`Kill the Police' threats
by Wendella Davidson
ALLEGATIONS of protesters verbally abusing cops and threatening shouts of `Kill the Police', dominated yesterday's sitting of the Commission of Inquiry into the violence which plagued the recent public service pay strike. The threats, verbal abuse and the frequent use of indecent language included "F..... Police beating up women, they gat foh dead", "Kill the Police, Kill the Police", "Rub lime and salt on you knives and stab the Police" and "Murderers". These came out in testimony from Police officers, Assistant Superintendent Vibert Lawson; Deputy Superintendent Albert Connell in charge of the Tactical Services Unit (TSU) and Assistant Superintendent Leroy Brummell. They were among 11 witnesses testifying on behalf of the Police in relation to an incident at the Ministry of Finance, on June 10 last. The probe conducted by Judge Carl Singh at the Public Service Appellate Tribunal Office, Brickdam, Georgetown, seeks to investigate the violence which plagued the almost two-month strike which ended on June 23. Lawson and Connell testified during the morning session, while Brummell gave his evidence in the afternoon. They were led in their evidence by Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Mr. Denis Hanonmansingh, who represents the Police. Lawson, the first to take the witness box, said he is in charge of the Property Room of the Brickdam Police Station. However, during the strike period, he was attached to Impact Base, Brickdam. He said that on June 10, he was detailed to work at the Ministry of Finance, Main and Urquhart streets, to monitor the situation and facilitate the entrance and exit of employees of the ministry who wanted to be at work. Lawson said he had a radio transmitting set for which he was issued with the Call Sign - Bantom 6. On his arrival at the Main Street location at about 07:55 hours, he met Inspector Hughes and four Police recruits. Barricades were thrown up in front of the entrance to the building and he observed four females, not members of the Police, standing in front. According to Lawson, less than two hours later, the number of persons present increased, while those occupying positions at the southern gate abused and hurled insults at the Policemen on duty there. The witness recalled Brummell arriving on the scene with additional ranks and barriers, shortly after 13:00 hrs. The structures were placed across Urquhart Street and some distance from the western gate, causing the "strikers" to change their location. At this stage, Justice Singh sought to determine whether the word "strikers" or "protesters" should be used to describe the individuals and it was decided that they would be addressed as "protesters". Lawson recalled seeing a female security guard approaching and asked whether she had a problem. She answered that she was going to collect a key from the main guard hut to allow a vehicle belonging to the ministry to enter the compound. According to Lawson, the vehicle, identified as PEE 1738, was at the entrance of the main gate at the south, and the protesters on noticing it, advanced there shouting noisily "Look a vehicle want get in." Minutes after some people were standing between the vehicle and the gate and Lawson recalled seeing two men in the vehicle. He also heard someone saying "Channel 14 cameramen in the vehicle." The driver realising he could not pass the protesters, reversed his vehicle and drove north in an effort to enter through the northern gate. But, the protesters also ran to that entrance, in the process, knocking the barriers down. Police ranks there had to jump aside to avoid injury, Lawson told the inquiry. The vehicle subsequently drove away and shortly after, Assistant Commissioner Shiraz Usmanali Ally, Officer-in-Charge of the Finance Office arrived, enquiring about the whereabouts of the vehicle and occupants. Lawson said Ally who was in uniform, told him Mr. Rekha, a senior officer of the Ministry of Finance, was one of the occupants and was to attend a meeting at the Finance Ministry. Lawson said the vehicle re-appeared on Urquhart Street and again about 30 protesters blocked its entrance, this time chanting "The Police can pass, no one else". However, after some persuasion by Usmanali and Brummell, the vehicle was eventually allowed entry. At about 15:15 hrs, Connell made his appeared on the scene for the first time, with ranks from the TSU and proceeded to arrest some persons. Others began running away and the scene became one of utter confusion. In the melee, Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) officials, Mr. Patrick Yarde and Dr. Anwar Hussein and Trades Union Congress (TUC) Acting General Secretary, Mr. Lincoln Lewis, arrived. Responding to a query from Judge Singh, the witness said the senior union officials were accompanied by a crowd, among them persons who were earlier at the scene. They approached the area from the north, walking in Main Street avenue. Continuing, Lawson said those following Yarde, Hussein and Lewis, used indecent language, while some even accused the Police of "beating up women". Others charged "f... up the Police", "Police beating up women, they gat foh dead," "Police are antimen" and "they (Police) can't seh six o'clock," he added. Lawson said too, he overheard someone say "they (Police) with guns gone, let us attack this set". He said he then became fearful for his life, remembering that a bottle was thrown from among the group that was then by the eastern barrier. Lawson said Hussein was on the western carriage, about 15 feet away and the protesters who were with him were shouting "Kill the Police, Kill the Police." He testified that Hussein told them to "Rub lime and salt on your knives and stab the Police." Asked by Hanomansingh, whether, in his opinion Hussein was soliciting patients or urging the crowd to become aggressive, the witness said the doctor was involved in the latter. By then, Connell and ranks who had gone to Brickdam with those who they had earlier arrested returned and made more arrests. And, Lawson remembered seeing a male protester throw himself on the ground and roll into the gutter to avoid the Police arresting him. He said he observed too, other ranks from the TSU standing in the avenue, opposite Prime Minister Sam Hinds' residence, when someone shouted "grenade." Then a member of the Bomb Disposal Squad of the Police, arrived on the scene. Connell, in his evidence, said when he went to the scene with several ranks in his charge, the protesters comprising men and women ranted and shouted loudly "Look the antimen", "We en't moving" and "Murderers". He said he gave orders to arrest after continuously pleading with the crowds to disperse. The arrest was made by five of his ranks. While they were in the process of detaining a man, the Police Officer said Yarde, Lewis and Hussein approached and enquired what offence the man had committed. Connell said he told them the man had thrown missiles and was behaving disorderly, to the annoyance of public peace. The officer said he then saw some of his men running south in the avenue and was told of a grenade thrown at them. He said he observed a green object, which he recognised to be a grenade, lying on the eastern side of the avenue following which he ordered that the parapet be cleared. Bomb experts arrived shortly after and took the grenade away. Connell said throughout the incident he ordered the use of minimum force, adding that when he returned to TSU headquarters, Eve Leary, he was told that the grenade, when thrown, fell on the helmet of one of his ranks, Constable Marshall, then hit Inspector Theophilus McAndrew on the thigh. Detective Sergeant Thomas Noble, attached to the Ballistic Section of the Police Force as a Firearm Examiner and Bomb Disposal Officer, was next on the witness stand. In his evidence, he said he left for the Main Street scene and when shown the object, saw that the "safety pin" was missing. Picking up the grenade, he checked the "date shift code" or serial number, then took a piece of masking tape and strapped the lever to secure it. Others who testified and collaborated the earlier evidence of Lawson, Connell and Noble were Brummell; Constable Ryan Roberts; Lance Corporal Donald Harry; Lance Corporal Hector Joseph; Usmanali; McAndrew; Constable Marshall and Constable Stephon Thomas. Making their first appearance at the sitting and indicating an interest on behalf of their units were Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, Chairman of the Georgetown Hospital Management Committee; Mr. Mahase Pertab, Deputy Secretary to the Treasury, Ministry of Finance and Mr. Ivor English, General Manager of the Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD). The inquiry continues today.
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