The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) soldiers who are now in police custody following allegations of armed robbery reportedly demanded work permits and licences from miners at a Brazilian mining camp before robbing them of money and gold last Thursday at Five Star, Barima/Waini, Region One.
Reports out of Port Kaituma yesterday indicated that the general manager of the camp travelled to Port Kaituma following the robbery and reported the incident to the station there.
And while police officers have since journeyed into the area Stabroek News has been reliably informed that the Brazilians have indicated that they wanted no further investigations into the matter.
However, the police have received a directive from a senior government official to instruct the detectives to remain in the area and continue the investigation and to bring the Brazilians out so that they can testify against the accused army ranks.
The army in a release on Wednesday, almost one week after the allegation was made, stated that members of a GDF investigative team who had received reports of the robbery allegation intercepted the patrol of one officer and three other ranks and found the gold and cash.
On Wednesday Stabroek News was told that the ranks had demanded three pennyweights of gold each from the Brazilian miners who were 12 in number and so they allegedly made off with some 36 pennyweights of gold.
Sources yesterday told Stabroek News that it is well known that Brazilians would slip through the Port Kaituma village and into the backdam without work permits. The army ranks, who are said to have been stationed at Mabaruma, apparently took advantage of this fact and made demands on the spot and when some of the men were unable to produce the necessary documentation they were then told to hand over the gold and cash. The ranks at the time were said to be armed to the teeth.
Sources in the mining industry yesterday said that it is not the first time such allegations have been made against the armed forces. And while the robbery is not a hot topic in the Port Kaituma village, Stabroek News was told that villagers are not surprised by the allegation as it is not new to them.
As a matter of fact a reliable source pointed out that about four years ago there were similar allegations made against army and police ranks and at least one person who was employed with the Guyana Gold Mining Commission (GGMC). They had reportedly robbed about 200 persons in Pipiani, a village also in Region One that has a lot of mining activities.
The allegations were widely reported and persons had given statements and there was supposed to have been an inquiry but no one was taken before the court. The GGMC employee, who was well known in the Port Kaituma area, had left the country through Brazil and is said to be now in England. A police corporal, whose name was given to this newspaper, was also said to be involved and he was transferred and is now a sergeant in the force. The army ranks who were implicated were also transferred.
‘Not the first time’
GDF Chief of Staff, Commodore Gary Best yesterday, when asked if allegations of robbery had been made before against army ranks, confirmed that it was not the first time such allegations were made.
“No, it is not the first time we have launched investigations into allegations. It’s not the first time. But it’s the first time that there is so much evidence that suggests that indeed a serious offence has been committed. But we have had some allegations before,” Best told reporters yesterday at the army’s Coast Guard Headquarters.
The Chief of Staff declined to give any further information on the incident as he said that the matter is under investigation.
“They [the ranks] are in police custody and as the matter unfolds whatever action has to be taken would be taken.
But there is no further update. They are in police custody and as soon as the police are ready to level charges or not level charges they will inform the GDF,” he said.
Best also refused to say how much gold or money was found on the ranks.
“No I don’t have the facts but gold was found and money was found. But I noticed some investigative journalism that spoke to some quantities which seem reasonable to me but I don’t have the precise numbers,” he said when the question was asked.
He said the army has no say in what happens to the ranks should they be found guilty of robbery under arms.
“That’s up to the court. This matter is in the civil arena not with the GDF, it’s up to the court. And whatever offences, whatever time is attached to the offence they are charged with and if they are found guilty then the court will decide. It’s not with the Defence Force any longer,” he said.
The army in their release on Wednesday said: “Preliminary reports indicate that last Thursday one officer and three soldiers allegedly robbed a mining camp in the area.
Following searches conducted by a GDF investigative team which interrupted the patrol a quantity of gold and a large amount of cash were found on their person.”
The statement said the GDF “remains totally committed to a transparent and thorough investigation of the incident.”
