The Guyana Police Force (GPF) yesterday said that recent criticisms of its handling of the investigation into the recent accident involving Local Government Minister Kellawan Lall are ill-informed and ill-advised.
The GPF issued a statement yesterday rejecting the Working People’s Alliance charge that it is guilty of dereliction of duty in the matter—even as the main opposition party PNCR contended that the case raised questions about whether the law is being applied equally.
John July, a pillion rider was injured after being hit by a vehicle driven by Lall.
At a news conference, however, Police Commis-sioner Henry Greene said that it appeared that the injured party was in the wrong.
Police said yesterday that Greene’s comment was based on the motor cyclist’s statement given on September 5, in which he stated that he struck the metal rail then hit the Minister’s vehicle. Police also cited the measurements taken at the scene during the investigation. “The force therefore also finds the statement of the WPA that the Guyana Police Force is guilty of dereliction of duty to be irrelevant,” it said.
Additionally, police noted that Greene was never asked why the minister was not arrested for leaving the scene of the accident; rather, he was asked why he left the scene. “How could the Commis-sioner be asked to explain the actions of a party at the scene of an accident when the investigation had not yet concluded? The question of the Minister fleeing the scene never arose,” it added.
Meanwhile, the PNCR yesterday questioned if there was a different law “for members of the PPP hierarchy.” It said “particularly disturbing” were claims that the Minister did not render assistance after the accident nor did he give a statement to the police or visited the victims in the hospital.
“The PNCR will continue to closely monitor this event to ensure that justice is done and that the fears of Mr July, that he would be victimised, are not realised,” the party said.
