Dug-up Berbice cemetery: Police complete investigation, file to be sent for legal advice

Police have reportedly completed their investigations into the incident in which graves were dismantled and destroyed by a contractor to access sand at the Rosignol Cemetery, West Coast Berbice, Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice). The cemetery was dug up about two weeks ago, resulting in family members and friends frantically looking for the remains of their loved ones.
On Thursday, Region Five Chairman Vickchand Ramphal told the Region Democratic Council (RDC) that Local Government Minister Anand Persaud had met with aggrieved persons.
“The matter is being looked at, and as a region and a Government, we are very concerned about what would have taken place there at the cemetery, and we are working on addressing the situation,” Ramphal pointed out.
Regional Commander Assistant Commissioner Kurleigh Simon has said the Police have completed their investigation, and will be sending the file for legal advice, but before that, some clarifications are needed from the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), the RDC, and the contactor.
One family had reported on October 6 that the grave of a relative who had been buried in June last had been dug up;
and at least two other families have since come forward to claim that the graves of their loved ones have been dug up and their remains cannot be found.
Regional Vice Chairman Rian Pieters had called in the Police to investigate those claims.
The contractor has since claimed that the portion of the cemetery that was dug up belongs to him, and as such, he does not see it as an issue.
The Rosignol-Zee Lust Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) has since made available plans of the area, which show that the area that was dug up was actually designated a cemetery, and is not the property of the contractor.
Rosignol residents are of the view that the Local Government Ministry is using delaying tactics, since the person who is being accused is a close family member of a senior politician.
The contractor and the NDC were summoned to a meeting with Minister Persaud, and they have presented their respective cases. A third meeting between the parties was expected to be held on Thursday, October 20.
“The matter is being looked at, and as a region and a Government, we are very concerned about what would have taken place there at the cemetery, and we are working on addressing the situation,” Regional Chairman Ramphal has pointed out.