The immolation of Trevor Jameer, a Hopetown farmer who had merely assisted the Police in removing the remnants of the car that had been torched by residents after the driver had accidentally hit a pedal-cycle and electric bike riders, represents a terrifying moment in our present political contretemps. It would appear that we might witness the emergence of another “garrison” two decades after Buxton had been transformed into a state-within-a-state, into which even the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) (in support) could not perform their authoritatively mandated law-and-order functions.
The slippery slope was created when, on the afternoon of Feb 5, the car accidentally hit the two riders and stopped. It should be noted that the driver did not attempt to flee the scene, but bystanders pulled the driver and another occupant from the vehicle and beat him mercilessly. According to the Police, the driver reported to the nearby Fort Wellington Police Station that he had also been robbed of an iPhone and a gold chain. The Police then went to the scene and took the two injured persons to the nearby Fort Wellington Hospital.
The Police report continued, “Public-spirited citizens pulled out the vehicle from the said position to be escorted to the Fort Wellington Police Station. However, several angry residents lifted the vehicle back to the southern side of the road and began to damage the vehicle.” Trevor Jameer must have been one of those “public-spirited citizens”. In the presence of a Superintendent, an ASP and a party of Police ranks, “The crowd became uncontrollable and damaged the front windshield of the tow truck, the side glass, and other parts of the vehicle, and then they set fire to the motor car”. The driver of the car, and his father who had barged into the Police station, were placed under arrest, but no action was taken against the perpetrators of the arson, assault and robbery. The Police said they were “investigating”.
And this is what is troubling. While a certain amount of anger might be generated by any accident in which persons are injured, we have to view the “Hopetown Incident” against the background of other elements similarly taking the law into their own hands. Less than a week before, at Buxton, agents of CANU were in hot pursuit of a suspected drug runner who landed in a canal. The Public Road was blocked by burning debris and a loaded paddy truck was torched in full view of the Police. The perpetrators of the acts of vigilantism obviously believe they have gotten away with another violent act in front of the Police, who must have recognised many in the mob.
In Jamaica, what has been called “garrisons” were created by the two major parties in sections of Kingston. These were controlled by drug lords, “Dons” who pledged loyalty to one party or the other, and would deliver the votes. “Outsiders” – including the Police – were prevented from entering. Many of the murders that place Jamaica at the top of the world’s homicide statistics emanate from these garrisons. In 2002, Buxton, of course, was turned into one of Guyana’s first garrisons outside of the traditional slums of Tiger Bay and Albouystown of the sixties, which were not as centrally controlled.
We are all aware of the mayhem wreaked on the state and community between 2002 and 2008 when, according to one compilation, some 400+ individuals were killed. It is our view that condign action must be taken in such eruptions as Buxton and Hopetown, to prevent a recurrence. We note than it took almost eight months for persons to be charged for the violence perpetrated against vendors at Mon Repos by a mob of protestors, in which there was also arson of vehicles. These attacks might appear “spontaneous”, but occur against widespread calls for them by provocateurs aligned to the Opposition on social media. In terms of the Hopetown modus operandi, there were exhortations to go after individuals who cooperate with the state.
