A tough talking President Donald Ramotar on Thursday morning urged the Guyana Police Force to do a better job investigating cases and presenting them to the courts to ensure justice is served.
Speaking at the opening of the Annual Police Officer’s Conference at Police Headquarters, Eve Leary, the President highlighted two recent high-profile cases that were thrown out by the court because of the lack of evidence and absent witnesses.
He highlighted the cases of the cricketer Carlyle Barton, who was caught on camera shooting a man dead and the businessman Randy Jagdeo who was charged for murder but rode out of the court-yard on his CBR motorcycle when his case was thrown out. In both of those cases, the absence of witnesses was blamed for the cases not moving forward although statements were provided.
The President said “we would like to see a qualitative improvement in prosecutions, we want to see value for money here as well. It is really heart-rending to see a person who has been shown on national television shooting another person but walking away from the court or another person who was accused of murder having a motorcycle waiting for them as if anticipating, probably knowing beforehand what would have been the outcome.”
President Ramotar said the Police Force must do a better job with the cases it presents to the courts. He said the absence of witnesses, summons not being sought for witnesses, police witnesses not turning up and statements not matching the police file are major issues that must be dealt with and examined.
“These things we have to put a stop to. If we do not, we will encourage an avalanche of crime in our society and all of us in the disciplined forces and the judiciary must work to ensure that these things ended”, the President said.
He added that the Officer Corps of the Police Force must seek strong measures in fighting corruption in and out of the force since it is important for the health of the force and the health of the entire society. Mr. Ramotar said “every single officer portrays the image of the society”.
The Guyana Police Force has been coming under increased criticism for its failures with many cases in the court. There have been concerns that the Police Force has not been doing enough to get witnesses to attend court and ensure that they offer evidence in matters before the court.
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