The police are currently seeking legal advice on what course of action to take against the foreign nationals who attacked a miner at Quartzstone, Cuyuni.
While it was initially reported that the two foreigners are Russian nationals, Police ‘F’ Division Commander Kelvin Adonis has confirmed that they are Ukrainians.
Adonis also noted that the men are still in custody as police are seeking legal advice on what action to take against them.
The two men were arrested after police followed up on the incident, which was documented in two videos that were posted on social media by Rickford Burke, head of the New York-based Caribbean Guyana Institute for Democracy (CGID), showing an employee of the Hopkinson Mining and Logistics Company communicating with one of the foreigners.
The Ukrainian, who spoke briefly in English in the video, was then seen laughing as the worker tried to continue his explanation of his company’s claims to the land. The video ended abruptly and the second video showed the confrontation at a later point. The Ukrainian and the mining company’s worker were still in conversation, which then degenerated as the worker was hit by the Russian. After the worker retaliated, the Ukrainian punched the worker, which resulted in a scuffle that lasted a few seconds. The Ukrainian national then stepped back and drew a gun.
The incident was reported to the Bartica Police Station on Sunday and a team was sent two days after. The men were subsequently arrested in the Quartzstone area and were brought to the town. The two men are reportedly employed by West Bank Demerara Gold Inc. and are sworn supernumerary constables and authorised to carry firearms.
However, the police noted that the two men should have been dressed in the prescribed uniform that is approved by the police force’s administration for the company and not as they were seen in the footage.
