Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum has stated that the Guyana Police Force (GPF) is transforming intelligence information into evidence in order to locate Joshua David and Delon Alexander, who it is hoped are still alive, despite the fact that the information does not point to a positive outcome.
Blanhum emphasised that after a person’s disappearance, seven years must pass before the person can be presumed to be dead.
The Crime Chief told reporters that the intelligence information, which cannot be disclosed at this time, does not suggest anything favourable. The GPF is also working with sources, he added. Blanhum said they are hoping that the information that was disseminated to them is untrue and that the men are alive.
The abduction of two men over the past few months has raised safety concerns for their families.
David’s abduction on September 26 on Main Street, Georgetown was captured on video by someone in a vehicle who then forwarded it to reporters. In the video, five men could be seen pushing David across Main Street as he attempted to fight them off.
David, called ‘Bricks’, passed a birth milestone in October and family and friends posted pictures and memorabilia of him on several social media sites. He is yet to be found.
Meanwhile, seven men accused in his abduction were released on $500,000 bail each when they appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on October 11.
The seven Georgetown residents – Wayne Barker, 34, of Lot ‘G’ Norton Street, Lodge; Aaron Alleyne called ‘Cats’, 26, of Lot 9 West La Penitence; Davantai Mars called ‘Sharkie’, 21, of Lot 148 Middle Road, La Penitence; Damion Barlow, called ‘Dangles’, 32, of Lot 47 Norton Street, Wortmanville; and Dwayne Griffith called ‘Sheik’, 24, of Lot 68 William Street, Kitty – were not required to enter pleas. Bail came with the condition that they report every Friday between 08.00 hrs and 16:00 hrs to the DDO or Station Sergeant at the Brickdam Police Station.
Alexander called ‘Portmore’, a former policeman, was abducted on May 7 in Buxton, East Coast Demerara. Stabroek News understands that the abduction was also caught on camera and the suspects were seen forcing the man into a vehicle.
Police had issued wanted bulletins for Mark Cromwell known as ‘Diamond’, 42, of Lot 40 Vigilance and Lot 10 Buxton, East Coast Demerara, and Kevral Hatton known as ‘Smokey’, 26, of Lot 36 Vigilance, East Coast Demerara.
The police are urging anyone with information on the whereabouts of Cromwell and Hatton to contact them on 227-1149, 225-8196, 227-1611, 268-2328, 268-2329, 226-3405, 225-6978, 333-3876, 225-8196, or the nearest police station.
Alexander also passed another birth milestone recently and the family is still hopeful that he is alive.
It was reported that Alexander had left home on May 7 to purchase building materials at Best Buy, Strathspey, East Coast Demerara. Shadah Alexander, Delon’s sister, told Stabroek News in an interview, that after her brother bought the materials, he went to Church of God Road, Buxton, for pastries and bread.
According to Shadah, eyewitnesses related that four men approached in a car. One exited the car and allegedly said, “The boss man want see you,” to which Alexander responded, “No boss can’t want see me.” Another man exited the car with a handgun, shot him in the leg, and pushed him in the car, the sister said she was told.
On May 8, the family visited a business establishment and viewed the CCTV footage. On Friday they returned to retrieve the footage but were told that it was discarded. However, the family was contacted by several eyewitnesses who stated that Cromwell popularly known as ‘Diamond’ was seen pushing Alexander into the car.
According to them, Alexander’s last words were, “I want people see what y’all doing me.”
Shadah said the residents who contacted them were fearful for their lives. The family then visited the Vigilance police station to report the incident on May 10 and the ranks allegedly told them that they would not be involved in the matter because they did not want Cromwell to cause a riot. The family later visited the Cove and John police station to report the incident and met with an officer who allegedly told them that sources had reported to the police that Delon was shot in the left thigh and badly beaten.
The ranks at the Cove and John Police Station who were on duty at the time promised to retrieve the CCTV footage.
According to Shadah, on several occasions the officer at the police station promised to update them on the investigation but they were never contacted. The family then reported the matter to Georgetown district. Two eyewitnesses volunteered to accompany them to the CID Headquarters on Vlissengen Road and as they entered the building, two men known to be associated with Cromwell who were in the building, allegedly intimidated them.“So, we standing outside waiting on them to come out after they went in to give statements and the girls come out with them head down. I said ‘girl, what happen’, and she said two men that does be with Cromwell threatened them,” the sister told this newspaper.
Delon’s wife is expecting their baby in December and she was forced to relocate to a relative’s home for her safety.
“All I want he do is please give we what is we own and that is our brother. He had a whole long six months to enjoy he self, let he just give we what belong to we. Please and thank you. Because I am tired,” Shadah added.
There are many cameras around the city and along the East Coast Demerara corridor that are accessible to the GPF, but the police were not able to obtain any licence plate numbers of the cars used for the abductions.
