-Region 8 Chairman
Region 8 Chairman Senor Bell is urging more resources for the Mahdia Police Station, saying it currently lacks the manpower and the equipment needed to serve it and other interior communities.
His statements have come in wake of two recent killings at Mahdia and Mousie Landing. Attacker Oswald Bourne died in the Mousie Landing attempted robbery, which turned into a shootout that left dredge owner Davindra Williams dead. Bourne’s accomplice is yet to be found by police. Police are also hunting the man suspected of murdering miner Vanburn Orlando Hanover.
During a telephone interview with Stabroek News on Wednesday, Bell said the Mahdia police lack the resources they need to serve the community. There are about nine ranks stationed there and on any given shift three or four are on duty, he said.
While Bell does not believe that the crime rate is high in Mahdia, he pointed out that ranks there are expected to deal with matters in and around the mining community. The current number, he said, is not enough to monitor and deal with crime in such an area. The closest police station to the one in Mahdia is in Mabura. However, the Mabura station, according to Bell, would not be able to lend much assistance to Mahdia since it sports a “skeleton staff” as well. There are about four ranks at Mabura, Bell said.
In addition to the lack of proper staffing, Bell added, the station suffers even more from the absence of proper transportation. There have been several occasions where the region, Bell said, has loaned ranks its ATVs (All Terrain Vehicles) to make trips to other communities. “They (the police) own a very old Toyota pickup which is not suitable for this area and it is hardly of any use to them,” he said. “If they had proper vehicles, it would aid them greatly in hunting and apprehending suspects like in the two recent and very unfortunate killings we’ve had in the region this month.”
The suspect in the Saturday night Mahdia killing escaped after he allegedly battered Hanover, 33, of Lot 50 Hand-en-veldt, Mahaica, to the back of the head with a piece of wood. A resident said that a few hours before the incident Hanover, who’d been gambling at the time, insulted the suspect.
ATVs, outposts
The crime scene, according to Bell, is about 160 meters from the Mahdia Police Station. Hanover’s body, he added, was on the street for about five minutes before police got there and took him to the nearby hospital. “No one else attempted to take him to the hospital…I guess it is because it was such a serious mater…I mean, one man was hit by another man in the head and I guess no one wanted to get involved,” Bell said.
Mahdia, he further said, is surrounded by forest and it would be fairly easy for a suspect to escape. The suspect, he reasoned, could’ve taken the North-Fork road and make his way to Blackwater. “He could also use that same road and make his way to Murawa and then go to the Pakaraima Mountain…there are many places he can go from there,” he noted.
The suspect, according to Bell, is most likely travelling on foot. If police had access to a proper ATV they would’ve been able to pursue the suspect and Bell believes they would’ve apprehended him by now. Four years ago, Bell recalled, the station at Mahdia had an old ATV but he did not know what has become of it.
When questioned about how police would deal with a major calamity like gunmen injuring and killing several people, Bell said that many Mahdia residents are licensed firearm holders and would come out to help.
The Mahdia Station is also responsible for criminal matters at Mousie Landing which is located about an hour and forty-five minutes away from Mahdia via motor vehicle, Bell said. When he last visited Mousie Landing, about three months ago, resident had complained about an increase in person with unlicensed firearms. “Not only did they complain about the fact that there are more persons with unlicensed firearms but they also said that when these persons consume alcohol they start firing these guns off wild, wild,” Bell said.
After Bell received reports about the increase in unlicensed firearms being used at the location he said he immediately reported it to the police. Despite this, he said, nothing has been done to address the issue.
Shortly before the fatal shooting at Mousie Landing, Bell further reported, a resident had discovered a quantity of AK-47 ammunition.
The find was reported to the police at Mahdia, Bell explained, and police had accompanied him to Mousie Landing so that the resident could hand over the ammunition and give a statement. “My team and I have to travel to Mousie Landing fairly often to collect revenue and to provide other services but we are afraid to stay there overnight because there is no police presence,” he said.
The already challenged Mahdia police are the closest form of security to that location. Bell said that he had recommended a while ago that a police outpost be set up at Mousie Landing but he said the suggestion seems to have not been taken seriously.
If outlying areas like Mousie Landing get out of control, Bell stressed, Mahdia will most likely be affected. Bell believes that the situation at Mousie Landing had reached such a level that a Joint Services team will be needed to intervene. “They need to address this issue soon,” he insisted, adding, “I’ve suggested before that police outposts need to be erected in small mining communities…at least the police presence will discourage misconduct.”