Head of RK’s Security Services Roshan Khan is calling for government to “reactivate” the death penalty after one of his company’s security guards was found dead following a recent robbery.
Fifty-five-year-old Chandrabhan Persaud, of Whim, Corentyne was the only guard on duty during the time of the robbery at the Lucky Dollar Rose Hall store. Police said he was found dead, with both his hands and feet bound and his mouth gagged, at the back of the store on Saturday morning.
Although death sentences continue to be handed down, the last execution took place in August of 1997. Since then, legal challenges to executions have seen a halt to hangings, while at the same time government has faced international pressure to abolish the death penalty. The issue is expected to be the subject of consultations that will be conducted by a parliamentary committee.
In a statement issued on Persaud’s death, Khan said government must reactivate the death penalty for crimes that lead to death, including the conspiracy to steal, conspiracy to kill and armed robberies. He asserted that government’s reluctance to take a stance on this issue can lead to it being accused of fostering the committing of murder against the populace.
“The people hire [g]overnment by voting for them, and paying them as contracted employees, and hence, they have the right to order the [g]overnment to do what is right for their protection or the citizens of Guyana have the right to fire their [g]overnment, according to the dictates of [d]emocracy, a system to which we subscribe…” he said.
While no type of work can be guaranteed to be risk-free, persons in the security industry face increased risk. The recent spate of robberies has also seen the kidnapping and murder of taxi-drivers, gold miners and their employees and others, which is death by conspiracy, Khan said. “These killers need death; we join the Guyanese people in calling for reactivation of the death penalty now!” he added.
Khan has also said that while Persaud has no children, the company has provided $100,000 to his widow, Satyawattee. Further, it has a special $1M insurance policy in place which, after police investigations, will be given to his dependents.
