Ramjattan, SOCU officials “sip wine” after arrest operations

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, along with top officials of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), congregated at a popular city café on the evening of the second day after former prominent Government officials were hauled in for questioning and in some cases, arrested and detained.

SOCU Head Sydney James; British Adviser to SOCU, Dr Sam Sittlington and Minister Ramjattan were seen clinking glasses in an extremely celebratory atmosphere in the dimly lit café on Wednesday evening.

Ramjattan confirmed to Guyana Times on Thursday that he and the SOCU officials were having some drinks at the popular spot, which usually is not opened to the public after dark.

According to Ramjattan, he went to “have a glass of wine” with the SOCU officials as they celebrated Dr Sittlington’s work here in Guyana.

The former Police investigator from Northern Ireland explained that he was only required to provide advice to SOCU for a few months.

This celebratory event comes on the heels of resounding cries that the Executive has been giving orders to SOCU to attack former Government officials as part of its witch-hunting exercise.

Just one week before SOCU arrested some of the former officials, Ramjattan had threatened charges against them.

Following the egregious arrest of former top Government officials by agents of SOCU of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), the Government issued a public statement, dismissing allegations that SOCU’s actions were in any way part of a political vendetta. It stated that SOCU was operating independently and without any interference or direction. Meanwhile, in a statement issued Thursday, former Attorney General Anil Nandlall questioned recent comments made by Dr Sittlington, including whether or not he was operating under the auspices of the British High Commission in Guyana.

He said, “I note that Mr Sam Sittlington has taken the liberty of making statements which have political underpinnings, and seems to be functioning as part of the operations of SOCU.”

“As a result, I now question his role in the law enforcement process of Guyana. Is he operating under the auspices of the British High Commissioner in Guyana? If so, then one will have to assume that there is some linkage between his actions and the British Government. This must be clarified by the British High Commissioner,” Nandlall added. Guyana Times tried unsuccessfully to reach the UK High Commissioner to clarify this matter; this publication will follow up the issue.