| – 15-year-old ‘joyride driver’ detained Police have detained the 15-year-old boy who was driving the car that ranks were pursuing on Friday night when they accidentally shot and killed Dameon Belgrave.Police confirmed that the teen turned himself in on Saturday. The lad’s three other friends who were detained on Friday are still in custody.Kaieteur News understands that they are likely to be placed on an identification parade today.An official said that the police are trying to ascertain if the young boys are connected to a number of robberies in the Tucville/South Ruimveldt area, even though they have no evidence to suggest this.This newspaper was told that the three police officers, including a corporal from the Tactical Services Unit (TSU), remain under “close arrest” as investigations continue into the fatal shooting of 21-year-old Dameon Belgrave on Friday night. Their weapons, two M-70 assault rifles and a 9mm pistol, have been lodged.Belgrave, who would have celebrated his 22nd birthday on Saturday,2018 World Cup Russia Jerseys, was fatally shot while standing with friends at the White Castle Fish Shop at Hadfield and Lime Streets.A high-speed chase involving ranks from the Tactical Service Unit and the occupants of a white motor car (PGG 3506) ended in proximity to the popular hangout,Jordan Shoes For Sale, and eyewitnesses have related that shots were fired indiscriminately.The police have come in for scathing criticism from various political and civic groups for what is seen as another example of indiscriminate use of force.Yesterday the People’s Parliament called for a ban of live ammunition except by specially trained units under effective control of competent officers.In a release,Nike Air Max 1 Womens Sale, the organization said that the shooting is yet another disgraceful example of police indiscipline.“The circumstances of the shooting reinforce the case for withdrawing fire-arms from all police ranks engaged in routine patrols,” the group said, adding that the incident provokes a number of questions.“It is a well-known fact that the (White Castle) Fish-Shop is a popular hang-out on a Friday evening with crowds spilling across both lanes of Hadfield Street and down the median between them…it is inconceivable that any sane person, let alone supposedly trained officers, would be so inept as to open fire in such a crowded area,Cheap Hockey Jerseys 2019,” the release stated.“Secondly, they had no idea who the persons were at which they shooting. Even if the men in the vehicle were known and wanted hardened criminals, there is no justification for firing at them in a crowded street. Thirdly, are there no routine protocols whereby police suspicions of a fleeing vehicle are relayed by radio or phone rather than wild bounty-hunter tactics such as employed by these officers?”According to the release, the police force is systemically incapable of policing the communities in a civilized manner.“Ill-trained police carrying high-powered weapon is a recipe for deadly mistakes. This is particularly the case when the police view themselves as primarily engaged in a war on crime rather than protection of the communities.”And a statement from the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) recommended that ”the use of live ammunition be banned except by specially trained units under effective control of competent officers.” If all of those conditions were met, the use of firearms would be severely restricted.“Beyond the catalogue of evidence supporting these conclusions, each passing incident reinforces the additional conclusion that root-and-branch reform of the GPF away from its militia origins is fundamental to creating a modern community-oriented police service.”Meanwhile, the Alliance for Change (AFC) said that the most recent tragedy demonstrates that there are units of the GPF which are clearly out of control, accountable to no one, and unfamiliar with the rules of engagement when pursuing suspects.“It must now be patently obvious that the GPF is in need of deep structural change, the goal of which is to produce a modern efficient police service which incorporates modern approaches to law enforcement with respect for human rights as its cornerstone,” the AFC said in its release.“It is equally obvious that the management practices deployed by the GPF and the Ministry of Home Affairs for the past decade and a half have consistently failed to protect and serve the citizens of Guyana.“The citizenry can no longer endure the fatal consequences of reckless and failed police methods deployed by the GPF.“The AFC calls on all organizations, including the Private sector, religious, social and NGOs,Cheap Nike Air Max 90 Mens Trainers, to raise their voices in the light of this madness that we are forced to endure daily.“This is beyond politics. This is an issue of what sort of society we want to help build and create in Guyana. How many more will have to suffer this fate. We offer our deepest and most profound sympathies to the parents, relatives and friends of Mr. Dameon Belgrave. May his soul soar forever.”Similar sentiments were expressed by the North American Region (NAR) of the Peoples National Congress Reform.“This shooting comes at a time when there is an independent investigation into the shooting to death of three innocent Linden protesters, by members of the Guyana Police Force. It also comes at a time when three policemen have just been charged for the slaying of 17-year-old Shaquille Grant, of Agricola. NAR is outraged by these dangerous developments and calls on the President of Guyana to act swiftly to bring this situation under this control.“The North American Region believes that the current situation epitomizes the deleterious state of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), a state which points to poor leadership,Nike Air Max 97 Order Online, lack of professionalism and one clouded with political interference. In light of these observations, NAR joins with the rest of the Guyanese people to call for the complete reform of the GPF, and the removal of the current subject Minister, Clement Rohee.“The Minister of Home Affairs has demonstrated his inability to provide the kind of leadership and competence necessary to ensure that the Guyana Police Force lives up to its most basic responsibility, that of service and protection of the people. Mr. Rohee’s resignation as Home Affairs Minister is critical to the re-organizing of the GPF, and the Guyanese people deserve nothing less.“In any country which professes to be democratic a Minister who would have demonstrated such incompetence would have acted responsibly and resigned. This would have been the first act of taking responsibility for the unwarranted lost of life of citizens who are murdered or killed by officers under his watch. However, in Guyana, it appears that the people have to fight for those responsible to take responsibility. This is a very unfortunate reality!“NAR, therefore, trusts that the President and the PPP/C government recognize that the lives of the citizens of Guyana have value and worth and therefore should not be used as a political tool for them to launch their propaganda and unnecessary attacks on their political opponents, as the Guyanese people will have no alternative but to reject and push back forcibly.“NAR takes the opportunity to express sincere condolences to the family of Dameon Belgrave and trusts that they will get the justice Dameon deserves.” |
