Former Commissioner of Police Henry Greene died this morning after he was involved in a head-on collision with a truck at Harlem, West Coast Demerara this morning. A child who has been identified as 10-year-old Shaffiya Jamaluddin was also killed.
Eight others were injured.
According to Police Commissioner Leroy Brumell, Greene was driving a vehicle that collided with the truck on the Harlem Public Road and ranks rushed the injured former commissioner to the hospital. He was said to have been pronounced dead at the West Demerara Hospital. This was confirmed by Brumell who said the death was “shocking and surprising” particularly so following the recent death by natural causes of another former Police Commissioner, Laurie Lewis.
Greene was 58.
An official from Bakewell told Stabroek News that their truck, GJJ 9067 was involved in the accident along with the land cruiser, PLL 7411-which was driven by Greene- and a car PJJ 4812. At the time of the accident, three employees of the company, 36-year-old Victor Persaud who was the driver of the truck and porters Shalim Ally Mohamed,19 and 23-year-old Dharmendra Prasadmisir were in the truck at the time and they were all pinned in the cabin.
Two of them suffered serious injuries and the official said it is a “miracle” that they are still alive based on the damage that was done to the front of the truck.
Initial reports, according to the official, indicated that the truck and the car were heading west-in the direction of Parika-while the cruiser was heading east. The car was in front of the truck of the time when the cruiser hit the car head on and then the truck slammed into both the car and the cruiser. The Bakewell employees were on their way to sell bread at the time.
Stabroek News understands that Greene was the only occupant of his vehicle while the little Jamaluddin was an occupant of the car. From all indications Greene was in the wrong lane at the time of the accident.
In their statement this afternoon, the police said:
`At about 0910h today former Commissioner of Police Henry Greene was driving his motor vehicle PLL 7411 along the roadway at Harlem, WCD, when it is reported that his vehicle veered into the lane of motor car PJJ 4812, which was travelling in the opposite direction, resulting in a head-on collision. PLL 7411 then collided with motor canter GJJ 9067 that was travelling behind motor car PJJ 4812.
As a result of the collision Henry Greene and Shaffiya Jamaluddin, 10 years, of Canefield, East Canje, Berbice, who was in motor car PJJ 4812, suffered injuries and were pronounced DOA at the WDRH.
Victor Persaud, 35 years, of Vriesland, WBD, who was driving the motor canter and his two porters suffered injuries and were taken to the WDRH. Persaud was admitted, while the two porters were treated and sent away.
The driver of motor car PJJ 4812 Raheem Kaleem, 45 years, along with the other occupants Reeaz Kaleem, 18 years; Fawaaz Kaleem, 15 years; Shaimoon Kaleem, 46 years; and Zaitoon Hoosein, 26 years; all of Canefield, East Canje, suffered injuries and were also taken to the WDRH.
Shaimoon Kaleem was treated and sent away, while the others have been admitted for medical treatment.
Investigations are in progress.’
Greene retired as Police Commissioner in April this year after a scandal over allegations that he had committed rape. He was never charged.
Months of pressure had been piled on both Greene and the government to act following the former Top Cop’s admission that he had had sexual relations with a woman who had gone to him for assistance with a criminal matter. Greene made the revelation in a court affidavit only after he had been accused by the woman of rape. The affidavit was drawn up in support of a motion brought by lawyers for Greene to thwart advice by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Shalimar Ali-Hack for a charge of rape to be brought against him.
