Dear Editor,
The emoluments received by the Guyana Police Force members derive from the taxpayers of Guyana. The motto of the Force is to Serve and Protect the citizens of this country and not to physically and verbally abuse them.
The abuse of citizens by the police seems to be on the increase. Their general attitude suggests that they believe they can do whatever they like, how they like, and wherever they like with impunity. They think that they are above the law.
The Essequibo Branch of the All-African Guyanese Council has received confirmed reports that a group of armed police ranks, including an officer, brutalized a young African Guyanese (Maxwell Boston) to the extent that he is hospitalized. This unfortunate incident took place at Capoey Lake, Essequibo Coast on Sunday, 14th February, 2016.
We wish to put on record that we are very unhappy with this and other cases of police brutality. We demand that this human rights violation cease immediately. We call on the Minister of Public Security to have an independent investigation done without delay and to take appropriate disciplinary action against those who are found guilty.
The Essequibo Branch of the All African Guyanese Council wishes to inform the Minister of Public Security that we believe in developing good relationships with the Guyana Police Force but this will not be done when members of the Force continue to brutalize our brothers and sisters. The Guyana Police Force’s mandate is to arrest, charge and place before the court, persons who break the laws of Guyana. This mandate does not include brutality.
Yours faithfully,
E V Collins
Chairman
All-African Guyanese
Council
Essequibo Branch
