A Berbice River resident is seeking answers and compensation from the Guyana Police Force and the Minister of Public Security after a group of policemen unlawfully occupied his home for several days when they were sent to the area to conduct drug raids.
Wayne Halley, 34, a cash crop farmer of Taurnama Creek, right bank Berbice River, said two Fridays ago four boatloads of policemen entered the area and the lawmen occupied his house without his knowledge and consent.
When Stabroek News contacted Divisional Commander of ‘B’ Division Errol Watts he said the issue had been brought to his attention, but he could not comment on it. He explained that according to his understanding, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum was handling the issue.
When contacted, Blanhum asked Stabroek News to call him at a later time, which he specified. However, calls made at that time went unanswered.
Halley said he returned home on Tuesday, December 5 after being informed by the caretaker that police had moved into the house. When he arrived, he found the men in his home and asked them who had given them permission to be there, but got no answers.
Halley added that his caretaker had run away after seeing the number of policemen approaching the premises. “Whenever we see police we would always stay far, because in the bush they beat first and then ask questions,” he said, adding that was possibly why his caretaker ran off.
Halley said that the day before he returned home, Monday, December 4, he had visited the Ministry of Public Security seeking answers as to the intrusion. He said he did not go to the police because he was fearful that the issue would easily disappear. Halley said he did not get to speak with Minister Khemraj Ramjattan as he was in Parliament. However, the minister’s personal assistant promised to relay the issue to the minister. He said he was never contacted by anyone from the ministry and the policemen remained on his premises until the end of the week.
According to Halley, when he arrived home, four boats belonging to the police were docked at his waterfront and his entire yard was filled with ranks. He said he asked the officers why they did not stop at a public property but got no answers.
A video recorded by Halley and seen by this newspaper, showed the four police boats tied up at his dock. He could be heard asking the men who gave them permission to be there, but none of them responded.
The video panned to personal belongings of the policemen scattered around the premises and some policemen washing clothing on the river front. Stabroek News was told that the officers made use of Halley’s rations and his generator and fuel during the night.
The video showed Halley making his way to the top flat of his home and being refused entry by the ranks. The recording then ended abruptly.
It was at this point, Halley said, that the police arrested him and two others asking, “Whey de field deh?”
He stated that after they informed the police that they did not know about the field to which they were referring, the police brutalized the two men who had accompanied him, demanding information. He explained that at the same time, the police had handcuffed him and placed him on his knees as they questioned him. He made it clear that he was not brutalized.
After his interrogation, the Berbice farmer said, the police told him they needed to stay at his house for another six days. However, he said he told the officers that they should go and stay at the school that was not too far away but they refused.
Meanwhile, Halley said, when he and his companions returned to their boat $300,000, which was to be used to pay for gas was missing and when they enquired the officers denied knowledge of it.
“We went back and ask who search we boat but they said is not them. The money was supposed to pay for gas we bought,” he said.
Halley said he is seeking compensation for the mattresses that were used by the policemen and for damage done to his farm. He stated that on the 46 acres of land he had approximately 2,000 pepper plants and majority died since his caretaker was not present at the home as a result of the intrusion by the police.