Home Affairs Minister, Clement Rohee says that the use of live rounds by the police during last Wednesday’s protest action which left three persons dead was a breach of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) of the police force.
According to the Government Information Agency (GINA), Rohee stated, during a special programme on the Linden protests, that prior to the tragic July 18 incident, he had held discussions with senior officials and he was given the assurance that live rounds were not going to be used by the police in deterring the Linden protestors.
He explained that tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannons could have been used to restore order. However, he said, the use of live rounds is a deadly response which is not catered for in the SOPs for