Former army Chief of Staff Gary Best, who collided with former national cyclist Jude Bentley over the weekend yesterday announced the suspension of his public campaign appearances in an effort to facilitate the ongoing police investigation into the fatal accident.
Best, who has been released on $100,000 station bail, made the announcement yesterday in a brief statement that was released to the media.
“As a result of the February 8, 2020 accident that I was involved in, and the subsequent loss of the life of Mr. Jude Bentley, I’m suspending, out of reverence for the dead and respect for his family, my public campaign appearances,” Best said.
In the statement, Best said that the decision will also allow the investigation to proceed “fairly, professionally and without hints of interference”.
He also sought to offer words of comfort to the family of Bentley. Best said he deeply regrets the accident. “Once again, to the family of Jude Bentley, my heart pains me for your loss, which I deeply regret and wish you can find strength in the Lord at this most difficult time. I will continue to uplift you all up in my prayers,” he said.
Best, a retired Rear Admiral, was arrested by police on Saturday morning after the fatal accident. He was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospi-tal on Sunday morning after he complained of feeling unwell. While there, he was under police guard.
On Monday afternoon, Best was discharged from the hospital. Hours after he was placed on bail and his passport was lodged.
Bentley was struck while cycling along Clive Lloyd Drive by a vehicle driven by Best. The accident occurred at approximately 4.31 am in the vicinity of the northern side of the Russian Embassy as Bentley, 41, of Lot 33 Robb Street, Georgetown, was on his way to meet a group of cyclists for training. Best, who was driving an SUV, #PRR 8182, was proceeding in the same direction.
In a statement issued on Saturday night, the police, who did not name Best, but identified him as a 61-year-old resident of Sparen-daam, East Coast Demerara, said he disclosed that he was proceeding east along the southern lane. He alleged that the cyclist suddenly appeared in front of him and that he applied brakes and the right side of the front of his vehicle collided with the cyclist, who fell onto the roadway and sustained injuries.
After the impact, the vehicle dislodged a lamp pole on the southern side of the road.
The police said on Saturday that Bentley was pronounced dead at the accident scene. Best failed a breathalyser test.
An autopsy later revealed that Bentley died as a result of multiple injuries.
Commander of Region 4(A) Edgar Thomas yesterday told Stabroek News that the investigation of the accident was still ongoing.
Sources had told this newspaper that at the time of the accident, Best was heading home after leaving a city nightspot. He reportedly told the police at the scene that he did not see Bentley since he was not wearing any reflectors and had no lights.
However, Bentley’s relatives have since denied his claim, while noting that he was “fully geared”. Their position has been supported by a short video from the camera of a vehicle that recorded Bentley cycling minutes before he met his demise.
In the video, which was uploaded to Facebook, Bentley can be seen riding east along Carifesta Avenue, approaching the Kitty roundabout. From a distance, a red “blinking” light can be seen at the rear of his bicycle.
Best said he tried to avoid hitting Bentley but still came into contact with the bicycle. Bentley was dragged several feet away from the point of impact before the vehicle came to halt.
‘Deeply hurt and distraught’
Relatives and friends of Bentley have since called for justice.
A petition has been created online for justice for Bentley. To date, it has been signed by hundreds of persons.
Bentley’s partner, Fonah McWatt yesterday explain-ed to Stabroek News that the family feels like a “great injustice” has been done to them following the release of Best.
“We are deeply hurt and distraught… we understand and respect the course of justice… we actually are hoping that at some point or the other we get an entire revamp of the justice system where somebody is dead, vehicular homicide and there is a death, it should not be bailable,” McWatt explained.
She said the family has not been hearing from the police about the progress of the investigation and eagerly wants to know what will be the next step.
“No one has reached out to the family to explain to us what’s going on. No one is trying to tell us what is happening. I want to know what’s going to happen to this man (Best),” she said.
McWatt further stated that the family is trying to remain hopeful that justice will be served.
“We know how the system works. We really feel like injustice is happening here. We are hoping to have faith in the system but the system is not looking as though it is going to go our way at all. We are trying to trust the system and have faith,” McWatt explained.
