Tearful relatives and schoolmates of slain schoolboy Kelvin Anthony Fraser demanded justice for him as they protested outside the Patentia Secondary School and the Wales Police Station yesterday.
Intermittent but heavy showers failed to dissuade the dozens of protesters comprising mainly schoolchildren, their parents and other relatives of Fraser. “That is all I looking for…justice for my son because the police murder him”, charged Junior Fraser, the father of the slain 16-year-old. “We need justice”, the protesters chanted as the rain poured; destroying some of the placards they held. “We are here not only for Kelvin” but for other youths who have been victims of police brutality, said Amelia Puran. For more than an hour the protesters braved the rain marching to the Wales Police Station after chanting in front of the Patentia Secondary School, where Fraser was a fourth form student.
The teen was killed on Monday in what police said was a scuffle with a rank who was attempting to arrest him but relatives dispute this saying he was shot in the back. An autopsy is scheduled for tomorrow and the police rank involved in the incident remains under close arrest. Head of the Police Office for Professional Responsibility, Mohamed Jameer re-visited the Frasers’ home at Patentia, West Bank Demerara yesterday and told the teen’s mother, Sharon Fraser that the results of the investigation would be available on Monday. A statement was also taken from Fraser’s girlfriend.
Police had said that Fraser was fatally shot while ranks were responding to a report of a group of men “molesting” female students at the Patentia Secondary School. “Initial investigations indicate that the headmistress of the school reported to a member of the Community Policing Group who in turn informed the police at Wales Police Station concerning the molesting of the female students. The police responded promptly and on arrival at the school six youths were pointed out as the perpetrators. On seeing the police four of the youths ran away while two were arrested. The ranks pursued the four youths and caught up with Kelvin Fraser at Third Street, Patentia Housing Scheme. During efforts to arrest him a scuffle ensued between himself and a rank who was armed with a service shotgun which went off, hitting Fraser to his chest,” the police said in a statement on Monday. Fraser was taken to the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH) where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
On Tuesday, relatives viewed the body at the mortuary. Afterwards, they said that there was a wound in the teen’s back and at the base of his neck. According to them, Fraser was shot in the back and the bullet exited through the throat.
Fraser, a fourth form student at the Patentia Secondary School had last attended classes last Friday. On Monday, he left home after receiving a call at about 12:30 pm from his girlfriend. He did not wear his uniform. His girlfriend, Karen Hermonstine told Stabroek News that they were in a classroom when they heard shouting. “Everybody just start screaming. He tell me he love me and he coming back. He just going and see is wha”, she recalled. She said the ranks were hitting the others who were in civilian clothes and Fraser, since he was not in uniform, decided to run away. She did not see him again.
Shocked and appalled
Meanwhile, the People’s National Congress Reform (RNCR) yesterday condemned Fraser’s killing saying the party is “shocked and appalled”. In a statement, the party pointed out that the incident comes at a time when the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security headed by Minister Priya Manickchand, continues to preach about the Rights of the Child, Protecting children, and the expansion of the Child Protection Unit at that Ministry.
“It is amazing the manner in which the Guyana Police Force (GPF) has interpreted their duty to protect the rights of our children. One would have expected that the recent national and international condemnation of the torture of a fourteen-year old at Leonora Police Station would have caused the Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee and the Commissioner of Police to rein in their ranks. It is obvious that nothing significant has been done to ensure that the GPF lives up to its motto to serve and protect”, declared the PNCR.
The main opposition party questioned whether the GPF is sending a signal that they are a law unto themselves. “Whatever may be the answer the PNCR holds the Minister of Home Affairs and the Commissioner accountable for the indiscipline and lawless behaviour. The PNCR condemns this recent outrage and calls for urgent disciplinary action as well as adequate and full compensation to the family of the victim”, said the party’s statement.
The protesters yesterday condemned the shooting saying that Fraser was not a bad child and should have been taken to the station. “He did not deserve to be killed”, said one woman. “I got to get justice for my son. I want to see justice that is all I want to see”, Sharon said adding that her only son did not deserve to be killed.
“Police brutality must stop”, the protesters chanted. “No justice, no school”, the students chanted.
The protesters carried placards, one reading ‘What justice can be given to a mother who lost her only son owing to the ruthless act of one who was trained to protect and serve’. Two young relatives of Fraser carried a placard that read ‘Stop murdering our youth’. After chanting in front of the Patentia Secondary School, they marched to the Wales Police Station.
Activists David Hinds, Mark Benschop, Freddie Kissoon as well as trade unionist, Lincoln Lewis turned up at the protest in support. “We’ve got to get somewhere”, said Benschop. He said the rank must be charged and there must be proper compensation for the family.
In their statement, the PNCR pointed out that President Bharrat Jagdeo recently proclaimed that children are important to his Government but the party said it is obvious that those were mere words. “Is this how the PPP/C Administra-tion takes care of children? Is this what they deserve? Are the police not responsible for protecting our children? So why are they violating them through torture and murder?”
The PNCR pointed out that it has been more than four years since the Disciplined Forces Commission made more than one hundred and fifty recommendations for the improvement in performance of the GPF. “Instead of implementing those recommendations, the PPP/C had done all in its power to delay the consideration of those recommendations by a Select Committee of the National Assembly. It is, therefore, ironic that the killing of this teenager by the Police has occurred just as the National Assembly will finally discuss, (today) the Motion to adopt the report of the Disciplined Service Commission”, the party said. The statement conveyed the PNCR’s condolences to the parents, siblings and other relatives of Kelvin.