Protests erupted in Region Five last night after the bodies of two missing cousins were found with wounds in the backdam of Cotton Tree and a coconut farmer has since been taken into custody by the police.
Dead are Joel Henry, 19, and Isaiah Henry, 16, both of Number Three Village, West Coast Berbice.
Police confirmed that a male, 57, from Cotton Tree Village, West Coast Berbice is in police custody in relation to the murders.
The police in a statement last night said they are investigating the deaths of Joel Henry, age 18 years, a labourer and Isaiah Henry, age 16 years, a student, of Lots 26 and 32 Number 3 Village, West Coast Berbice, respectively, which occurred sometime between 5.30 am on Saturday and 3.30 pm yesterday.
The police said that enquiries disclosed that the victims left their homes about 5.30 am on Saturday for Cotton Tree Village to pick coconuts to sell but had not returned as of 8 pm on the said day. This caused the mother of Isaiah to lodge a missing person report at the Blairmont Police Station at 8.30 pm on Saturday and the mother of Joel Henry to lodge a missing person report at 9 am yesterday since neither of them had returned home up to that time.
The police added that around 9 am yesterday, relatives and friends of the victims formed a search party and went into Cotton Tree Village backdam to find the two victims.
“About 15:30 hours on 2029/09/06 while conducting the search in the backdam of the said village (Cotton Tree, WCB) the bodies of Isaiah Henry and Joel Henry were found about 600 feet from each other in clumps of bushes near to a coconut farm.
“Isaiah Henry’s body was seen lying on his back with his head pointing in an eastern direction and feet pointing west. The body was clad in gray short pants, light green long sleeve jersey and bare footed. A wound was seen on his throat, two to (the left side of his head), one on his forehead and one to the left side (of his) chin.
“Joel Henry’s body was found with the upper half in a hole. The body was clad in a black long pants, green long sleeve jersey with white fine stripe and barefooted. The body bore a mark around his throat and bruises on the fingers of his right hand”, the police said.
The police statement said that the scene was processed by ranks of the Crime Scene Unit who observed no blood stains nor weapon around the bodies or within the immediate vicinity.
According to the police, “Further examination of a nearby coconut farm owned by the suspect now in custody showed what appeared to be blood stains on the ground. Also, a coconut peeler and some peeled coconuts were seen at the said location”.
The bodies were escorted to Fort Wellington Public Hospital where they were both pronounced dead by a doctor on duty and were afterwards escorted to Anthony Funeral Home Mortuary where they await a post-mortem examination.
Anger
Anger erupted in Number Three Village yesterday afternoon after news broke that the battered bodies of the missing boys were found.
Isaiah father’s, Gladson Henry, while standing at the head of the dam which leads to the backlands, where his son’s body was found, stated, that his son left home around 5.30 am on Saturday after informing him on Friday that he would be heading to the back dam to pick coconuts.
“He tell me `daddy I going to the back dam’, well we get place in the back dam so me ain’t know he would a go other people place, so I know he going and pick coconut because he left with the bar and a cycle”.
According to the father, they would use the iron bar to peel coconuts but “I does always tell he don’t carry the iron bar to leave it home”.
After the father, a cane harvester, returned home from work and was told by his wife that their son had not yet returned he did not take it for anything until the day progressed and he realized that the lad was nowhere to be found, “Then I say this is serious”.
Henry said that they immediately began searching and after they did not find the boys on Saturday evening they returned early yesterday morning to continue the search in the backlands.
He said, they first saw peeled coconut and shells.
“I say this is a clue and in the side it get the bag with the coconut. Why somebody going in the back dam and pick the coconut and left the bag if is they own”, the father questioned.
The father said this pushed him to continue to search the said area but they did not find the lads. “When police come in I tell the police I believe this is evidence that my son is here and I see the hole where the bar went in, so the police ask me how me certain and sure and I say yes I certain and sure”.
The father pointed out that they also noticed bicycle tracks on the dam leading to the coconut farm, which belongs to a resident of a nearby village.
It was on the third search yesterday afternoon that the group of persons discovered the bodies.
“People try to cover up them tracks they tried to move the body from where they (were) to carry it to other person land to frame other people, but these boys were so strong, they couldn’t manage to kill these boys where they want to kill them because blood show from the dam where the body came from”, the father relayed.
According to Henry, they found his son’s cousin a short distance away from his son’s body. “The cousin roll up and deh down in a hole with a haversack, we couldn’t a see his face cause he went in a hole”.
At the home of Joel Henry, Stabroek News was unable to enter the yard by persons claiming to be relatives of the deceased. “We don’t want Stabroek News here, that is Jagdeo paper. Y’all move from here now”.
A reporter from the National Communications Network was also chased from the area as they told him that Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo is now in charge of NCN.
As Stabroek News and NCN were leaving the area the persons followed them shouting, “The message done going to Jagdeo, ayo na come back here” they said, all the while issuing other threats.
Relatives also lashed out at the police who they said failed to offer any assistance during the search as they said that they were told by police that they had to wait until 24 hours had passed before filing a missing person’s report.
Meanwhile, as of last evening residents in the Numbers 3, 4 and 5 villages were protesting on the roadways. At the main bridge located between Number 4 and 5 village, protesters started a fire. At press time a car was in flames. Commander of Region Five, Edmond Cooper, when contacted last evening said that they have launched a murder investigation. He stressed, that he and his ranks were on the ground working.
During a live feed on the APNU+AFC Facebook page, it was noticed that the commander attempted to get through the protest action at one point by speaking to those gathered but was forced to turn around after protesters began hitting his car as they thought that the suspect was in his vehicle.
President Irfaan Ali last night issued the following statement on the murders:
“It is with a heavy heart that I was informed of the brutal and senseless murder of Isaiah Henry and Joel Henry of West Coast Berbice. I have since spoken to the Minister of Home Affairs and Commissioner of Police urging them to deploy all needed resources to bring the perpetrator(s) to justice. We cannot and would not tolerate this type of brutality in our communities and country.
“I can understand the pain of the families and community and my prayers and thoughts are with you. Whilst we await the swift work of the police to bring those responsible to justice, I urge residents from the communities to be patient and support the police in ensuring justice is served. I ask you to act lawful and responsible in demonstrating your anger and hurt. As President, I can understand the emotions but, I ask that the police be given an opportunity to do their job. I also assure all of you that I have asked for a constant update on the progress of investigations by the Police to be shared with the media, community and country”.
Leader of the Opposition, Joseph Harmon issued the following statement last night on the murders:
“I am sickened and horrified by the gruesome killing of two young boys – cousins, Joel Henry (19 years old) and Isaiah Henry (16 years old) – whose bodies were today found in the village of Cotton Tree, West Coast Berbice.
“Today marks another horrific and tragic day in our beloved country with two boys senselessly cut down in the prime of their youth.
“I, on my own behalf, and on behalf of the APNU+AFC Coalition and all Guyanese, extend deepest condolences to their parents, siblings and relatives who have been thrown into a state of shock and mourning.
“The APNU+AFC Coalition calls for an immediate, full and thorough police investigation into this heinous crime and the apprehension of the killers without any delay. We commit to doing everything necessary to ensure that justice is served in this matter to the fullest extent of the law.
“We recognize and understand the pain, anger and anguish the relatives and villagers of No. 3 Village (where the boys are from) are experiencing at this time. I call on them to remain vigilant but to allow the police to conduct their investigation in a timely manner.
“I shall endeavour to visit with the relatives to extend condolences and offer support in person during the course of the day tomorrow, Monday.
“Finally, in my capacity as Leader of the Opposition, on Thursday last, I formally wrote to the Commissioner of Police (ag) Nigel Hoppie seeking a meeting at his earliest convenience on or before Monday, September 7th. I was most disappointed with the Commissioner’s response, that he is busy and is not available to meet until Friday, September 11th. This is most regrettable and unfortunate and moreso in light of this heinous crime”.
