President David Granger Wednesday morning spoke out for the first time on the recent shooting death of three suspected bandits along the seawall by Police ranks.

He told reporters at State House that the government has given clear instructions to Police Commissioner (acting) David Ramnarine to carry out an investigation to determine the circumstances under which the men were killed.  Ramnarine had earlier stated that the Police ranks were justified in their use of deadly force since they came under fire first.  But at least one eyewitness has disputed that account.

In an official statement just after the shooting, the Police in a statement said men were killed during an exchange of gunfire after they trailed a customer who had just exited a city bank with a large sum of cash and attempted to carry out a robbery on the seawalls.

But family members have challenged the Police report with claims that the men were executed by the Police.

The President said his Minister of Public Security has received a report on the killings but he has not personally seen it, although the matter was discussed at the National Security Committee.

“It is my opinion that on any occasion where there is the death of person by unnatural means that it should be investigated particularly in the Defense and Police Forces.”

He said the file is to be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions to determine “blameworthiness” but insisted that the government has not been silent on the incident.

In fact, the President told reporters that government’s response has been “decisive and effective.”

Asked whether he would order an inquest into the killing, Mr. Granger pointed out that the Coroners Act already requires a Magistrate to conduct an inquest in such cases of unnatural deaths.

“I don’t have to order an inquest… the law is there and as far as I am concerned there should be no controversy”, he said.

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