Georgetown: Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) Head, Heeralall Mackenlall said he had found no evidence that members of the Joint Services had killed Lindo Creek miners in 2008. Mackenlall had conducetd a two-week investigation into the killings.
Although it is a standard practice to file official reports after investigations, the two-week probe by the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) into allegations of police involvement in the Lindo Creek Massacre, saw no such report being compiled.
Instead, a verbal report was allegedly given to the then OPR Head, the late Mohammed Jameer, the Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the 2008 Lindo Creek Massacre was told Tuesday.
Mackhanlall said that a week after the remains of the miners were discovered in June 2008, he was instructed by the Head of the unit, Mohammed Jameer to conduct an investigation into the “rumour” that was being peddled at the time.
The story was that the killing was carried out by the joint services. Mackhanlall, who now heads the OPR, said he then ventured to Kwakwani and met with some senior police officers of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). The COI heard that Mackhanlall’s objective was to ascertain whether there was evidence that would link the joint services to the killing. He told the COI that he interviewed the ranks, as well as some residents of Kwakwani, that were there at the time.
Mackhanlall stated that the following day a site visit of the murder was made to determine if there were any camps in proximity, but nothing was found. He said during the inquiry, he was unable to determine where the “rumours” were originated.
Mackhanlall was further questioned by Commission Counsel, Patrice Henry. The COI heard that he was able to establish that there were 23 members of the joint services that were patrolling the area; 12 police officers and 11 officers of the Guyana Defense Force (GDF). He was made aware that the firearms of the joint services members were tested for ballistics.
In addition Assistant Commissioner of Operations, Clifton Hicken, who in June 2008 was an Assistant Superintendent and Head of the Tactical Service Unit (TSU) said on June 5, 2008, he was in Kwakwani when he received a call from then Crime Chief, Seelall Persaud.
He was informed of the possibility of the “Fine man” gang’s presence in the Christmas Falls area. Hicken told the commission that he journeyed through the Unamco trail and reached Christmas Falls late that afternoon.
The former TSU officer said he and his team who overnighted at Christmas falls heard gunshots during the course of the night. The following day they ventured to the area where the gunshots were heard. After a 30-minute journey on foot, they found four men; three in an abandoned building and one in the garden. One of the men, he reported, resembled the fugitive “Fine man” that was pictured on a wanted bulletin. He said an exchange of fire ensued leaving one of the men mortally wounded in the process.
After the shooting stopped, Hicken said the ranks approached the building and found three FN rifles with magazines. They also found four shotguns and a quantity of ammunition; two .38 revolvers, and haversack containing more ammunition.
As they scoured the area further, they found the body of one of the Rastafarian men with a gunshot to his shoulder and another to the jaw.
They then contacted Crime Chief Persaud who joined them. Persaud then instructed them to gather the arms and ammunition and return to Georgetown.
Hicken also told the Commission that his team did not pursue the gunmen because, in his opinion, they lacked “the type of resources and equipment” to go after the gang.
“If you don’t know an area, you don’t pursue or you could be ambushed,” he said.
Questioned by attorney Patrice Henry, Hicken repeatedly said that he had only seen four men at the camp.
“So there was no ‘small friend’ or ‘Cussom’ among the gang,” Henry said. Hicken also said that he had at no time, gone to Lindo Creek.
Questioned by the Commission, the Assistant Commissioner said he had previous encounters with the ‘Fine man’ gang on the East Coast Demerara.
He also said that that he had seen photographs in the media of the slain miners.
Justice Trotman: “From the pictures of the miners…have you seen any resemblance between them and members of the ‘Fine Man’ gang?
Hicken: “I did not make comparisons, I just focused of recapturing the prison escapees.”
Shown photographs of the slain miners and asked about a possible resemblance to individuals in the ‘Fine man’ gang, Hicken said that none of them resembled any of the gunmen he had encountered.
Attorney Patrice Henry: “Can you say whether one of the miners…might have been mistaken or may have borne a resemblance to one of the ‘Fine Man’ gang?”
Hicken: “I wouldn’t know that.”
You must be logged in to post a comment.