Mining camp owner maintains joint services killed miners
DPI, GUYANA, Wednesday, May 16, 2018
The Commission of Inquiry into the 2008 Lindo Creek massacre came to an end yesterday afternoon. The final witness, Leonard Arokium maintained that it was not possible for the “Fineman” gang to have executed his son and employees. Arokium did not budge from his belief that it was the joint services and not the Rondell “Fineman” Rawlins gang that carried out the killings on, or around, June 21, 2008.
Appearing before the Commission of Inquiry on Tuesday, May 15, Arokium said he is still paying the lease for the camp, in the Upper Demerara- Upper Berbice region, however, since the incident he never returned.
Lindo Creek camp owner Leonard Arokium
The miner testified, “According to information, Fineman was tackled at Christmas Falls, that is 14 miles from the junction. There’s only one road. It is 14 miles from the road coming back north… the Joint Service were occupying the gate, which is five and a half miles from the gate… they would have tackled Fineman at Christmas Falls and he has to pass back right there and the Joint Services are there.”
Arokium opined it would be a foolish move by Rawlins to do as the Joint Services claimed.
The Guyana Defence Force representatives were unable to explain yesterday what occurred after it was discovered that a statement, said to have been given by a self-confessed teen of the Fineman gang, Dwayne Williams, was never made.
Guyana Police Force Deputy Superintendent Gary McAllister, presenting records from the Ituni Police Station, revealed that on June 16, 2008, Williams made no statement about miners being killed by “Fineman.”
This was told to the commission under oath on Monday, by retired GDF Colonel Fitzroy Warde.
The Commission of Inquiry into the Lindo Creek Massacre is seeking to determine who was responsible for the deaths of the eight miners Dax and Cedric Arokium, Bonny Harry, Nigel Torres, Compton Speirs, Horace Drakes, Lancelot Lee, and Clifton Wong.
The COI will present its findings within days.
By Alexis Rodney
Images courtesy Leroy Lyttle