Cop tells of being bitten while executing arrest
A police officer yesterday testified before the Commission of Enquiry into incidents during the 55-day public service strike, that he had been bitten while trying to arrest a member of a crowd outside the Ministry of Agriculture. Sergeant Deryck Adams told Justice Carl Singh, who heads the Commission of Enquiry, that he suffered a painful bite while trying to arrest one of a crowd that had obstructed the passage of a vehicle containing Minister of Home Affairs, Ronald Gajraj. His testimony was preceded by that of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Lucius Nero, who told Justice Singh that he had heard a member of the same crowd threatening to shoot the minister. Nero testified that on that day the Ministry of Agriculture came under attack by two men who pelted bricks, damaging a window. He produced the bricks at the hearing, which is being conducted at the Public Service Appellate Tribunal in Brickdam, and told the judge that he and other officers had unsuccessfully attempted to catch the men who rode away on a bicycle. The third and final witness for the day, Supreme Court Registrar, Sita Ramlall, testified that she had been verbally assaulted by First Vice-President of the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU), Dr Anwar Hussein, during an incident inside the compound of the High Court. Nero, the first witness in yesterday's abbreviated session, explained that he and a group of policeman had been on duty outside the Ministry of Agriculture on June 9. Led by Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Denis Hanomansingh, who is representing the police in the enquiry, Nero said that they had been detailed to prevent persons from chaining the ministry's gates, as well as ensuring the exit and entrance of workers. To that end, he said, he and his officers had set up barricades around the Vlissengen Road and Regent Street entrances to the ministry. He said that the situation had been normal until 0913 hours when a group of five women, who identified themselves as striking Ministry of Agriculture workers, arrived. Nero said that the women had not responded when he pointed out that they were without "peaceful picket" arm bands but that they instead moved to the side of one barrier. They then started to chant and, according to Nero, were soon joined by a crowd of about 40 persons who took up the cries. Nero said that he could not positively identify these 40 persons as public servants and they refused requests to move away. Nero testified that at about 0931 hrs, three women threw themselves on the ground in front of the barricades when they caught sight of a Prado vehicle, which was signalling its intention to turn into the Ministry of Agriculture. Gajraj was in the vehicle, and, Nero said, the people began chanting, "Sell the Prado, pay the police." By that time, Nero and his officers had been joined by two groups of policemen and he testified that he requested that the prostrate women remove but that the crowd kept up their chants. The police officer said that he then held on to one of the women to arrest her but that the woman pulled away from him, took off her blouse and held up her breasts towards him with the challenge: "Hold me if you want." Nero said that he then withdrew behind the barrier and, using it as a shield, pushed the strikers back in a sweeping action that allowed the minister's vehicle to enter the compound. It was as the minister was leaving a few minutes later, Nero said, that he heard a male voice from the crowd which had grown to around 60 issuing the threat to shoot Gajraj. Nero said that it was a few hours after this that the missiles were hurled at the ministry by two men standing on Regent Street. When it was his turn to take the stand, Adams testified that he had been bitten while he and other officers were lifting one of two women that they attempted to arrest that day. He told the hearing that he felt the wound with his hand and that it came away with blood. He said that he released the woman he was attempting to arrest and the other woman was freed when the crowd swarmed a police vehicle and removed her. Meanwhile, Ramlall, led by attorney-at-law Mortimer Cumberbatch, who has been appointed counsel to the commission, testified to an event that was said to have occurred on April 29, when she was on her way to the judicial section of the High Court Registry and was confronted by Dr Hussein. Ramlall said that she had been on her way to look into a situation where, she had been informed, some registry staff had left the compound and those remaining were crying out of apparent fear. The registrar said that en route she was surrounded by Dr Hussein and a crowd of people who were not employees of the Supreme Court Registry or the Magistrate's Court. Ramlall alleged that in a loud confrontation that lasted ten minutes, Dr Hussein pointed in her face and told her: "You think you're a powerhouse, we gon deal with you." Ramlall testified that these words were later repeated to her by a crowd of about 15 women who forced their way into the registry after pushing her from behind and doing the same to an office assistant who went to her assistance. The registrar said that she was in the registry after having been allowed to pass by Dr Hussein and his group and that she had asked the women who were part of the earlier crowd to leave. She said that they responded that the registry was not her home and as such she could not order anybody out. Ramlall recalled that one woman took hold of her dress and pulled and tore it. The incident in the registry lasted for about ten minutes, Ramlall said, after which she left and went to her office. Under questioning by Cumberbatch, she also testified to holding a meeting on April 29, and advising her senior staff about the GPSU's intent to strike and pointing out that workers were free to choose whether to do so. She also recalled advising that those who went on strike would be trespassing, were they to stay on the premises, while those who stayed were advised that work would go on as usual. She testified that the majority of the staff stayed and that work did go on as usual until June 3. Ramlall also described events on June 4, and onwards, when persons, some of whom were recognisable as members of staff, either blocked or locked the gates to the courts. She said that they succeeded in locking out several judges, lawyers and litigants, the accused in some cases, and delayed one judge from summing up in a case. This situation, she said, obtained until June 8, when the police erected barricades outside the courts and were able to grant access to people whom they recognised. Ramlall said that she had personally been warned by the police that she should be at her office very early, leave after 5:00 pm and should not attempt to cross into the Magistrate's Court as she had done before the strike. Yesterday's sitting ended with Justice Singh telling participants that the hearing would resume today at 15:00 hrs and advising the DPP to work towards preparing statements about the police's heightened activities in the period mentioned by Ramlall that had allowed the entry of members of staff into the court compound. 
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