Police have been advised to compensate Agricola resident Parmadai (only name), who was wounded during a shootout between lawmen and two bandits, according to acting Police Commissioner David Ramnarine.
Ramnarine made the disclosure in a letter to this newspaper in response to a report in Wednesday’s Stabroek News, headlined ‘Agricola woman still awaiting word on probe of police crossfire shooting.’
In his letter, Ramnarine said the police investigation of the shooting has been completed and legal advice was also obtained.
“It was recommended that the incident which resulted in the gunshot injuries sustained by the victim was purely accidental in the circumstances, hence most unfortunate and that the victim should be compensated,” he said.
“The appropriate communication has been transmitted to the relevant authority for consideration to be given in order that the legal advice maybe effectuated. In the circumstances the victim is respectfully advised to be patient, as the possibility of compensation remains active,” he added.
On July 11, Parmadai, of 124 Caesar Street, Agricola, was in her hammock at home resting when she was shot in the buttocks and in her left hand. She was rushed to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, were she was treated before being transferred to a private hospital for medical attention.
Elietha Heeralall, the daughter of the injured woman, had recently told Stabroek News that since the shooting, her mother, who is a seamstress, has not been able to take on any work as she cannot sit for too long.
“Mommy used to be active, always up and about but since she got shot she hasn’t been herself. Anytime she moves about, the injuries begin to swell and she experiences pain… It is not easy to look at her,” Heeralall said.
She added that her family has spent more than half a million dollars on medical care. She noted that the figure does not include the money spent on over-the-counter drugs and on transportation every time her mother has to go to the doctor for a check-up.
Following the shooting, police had said in a statement that ranks went to Fourth Street, Agricola and were confronted by two men who were armed; one had a sawn-off shotgun and the other had a handgun. As the police ranks approached the suspects, they “opened fire on the lawmen who adopted tactical positions and returned fire; during the exchange, the suspect with the shotgun was injured.”
A probe by the police force’s Office of Professional Responsibility was launched after residents accused the police of firing the shots that hit the woman.
