Latest update May 3rd, 2024 12:59 AM
Jun 19, 2013 Letters
Dear Editor,
It has been some months since the brutal slaying of Police Corporal Romain Cleto and to date there seems to be no indication that the police are anywhere close to solving this crime. It is reported in the press that the ranks that were with Cleto on the day he was shot and killed are unable to identify the killer.
This young officer died while performing his duties and there seems to be a lackluster approach to his case. The police in a hasty fashion, charged a man, Shaka Chase, whom they claimed was a prime suspect and in the shooting. The charges were later withdrawn by the DPP.
During custody Chase passionately proclaimed his innocence, which was supported by his convincing alibi. My own belief is that Chase was identified because of his physical appearance. These are the hard realities of how crime is being fought in Guyana. There seems to be a perception held by some people, including the police that a criminal is a person that looks like Chase.
This dangerous stereotypical reality is what might be responsible for the police being able to solve crimes, since they are simply focusing their attention in one direction. This situation can only benefit the true criminals who are allowed to easily escape the spotlight and make good their escape.
The result is that these criminals develop an increased boldness and fearlessness in the execution of further criminal acts, as they reason that they are not likely to be caught since they do not fit the description of the criminals the police will be looking for. So while these ‘bad boys/girls’ escape the radar of the authorities, the “Shaka Chases” are reined in, tortured, rights violated, languished in a smelly cell, and made to look like the most brutal criminal.
If luck strikes as in this case of the slaying of Cleto, they may walk free but not until they are made to feel less than human. I am quite sure some are doing time for crimes they never commit. My call is for the police, those in authority and the people to see criminals for what they are; they come in all shapes, sizes, colour, race, ethnicity, social standing or ‘well to do’.
If we are to truly solve the many crimes in our nation we must do so in a fair and justified manner where the looks of a person or where he or she resides must never be automatic criteria to determine criminality.
The KN news reported In an article, dated 6/18/2013 and captioned ‘Murdered Cop’s Colleagues cannot Identify Shooter’ that, “an alleged eye witness described the shooter as a fair-skinned mixed race individual as opposed a dark-skinned man with dreadlocks”. Did the police pursue this lead? If so what were the findings? It is time we have an honest conversation about this issue of labelling certain people criminals, even before the crime is solved.
There must be justice for Police Corporal Romain Cleto. I am hoping that his colleagues who were with him on that fateful day would search their memory and bring to light the facts which can bring closure to this case.
What about public spirited citizens? The fact that the police remain unable to get any cooperation from citizens regarding solving these vicious crimes must be of tremendous concern to the Ministry of Home Affairs and to the Police Commissioner. It must tell us something about the lack of confidence citizens have in the police. This situation has existed for too long and it must be fixed, it is time the tactics are changed to be more community friendly and supportive we have to cease criminalizing the very people we hope to have cooperate with us.
Lurlene Nestor
THEM PIMPING OUT GUYANA.
May 03, 2024
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