June 2008.

Testifying before the ongoing COI into the death of eight miners at Lindo Creek on or about the 21st day of June 2008, the attorney-at-law, who was hired to represent the families of the deceased, said that a source relayed pertinent information that placed ex-police officer Varswyck at the camp in June 2008.

Varswyck, who was known for his criminal background was shot and killed by the Guyana Police Force (GPF) in September of 2017. He was one of the escapees on the run after the July 9, 2017, Camp Street Prison fire. The ex-cop was considered to be the most dangerous of the fugitives. During his escape from prison, Varswyck had shot and killed prison officer, Odinga Wickham.

According to the information received, Attorney-at-law Hughes stated that “he [Varswyck] was part of the squad that went in. Mr. Varswyck was police and he was under the command of a current serving member of the Guyana Police Force that went into Lindo Creek, that is the information that I have been permitted to release from a client.”

During the discourse of the COI, Commissioner (ret’d) Justice Donald Trotman questioned the attorney-at-law if he can disclose the name of individual who imparted the information to him. He responded in the negative indicating that he was fearful for the life of the individual based on past experience.

“If that person passes away, it would be on my shoulders and I really am not in a position to provide him with the comfort that I can provide him with that guarantee. I have actually had a whistleblower taken to the police who ended up dead, that was George Bacchus, so I am extremely reluctant to disclose any information on anybody that can identify a serving member of the Police Force given my actual experience, because I took Mr. Bacchus to the American embassy, I then took him to the Guyana Police Force and Mr. Bacchus ended up dead” Hughes explained.

The attorney-at-law also indicated that relatives of the deceased at that time had lost confidence in the investigation being conducted by the GPF. He also said that a private investigation into the matter was sought but fell through due to the lack of cooperation by the GPF.

This also follows several letters which were sent to the then Police Commissioner, now deceased Henry Greene, which was copied to then Commander of the Guyana Defense Force (GDF), Gary Bess, and then Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee. Hughes recalled he only received one response from Greene, but never from Rohee nor Bess.

The Lindo Creek COI has been established to investigate and report its findings and recommendations on all matters in relation to the killings of the eight miners in the Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice region in June 2008.

The COI continues.

 

By: Isaiah Braithwaite