Hours after a senior police officer apologised to him for his wrongful incarceration over the Christmas weekend, actor and stand-up comic Lyndon ‘Jumbie’ Jones said he is seeking legal advice on the way forward.
“I am not prepared to disappoint people with good intentions,” Jones told Stabroek News yesterday afternoon, referring to the many persons who have advised him not to drop the matter.
Jones, 44, was arrested outside of Nigel’s Supermarket on Christmas Eve and taken to the Brickdam Police Station, where he was booked for robbery under arms. After spending three nights in the Brickdam lock-ups, he was released on Monday afternoon. He was not placed on bail nor was he told to report back to the station and no allegation was put to him. He said he was at a loss as to where the alleged robbery occurred and against whom.
Contacted yesterday, Crime Chief Seelall Persaud said he was unaware that Jones was arrested but indicated that the man was not wanted for any offence. Persaud advised that contact be made with the Divisional Commander George Vyphuis but he also could not shed any light on Jones’ arrest and said he was meeting with the actor.
Vyphuis did not meet with Jones. Instead, head of the Tactical Services Unit (TSU) Clifton Hickens met with comedian and apologised to him. “Mr Hickens told me, ‘Jumbie I am sorry. I don’t how the guys made such a mistake but as soon as I found out you were locked up, I ordered you released,’” Jones recounted to Stabroek News. He added: “I am a nice person and I don’t want to seek revenge but all through the ordeal I had a perception in my mind that I was being victimized because I spoke out about a matter involving my nephew and sister and a senior police officer.”
Jones’ nephew and the officer reportedly shared a relationship with the same woman and when the union between the young man and woman soured, there was a major misunderstanding which led to him being arrested. In the process, Jones’ sister, the mother of his nephew, was also arrested for “harbouring a criminal.” (The woman works at the Guyana Police Force day care centre and it was a petition by her colleagues to the Office of Commissioner of Police Henry Greene that resulted in her being released on $5,000 bail.) His nephew, meanwhile, has since been charged and is on bail. Jones said he was very upset about the way the matter was handled, especially after his sister was arrested. He had repeatedly spoken about it on his ‘Let’s Gaff GT Style’ talk show, which is aired on Channel 2. His relatives and friends are convinced that his subsequent arrest stemmed from the matter and it was done to teach him a lesson. “To be honest, I don’t know how to pursue this matter and I am seeking legal advice. But this could be the end of the matter for me because someone said they are sorry and I would not mind if the police issue a public apology.”
However, on the other hand, Jones said he feels he has an obligation to his fans and citizens of Guyana to not just drop the matter as he has always advised persons to stand up for their rights. “…People are telling me to fight the matter because if I don’t the police would continue to mistreat and harass people,” he said. “People are telling me that this is an opportunity to help others,” he continued.
Jones noted that his incarceration could have implications for his health as he was forced to sleep on the cold, tiled floor of the lock-ups. He explained that there is what appeared to be a bed frame with only “something that make out of like flat iron” and it was “very uncomfortable and hurting my back and neck.” Because of this, Jones said he had to use the floor as a bed if he wanted to sleep.
