Govt has no control over rogue elements in law enforcement agencies – VP

…says Police training solid, assures no cover-up in Linden shootings

Condemning the Police’s recent killing of two men in Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo has said that as much as the Guyana Police Force (GPF) trains ranks on the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), it has no control over the rogue elements within law enforcement agencies.

“You can’t predict rogue action… How do you train against it? The [GPF] training is solid; you can’t shoot people just like…,” Jagdeo said in response to a question at his press conference on Thursday about whether Government would now re-examine the operating procedures of the Police Force regarding officers’ confrontation with members of the public.
Earlier this week, a plain clothes Police Officer allegedly shot and killed 21-year-old Ronaldo Peters in Linden. This led to widespread protest action in the mining town, during which another man, 32-year-old Keon Fogenay, was allegedly shot by Police.
Both officers involved in the two shootings have since been placed under close arrest and investigations are ongoing by the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) as well as the Regional Security System (RSS).

During his weekly press conference on Thursday, VP Jagdeo condemned the killings and assured that there will be no cover up for the shootings.
“Once the investigations are done then whatever the outcome is, action would be taken,” he said.
According to Jagdeo, he also spoke with the families of the two victims – both as Vice President and as General Secretary of the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C).
“I spoke with them and I assured them that the People’s Progressive Party and the Government will not cover up anything in relation to these cases; that we are interested in a full, impartial investigation too, and whatever the outcome, the consequences would be felt by those involved,” the VP noted.
On Monday, Peters, a young resident of Wismar, Linden, was reportedly shot by a Police Officer stationed at the Wismar Police Station, prompting widespread anger and street demonstrations demanding justice.
Hours later, the protests escalated dramatically. By early Tuesday morning, protesters flooded the streets of Linden, blocking off several major thoroughfares, and setting ablaze tyres and other debris in the town.
During a stand-off, Fogenay, also called “Dan”, a 32-year-old father of four — was fatally shot by Police as protesters hurdled missiles at them.
According to the Police Force, the shooting occurred during an attempt to disperse protesters who had turned violent, throwing missiles and damaging property. Several Police Officers were also injured during the confrontation.
Followed the tragic turn of events in the mining town, President Dr Irfaan Ali met with the families of the two dead men, in Linden, where he offered his condolences and emphasised the need for calm and compassion during what he described as a “deeply painful” time.
The Government has also committed to fully cover the funeral expenses of the two men who were killed.
The Head of State’s commitment to have a professional investigation was welcomed by the grieving families, with relatives of Peters calling on the public, particularly the residents of the township, to “keep the peace”.
“I want to say to the residents that we are going to ensure with support from independent support, that this matter is dealt with professionally and this should not be exploited politically. This is not a political issue; this is a serious issue,” President Ali had noted during his visit to Linden on Tuesday evening.
Similar sentiments were expressed by VP Jagdeo during Thursday’s press conference as he condemned the Opposition’s politicisation of the tragedy.
“They show up there to stir division. They don’t go there because they love the victims of these tragedies. They show up there to exploit the situation to create division in our country and to generate street protest or mislead people into thinking that no action would be pursued by the State,” Jagdeo posited.
Following the Linden shootings, the Opposition had accused the government of “stoking ethnic insecurity” but according to Jagdeo, this is demonstrative, historically, of the Opposition’s playbook.
“This is how they work, the same playbook all the time… We’re the only party that does not have an interest in stoking ethnic insecurity.
“They didn’t go there to help the people of the Linden or to express sympathy with the families of the victims, they went there because it’s politically expedient for them to do so, to make a racist statement against the PPP and stoke unrest… They do this all the time; they prey on these tragedies,” the VP asserted.
He recalled that a similar situation had played out in the death of Quindon Bacchus, who was unlawfully killed in June 2022 when a team of Police ranks gunned him down at Haslington Housing Scheme, East Coast Demerara.
According to Jagdeo, the Opposition had claimed that the Government would not do anything, which resulted in protest action along the East Coast. However, the Police Officer has been charged and is now before the courts for the killing.
In fact, the Vice President pointed out that Bacchus’s killing is a demonstration of rogue action by an element in the Police Force.