Although receiving a report almost two months ago, the Acting Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Shalimar Ali-Hack has not decided whether Local Government Minister, Kellawan Lall appropriately used his firearm during the rum shop brawl last year.
Ali-Hack has not been accessible to the media and when queries are made at her office little is gleaned. Commissioner of Police (ag), Henry Greene told a press conference in December that the DPP had to decide whether Lall had used his gun lawfully during a fight with a teenager at a Montrose, East Coast Demerara bar on November 18 last year. Lall, who is Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, allegedly gun-whipped teenager Joseph Doodnauth and fired off several rounds into the air during a row in relation to the young man’s aunt at a rum shop in the wee hours of the morning on November 18. Doodnauth told this newspaper that he and Lall have since settled the matter and do not wish to pursue it further. Lall in a statement had said he only discharged one shot and had been attempting a citizen’s arrest after having been assaulted earlier in the evening by a cousin of the person he was in the company of. He added that he has made a statement to the police which he believes to be true and correct and under the circumstances the right course of action is for the police to investigate the matter.
Greene had said that Lall and Doodnauth had decided to settle the matter. He also added that both Lall and Doodnauth were culpable. Greene also made it clear that he is not charged with pronouncing on the minister’s behaviour, but the government. He said the minister has since surrendered his firearm and as regards his discharging of the firearm that matter was before the DPP. “I don’t want to pre-empt the DPP’s actions, but we should all wait and see what the ruling would be,” Greene had advised.
A senior police officer, who had asked not to be named, told this newspaper that Lall could be charged for negligent discharge of his firearm. Noting that the police did not have to seek the advice of the DPP, the officer asserted that the case involving the minister was “clear cut”. The high-ranking police officer told Stabroek News that there was no justification for the minister’s use of his firearm. The officer had said that civilians should only use their firearms if they were under attack and in serious danger and could not defend themselves by any other means. He said licensed firearm holders are also permitted to use their weapons if they encountered someone committing a serious crime and the person did not desist after being warned to do so. The police officer said that the only time a civilian should draw his weapon is if he intends to maim or disable someone. Lall had said in his statement that he fired one shot in the air, but the officer noted that the procedure of shooting in the air applies to police officers. He said in a situation where there is public disorder, the police can shoot warning shots in the air in an effort to restore peace. “There is absolutely no justification for the minister pulling out his weapon. He wasn’t in danger and clearly the young man was no threat to him,” the police officer said. On the issue of settlement, the police officer said it was within Doodnauth’s rights to drop the assault matter against the minister. However, as it relates to the firing of the weapon, the state had to decide whether this should be nullified.
Several groups and citizens have condemned Lall’s behaviour and his party – the People’s Progressive Party has reprimanded him, according to General Secretary Donald Ramotar.
