Brazilian businessman Rodrigo de Paula says that he was clueless that presidential guards were among the group of men hired to “conduct a peaceful operation” to remove a conveyor to prevent the illegal use of the Guyana Sandport Inc. wharf.
De Paula also produced documents to support that he was the one who rented the Coverden, East Bank Demerara property that has been home to the company since 2006, that he had full control of the company and that the conveyor system, which was the target of the operation, was in fact his.
When contacted for an update on the investigations Crime Chief Seelall Persaud told Stabroek News that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has recommended that further investigations be conducted and that is what is happening at the moment.
He said that the presidential guards have since been placed on ‘open arrest.” He was not in a position to say whether moonlighting by the guards was authorised. He said the Commissioner of Police Henry Greene was the person to answer such a question.
Stabroek News was unable to make contact with Greene or other officials for clarification on this matter.
In a recent interview with Stabroek News, an upset de Paula set the record straight about his one-time partner Joseph Bhaskaran and his affiliation with the company.
De Paula, who does business in Brazil and several Caribbean countries, explained that Bhaskaran had a 50% share in the company but on June 27, he was removed from the Board of Directors. Producing documents, de Paula said that on July 6, a document to that effect was filed in the court.
He said that Bhaskaran owed Guyana Sandport Inc more than US$500,000. He explained that the only thing that he (Bhaskaran) did was supply the sand to the company at a reasonable cost, since he owned a sand pit. He said that there came a point where his partner frequently increased the cost of the sand, every time a ship came in.
It was at this point that the troubles started and it was decided that Bhaskaran would be barred from operating on the wharf.
De Paula told Stabroek News that they moved to the courts and were granted an injunction barring Bhaskaran from entering the property but that was ignored as operations continued on a daily basis.
He said that on July 11, Bhaskaran loaded a ship at the wharf using documents signed by a close relative. Another ship was loaded four days later.
“The trespasser was continuously using the wharf facilities and receiving payments for it, causing enormous losses,” de Paula said. He added that he made three unsuccessful attempts to get Bhaskaran off his property.
He said the first attempt was made on July 3, the second on July 5 and the third four days later. One all three occasions, he turned up with private security personnel and was met with resistance. He said also he got little help from the police to stop the illegal operations at his wharf.
The wharf had been rented in the name of Star Metals, a company controlled by de Paula. De Paula and another Brazilian started the company but his partner gave him the power of attorney, thus giving him full control of that company.
De Paula said that the losses as a result of Bhaskaran’s actions were growing and as a result he was left helpless. He explained that last Tuesday’s move on the wharf was a fourth attempt to assume control of the property, after information surfaced that a vessel was expected there to be loaded with sand.
De Paula, who is also an engineer, decided to organise the removal of the rubber belt on the conveyor system to halt the operations at the wharf. He noted that the construction of the conveyor was financed by him and another director of Star Metal Trading Inc., “The company that has the exclusive possession over the wharf.” He stressed that there was there is no illegality in the removal of the conveyor nor was the system damaged as was reported in the press.
He said that it makes no sense to damage the equipment that belongs to his own company. He explained that he later asked a friend for help with the removal of the belt and also to “arrange some extra people to help with security.” He said that during the operations there were no acts of illegality, vandalism or violence. He noted that he opted to carry out his plan at 2 am to avoid any confrontation with Bhaskaran’s employees.
“I don’t even know the men who came to help me. They came because an injustice was being done to me. I didn’t care who they were. I just needed a lot of men to feel safe in defending my rights,” he said. De Paula added that those arrested along with him were also victims.
“I am not able to recognise none of the helpers involved in the matter because I was at the wharf coordinating the removal of the belt, while they were in the compound watching the gates for the intruders,” he said before stressing that he felt sorry for them.
De Paula said too that he was placed in the lockups with about 30 men and treated like a criminal when he had done nothing wrong. He said that he intends to fight for justice to ensure that all the “financial and moral losses” he has incurred are repaid. He said that his arrest has left him traumatised but at the same time it has given him strength to fight for justice.
About 30 men, including presidential guards armed with their guns, stormed the Lot 9 property around 2 am last Tuesday. Members of the group reportedly assaulted two guards on duty at the time, but one managed to escape and contacted the police and Bhaskaran. The guard, after relating what had transpired, travelled with the businessman and police to the property, where several presidential guards were manning the gates.
From the gates they could see the light coming from welding torches and persons were seen running up and down inside the compound. Members of the group were dressed in dark clothing and some had stockings covering their faces, including de Paula. De Paula and thirteen others including eight presidential guards were arrested.
Police released de Paula on $50, 000 station bail on Thursday, after Chief Justice Ian Chang ordered that he be released. The other civilians were also released on that day.
