GPF’s “moonlighting” policy to be reviewed – VP Jagdeo

– Police again slams Bascom for “blatant lies”

In light of the controversy surrounding Police Sergeant Dion Bascom, who made some damning allegations of a cover-up by senior ranks in the murder of Ricardo “Paper Shorts” Fugundes, and recent reports thereafter that suggested that he was on the payroll for an Essequibo businessman, the Guyana Police Force’s moonlighting policy could be reviewed.
The Police Force’s moonlighting policy allows for ranks to provide services for businesses such as Police escort and security at public events, for which they get paid.

However, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo during a recent press conference stated that the Government must relook at the policy and come up with a safer way to execute what it entails.
“This is sanctioned practice of the Police and it has gone on for many many years, including the five years of APNU, and so the policy is that the Police help to escort the gold, these gold purchasers when they buy the gold, the Police are then paid. It’s a standard practice; every year of APNU it took place, it didn’t happen recently and they escort the gold down to Georgetown or wherever they are kept.”
“We have to find another safe way in doing this because when this happens there’s a cosiness that develops between elements in the Police and these people because of that relationship…they are working legally but the cosiness starts developing there and therefore things has to change,” the VP further explained.
Nevertheless, Jagdeo noted that the PPP/C Government stands by the decision to have the GPF conduct a full and complete investigation into the matter with external support, and more so, it will not condone any illegal acts on the part of any of the persons accused by Bascom to be involved in the murder.
The VP also stated that the issue is a top priority for President Dr Irfaan Ali, who is expected to address same when he returns from Trinidad and Tobago.
Days after being busted along with others by the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) with cocaine, Sergeant Dion Bascom claimed during a Facebook Live that he was being set up and alleged that a senior Police officer is covering up the murder of Ricardo “Paper Shorts” Fagundes, who was gunned down outside a popular Main Street, Georgetown night spot more than a year ago.
Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken had ordered the Office of Professional Responsibility to investigate the matter and that probe has been completed. The findings and recommendations were sent to the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for legal advice before any action is taken.
“Let better judgement prevail. Wait on the advice of the DPP, and then we are going to initiate [actions] based on the advice,” the Police Commissioner had stated.

While the details of the probe are unknown, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum during a recent press conference debunked the allegations being peddled by Bascom.
Since making these allegations the Sergeant is now facing several lawsuits running into millions of dollars from the senior cop along with a prominent businessman and his private security guard, whom the cop also fingered in the cover-up allegations.
Bascom, through his lawyer, has since written President Dr Irfaan Ali for witness protection after reportedly being threatened.
In the letter to President Ali, Bascom claimed that even though he was directed to arrest a person of interest in the case, the person had advance warning and subsequently called to threaten him.

But the Protected Disclosure Act of 2018, states “(1) Where a person seeks to make a disclosure in pursuance of this Act, in relation to a matter that would prejudice the national security, defence, or international relations of Guyana, the closure shall be made to the President, the Minster or the Ministers responsible for National Security. (2) The President, the Minister, and the Ministers responsible for public security shall establish and cause to be operated procedures for receiving, investigating or otherwise dealing with disclosures made under subsection (1).”
On this note, the President Ali had stated that he was yet to see the content of the letter, but once he has a look at it he will address the issue.
Meanwhile, on Friday, Bascom and his attorney Nigel Hugues again made several statements in connection with the case but the Guyana Police Force was quick to point out several discrepancies.
The Force reiterated that it is currently being assisted by an internationally recognised law enforcement agency in conducting the Ricardo Fagundes murder probe. Further, it stated that items recovered from the crime scene were also sent overseas for analysis and are still to be returned.
Further, the Guyana Police Force firmly reiterated that at no time whatsoever was Bascom at the crime scene on official duty. And any such claims made by Bascom during the press conference are blatant lies. During the murder investigation, Bascom had reportedly informed one of his superiors that a popular businessman from Essequibo was using him to go after Mark Richmond, who is known to him. Investigators have knowledge that Bascom and the said businessman are close friends.
Mark Richmond is also part of the security detail for one of the Essequibo businessman’s competitors.