Home Affairs Minister, Clement Rohee has told the National Assembly that the 20.8 million Chinese water cannon was bought to minimize the use of lethal force and limit injuries and loss of lives.
Rohee’s explanation was contained in written responses to questions posed by APNU Member of Parliament Winston Felix and was made available at yesterday’s sitting of the House.
The responses will be seen as ironic in the aftermath of last Wednesday’s killing of three protesters by the police in Linden and the fact that the water cannon was sitting in Georgetown at the time.
“The water cannon would be deployed by the police as it sees fit as part of its evolving strategic posture and in keeping with the current institutional modernization process of the force and in compliance with the United Nations and other internationally accepted standards where non lethal force should be used by the police …” Rohee said.
The Home Affairs Minister said 10 members of the Guyana Police Force have been trained to use the water cannon in keeping with “the existing protocols relating to the use of force by the Guyana Police Force with the application principle of minimum force as a guide.”
Purchased by the Guyana Government from China in 2010 and delivered in 2011, the water cannon is in working order and located at the Tactical Services Unit Drill Square of the Guyana Police Force, Eve Leary, Georgetown, Rohee stated in his reply to the questions.
