5 months later, family still seeks justice for death of retired cop

– accuses Police of dragging feet during investigation

Five months after retired policeman Fitzroy Hill was killed by a speeding car, justice is yet to be served. On Thursday the Hill family spoke out, urging the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to do the right thing.

Yvonne George, sister to the deceased, told the media that her older brother’s life was snuffed out in an untimely gruesome manner on October 11, 2019. Hill was 62 years old when the incident occurred.
“We have never heard from a family member of him [the person who hit Hill down], we have never heard I am sorry, any apology, no condolences, nothing. I felt it the most because I called my brother the Sunday before his death from Bartica. I asked him what happen my birthday pass you didn’t give me a call…, he called me back on the 8th of October and told me that he is coming down the Friday which was the weekend, that’s when he came and that is when he met his demise,” she said.
According to reports, the speeding car bearing license plate number PRR 1396 which belonged to then Lance Corporal Winston Neville Gouveia, struck Hill while he was standing in front of the Ocean View Hotel, Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown, while he was awaiting a bus.
Ryanna Lewis, the dead man’s niece, is adamant that the GPF is dragging its feet on the case. The family said that they believe that nothing much will be done since Gouveia is attached to the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR), which is responsible for investigating Police ranks who might have been accused of misconduct or the commission of crimes in their professional functions.
“I haven’t been able to confirm, but from what I understand if Police have a matter of such nature ongoing, they cannot be promoted. They are claiming that they are investigating the matter but the person was promoted on January 1st, he was a Lance Corporal and he was promoted to full Corporal. I don’t think they are doing anything.
According to the Hill’s family, they are positive that Gouveia was under the influence of alcohol whilst driving. They said that several eyewitnesses said that the officer was spotted consuming alcohol earlier.
However, when asked, ranks told the family that Gouveia’s blood content was not above the legal limit of alcohol when the breathalyser test was conducted.
The man’s son, Fitzroy Junior, also expressed his disappointment with how his father’s case was handled.
“Not even one time did this man ever come to the hospital, that made us feel worse. We feel like my father’s life isn’t worth it “, he said sadly.
Nevertheless, the relatives of the dead man said when they made contact with ranks of GPF earlier this month they were told that the case is currently at the criminal investigation department (CID). They further stated that they are exhausted with the running around they have been experiencing from the Police Force. The father of two, who served in the Guyana Police Force for over 29 years, was described by his family as a devoted and dedicated individual.
When contacted, Traffic Chief Linden Isles said that the file was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) who recommended that an inquest be conducted.