Serious concerns were raised about the conduct of some Police Officers in Baramita, Region One (Barima-Waini), and Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn vowed to thoroughly probe the matter.
The concerns were raised by Baramita Toshao, Sharmain Rambajue at this year’s National Toshaos Council (NTC) Conference. According to the village leader, residents complained that the officers were harassing them.
The Toshao claims that at least one rank demands that shopowners pay fines ranging from $100,000 to $150,000 for late-night breaches. This was demanded, she explained, even after the Village Council imposed a closing time for the shop owners.
Baramita Toshao, Sharmain Rambajue
“When I mentioned to him [the Officer] that the Amerindian Act only gives provision for those who breaking rules to pay $19,000, he would say ‘the Amerindian Act was outdated and when last it was updated’,” Rambajue explained.
She further claimed that following the lifting of the national curfew that was recently imposed, residents were still forced to pay between $30,000 and $40,000 in fines without being issued any receipts.
“They would say the receipts are not in Baramita, but in Port Kaituma,” the Toshao said.
According to Rambajue, these allegations were brought up at a recent public meeting with residents and Police ranks. The Toshao stated that residents are now living in fear of the Police Officers.
“I am requesting, on behalf of Baramita, the immediate removal of those officers. We need officers who the village council can work with, and also officers that the people will be happy to work with,” she stated.
The Toshao went on to state that four residents, two males and two females, are interested in being trained as police officers to serve their community.
Given Baramita’s proximity to the Venezuelan border, she also called for the establishment of a permanent Guyana Defence Force (GDF) base in the community.
“We did hear Baramita speak specifically on problems there, and names were named. We will deal with this matter. We will talk some more about it with Baramita, and we will get to the bottom of it,” Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn responded.
Meanwhile, Toshao Alvoro Simon of St. Cuthbert’s Mission also criticised the performance of Police Officers in his community.
Simon described the officers’ attitude toward incidents as unprofessional and selective, claiming that they would “pick and choose” what reports they investigate.
The Toshao further claimed that Officers also fail to wear their Police uniform while on official duty.
“The residents have asked if we can have a continuous rotation of those Police Officers every six months would be perfect, because they stay longer, they become comfortable,” Simon said.
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