Assistant Commissioner of Police Deryck Josiah died suddenly yesterday at private city hospital, where he had gone for a routine medical checkup for injuries he sustained in an accident last month.
He was 50 years old.
Commissioner of Police Leroy Brumell said that from preliminary reports it seemed Josiah suffered a massive heart attack while at the hospital.
It is unclear if any medication was being administered or medical tests were being performed on him at the time.
Police, in a statement, said, “Assistant Commis-sioner of Police Deryck Josiah died at about 15:30 hrs …at a private city hospital. He is suspected to have suffered a heart attack.”
Josiah was heading to the airport on the morning of November 12—part of his official duties whenever the president leaves the country—when he collided with another vehicle at Versailles, West Bank Demerara.
He had sustained a fractured left shoulder and minor lacerations to his body.
Yesterday, as scheduled, he visited the doctor for a checkup to assess his recovery status.
Several relatives and colleagues of Josiah flocked the hospital when they learned of his sudden demise. There were few dry eyes. Family members wailed and some accused the hospital of causing Josiah’s demise, although they could not say in what way. His mother had to be supported by police ranks as she entered the hospital compound and began openly wailing for her son.
Family members were too distraught to speak with media personnel and some pleaded to be left to mourn their loved one.
Brumell told Stabroek News that he was in a state of shock as he never expected to hear of Josiah’s demise given that he was progressing “nicely” and had spoken to him recently. “Today was the day for him to see the doctor and when I spoke to him on Wednesday I told him about the ambulance coming to pick him up… We gaffed and he was in good spirits… I told him no matter the accident we would have a nice Christ-mas,” he said.
He explained that he was briefed on Josiah’s routine hospital visit and shortly after he received a phone call informing him of the Assistant Commis-sioner’s death.
“I can’t go to the hospital to see the body because I am just shaken up here. …I just can’t believe it,” he said.
He praised Josiah’s work, saying that the force has lost a “true officer” who was dedicated to his job and loved serving the people of Guyana.
His words were echoed by longtime friend and colleague Assistant Commis-sioner George Vyphuis, who lamented that “The force has lost a future commissioner, a teacher, a brother, a friend he was all of that and more. This is truly a sad day.”
Tributes were also given by ranks at the hospital and many of them called Josiah “humane.” They said he worked to uplift a police force often accused of many things derogatory.
Retired assistant commissioner of police Gavin Primo visited the hospital and fondly recalled growing up with Josiah as they both lived on the West Coast Demerara; Josiah at Uitvlugt and Primo at Leonora.
He noted Josiah’s ability to interact with the public and gain their trust. “He was able to bridge that gap between the police and the public, being a man who was close to the cloth and being a policeman. Deryck Josiah brought out that other part of policing that persons don’t generally know,” Primo said.
Josiah’s body is at the Merriman’s Funeral Home and a post-mortem examination is scheduled to be performed on Monday.
