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Jun 21, 2010 Features / Columnists, Freddie Kissoon
The Office of the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Henry Greene has replied to a statement of mine calling on the Police Commissioner to resign because it was published in the media that he told reporters that Peter Ramsaroop applied to the police for permission to leave the country and the police did not answer him.
Why is Mr. Green replying to me when both independent dailies quoted him as making that pronouncement? However, this is not the main consideration of this article. Before I move to that, let’s quote the police PRO in his letter of June 17 to this newspaper.
He wrote, “Firstly it must be made clear that the Commissioner of Police has no objection to Mr. Frederick Kissoon or any other person challenging his retention of office. Indeed it is his democratic right to do so.” Here is my challenge to Mr. Greene.
If he can prove to me by way of reply to this particular column that citizens of this country have a right to own a vehicle and using the example of an owner by the name of Manniram of Patentia Housing Scheme on the West Bank of Demerara, then I will immediately bring this column to an end even if the management of the newspaper still wants me to write. If Mr. Greene cannot defend in law the accusation I am making here, then he has to demit office.
My contention is that citizens’ right to own and possess their vehicles is no longer respected by the Guyana Police Force. I cite the case of Manniram. Here is the story about Manniram. The police swooped down on Mr. Manniram after he dropped off a number of school children as part of a protest against the shooting to death by the police of Kelvin Fraser.
The police put Mr. Maniram on a $10,000 bond after his documents were certified to be in order. He was bailed and allowed to leave with his property. As he drove out of Brickdam Station, he was rearrested. The police kept the vehicle and after inspection that day, he was charged with three traffic offences.
He appeared in front of a magistrate and was put on $10,000 bail. His lawyer, Mr. Robert Corbin requested an order from the Magistrate for the release of the vehicle from the station. The Magistrate inquired from the prosecutor why the police would want to retain possession of Manniram’s property.
The prosecutor replied that an order was not necessary because he, the prosecutor saw no reason from the case jacket why the police would not want to release the Canter truck. But the police impounded the truck. From Friday, June 11 to Monday, June 13th, this writer, Mark Benschop, Mr. Robert Corbin and two KN reporters were unable to get the highest officials of the Guyana Police Force to tell us why the non-release of the man’s property.
On Saturday afternoon, Mr. Corbin told me the high officers threw the ball in the court of the Police Commissioner. On Saturday, Mr. Corbin told me that he was unable to communicate with Mr. Greene because he was not answering his phone.
On Monday morning at 10.00 hours, Justice Ian Chang ordered the immediate release of the truck. Despite serving the writ on Mr. Greene, the police continued in their refusal mood. At Brickdam, it was impossible to serve the writ on the officer in charge because his secretary said he wasn’t in office and she rejected the acceptance of the order.
This has reduced Guyana to the law of the jungle. If a secretary cannot accept an instruction from the court, then serving such documents become virtually impossible. The truck was given back to Manniram at 17.00 hours the very day.
Could Mr. Greene cite the law under which the truck was impounded and attach to that the explanation as to why the police wanted to have indefinite possession of the vehicle. There has to be an explanation for the retention of the truck.
I will not accept the nebulous contention that under the law the police can take control over any property which is part of its investigation. Mr. Greene has to be specific. Once Mr. Greene does that, and my research proves him right I will not continue this page in the Kaieteur News. If he cannot provide a water-proof defence in this challenge of mine, he has to do the morally right thing and resign as Commissioner. Hope to hear from you, sir.
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