Police say that they are trying to obtain additional information on Jean LeBlanc, the Canadian man who was shot when gunmen fatally shot Ricardo Rodrigues at a city restaurant, although they are yet to take a statement from him.
“I know that they were trying to get some additional information on him,” Commissioner of Police Leroy Brumell yesterday told Stabroek News. He was responding to questions about why police have not taken a statement from him and not yet returned his passport.
LeBlanc, 62, was shot in the buttocks and fractured his hip as he dived for cover when gunmen ran into the GMR&SC ground, where Rodrigues—an associate of convicted drug trafficker Roger Khan—had been a patron at the Pitt Stop Restaurant.
Eyewitnesses had reported that about four men, dressed in black attire that appeared to be police fatigues, ran through the main access gate of the club and opened fire on Rodrigues, who was the clear target of the attack. LeBlanc and two other persons were shot. The other two shooting victims have since been discharged from the Georgetown Public Hospital.
LeBlanc had bemoaned the apparent slothfulness of the Guyana Police Force whom, he said are yet to take an official statement from him but took his passport and CDN $1600.
Yesterday, the Canadian said that he is almost at his wits’ end because the police, during a visit on Monday, had promised to return to take a statement from him. “They said that they wanted me to come to the station to give a statement.
I explained that given my condition, the only place I can move to go from here is to a plane to be taken to a Canadian Hospital.
They said they would return and do it from my bedside and up to now (yesterday 6:30pm) they are still to return,” he said.
He added that Canadian High Commission (CHC) personnel are aware of the police’s promise and they are looking into his welfare.
The CHC told Stabroek News that “consular services are being provided to a Canadian citizen in Guyana” and “Canadian consular officials in Georgetown remain in close contact with local authorities.” However, to protect Leblanc’s privacy further details could not be released.
Commissioner Brumell said that he would “check into the investigations with the Divisional Commander” and word will be given then. He added that Le Blanc need not to be worried about his money and travel documents because they will be given back to him.
“He doesn’t have to worry at all… once the police take the things, they are lodged and everything will be returned to him,” he said.
LeBlanc said with every passing day, he becomes more worried about his health and he reiterated that while he has been receiving great care at the city’s public hospital, he wants to return to Canada, where his doctors can care better for him. “I am an old man, a fractured hip isn’t something I want to be here having doctors, without knowledge of my personal health, operating on.
Guyana has awesome doctors but I want to be home where my family will be there to care for me when need be and I have insurance and a personal physician,” he said.
