Dear Editor,
On February 13, 2014 a Guyanese, of very humble upbringing, was brutally murdered while at work as a guard at a nursery school in East Canje. His name was Kenneth Kanhai, nicknamed ‘Puri.’ There was no apparent motive as robbery was ruled out. I wonder how many persons know that Puri was a witness in the trial of someone charged with the murder of his wife. That trial is yet to be heard in the High Court in Berbice. Of course, Puri would not be testifying.
Another murder took place on March 7, 2014 at Fyrish on the Corentyne. There a mother of four, Patricia Samaroo, was murdered and her sister Annetta Samaroo was shot in the abdomen. Annetta has survived but the views expressed were that the wrong person was killed. Again there was no apparent motive as robbery was not a consideration. Is it a coincidence that Annetta Samaroo is a key witness in the murder of her husband and that case is still to be heard in the High Court in Berbice?
There is a need to have some sort of witness protection plan for key witnesses in high profile cases. Attention should be drawn to a trial which is going on as this letter is being typed. One of the witnesses in this particular case is refusing to return to court to be cross-examined because he is afraid for his life. And to further interrupt the smooth swing of the long arm of the law there was a rush to have photographs of a witness taken.
I would like to ask all those who are reading this letter how they should view this photo shoot. Were I that witness I would have been wanting to know why my photograph was being taken. Should this witness be protected? Should a proper and very thorough investigation be launched into this unheard of action during a trial? I am just curious and also appalled at these happenings in the middle of a trial.
Yours faithfully,
Charrandass Persaud
