The Guyana Police Force has launched an investigation into a report of police brutality at Bartica and according to the Divisional Commander (ag), the incident occurred after ranks were denied entry into a striptease show that was being held at a nightclub.
Senior Superintendant Deryck Younge told Stabroek News when contacted at his Georgetown office yesterday that according to what was reported to him, police visited the club on Saturday night where a striptease show was taking place but were prevented from entering.
He said that as a result of this there was an altercation and the father of the owner of the club, Winston Miller Snr, was injured. Younge stressed that presently an investigation is ongoing into the incident.
Yesterday Miller refuted the commander’s version saying that a segment of the Ms Bootilicious pageant was being staged at his business place and nothing more. The pageant coordinator and promoter Alex Wayne confirmed this when contacted by Stabroek News. According to Wayne, this is the third segment of the pageant, which he described as a show where the contestants would model in bedroom attire. “That (the striptease report) is not true”, he stressed.
Meanwhile, a senior police officer at the Bartica Police Station, where the implicated three ranks are attached said that the police are not denying that they were at the scene. “It is just unclear what had transpired and we are doing an investigation right now”, the officer told this newspaper.
Following Saturday’s incident, Stabroek News was told of instances where ranks rob Brazilians of their money and youngsters are beaten and arrested for no reason.
Yesterday, more incidents were reported to this newspaper. According to a resident, the miners working in the backdam are being constantly harassed by ranks. In almost all instances, the resident alleged, gold is demanded as an inducement for dropping matters.
Younge when questioned about these allegations said that the Division Commander, David Ramnarine is presently overseas and he has only been in charge of the Division for a week now.
According to Younge, he is unaware of such reports.
Meanwhile, the senior officer at the Bartica Station also said he was unaware of such incidents being allegedly committed by the ranks.
He noted that he did read of some in the press but no such reports were made at the station.
“Everything is quiet (in the district) until this ugly incident”, he added.
Miller, who was thrown on the ground and repeatedly kicked, said that he waited for hours at the station yesterday morning for a confrontation with the ranks but they failed to show up. He said that it appears as though the ranks are trying to “dodge” the matter but he intends to fight it to the end.
He says that he will be taking legal action against the police for their actions toward him and a patron, Javid Hamid.
Miller who is also a television host had recounted that a large audience had flocked his popular hangout spot, Sunset Boulevard at Fourth Avenue, for a pageant.
Around 11 pm, a cadet officer dressed in plain clothes arrived and tried to `pope’ the show but the person manning the door informed him that he had to pay the $1,000 entrance fee like everyone else.
The infuriated rank reportedly travelled to the Bartica Police Station, where he changed into his uniform. He then returned to the club along with three other policemen, including two “black clothes” ranks.
Miller said the cadet officer then demanded that the proprietor of the establishment step forward and when he (Miller) identified himself he was told that he was under arrest and commanded to enter the police pick up. The 69-year-old businessman said that he refused to and later a gun was pointed at him by one of the ranks.
He had recalled being flung to the ground and trampled upon while being commanded to get into the police vehicle. He was kicked in his belly and his temple where he had an operation about eight years ago.
Hamid tried to defend Miller but was gun butted. He eventually lost his balance and broke a few tables and chairs as he crashed to the ground. He had a visible injury to his chest.
