More allegations levelled against Cops at 51 Police Station

In the wake of reports that a Corentyne, Berbice housewife was beaten with a baton and her teen son slapped by a Policeman at the Number 51 Police Station, more accusations are being made against what was described as the “unprofessional attitude” of officers at that station.
On Wednesday, a 74-woman reported that an officer at the Number 51 Police Station refused to take a report from her and also verbally abused her.
The woman, Lucille Oudkerk, is also claiming that her house was stoned by the persons whom she went to the station to make a report against. The woman is contending that ranks from the station reportedly called the family and informed the family that she was there to make a report against them.
“I don’t think they will do anything. The last time I went to them they did not even

want to take a statement from me,” the pensioner told Guyana Times.
Oudkerk took her concerns to Freedom House in New Amsterdam hoping that officials there might be able to assist in getting her justice.
According to Oudkerk, on October 28, 2018, she reported that a family member of hers was ripping down her fence. She reported that by damaging the fence, her sheep would be able to leave the yard. She claims that the officer that she made the report to told the relative what she was alleging.
“They come and they cuss me out and say why I go to the Police,” the elderly woman said. She is also claiming that she went to the Number 51 Police Station on November 11, 2018, to make a report and met the same officer.
According to her, the officer refused to take a statement from her.
“He was very abusive to me… he had me waiting from 9 o’clock till after 2:00pm. People come in after me and he take statements from them. When I talk, he tell another Police to come to me and he take out a small book and write down something and say I could go…” the woman stated.
Oudkerk, who lives at Kilturn Village, Corentyne, Berbice, also claims that she was reluctant to report the Tuesday evening incident to the Police.
Meanwhile, the woman, who was allegedly beaten by Police at the Number 51 Police Station last week, and was told to go to the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) on Tuesday which was a holiday, is now losing confidence in that office.
Takurdai Jugnanand’s concerns were raised on Wednesday when she visited the office for a second day. She told Guyana Times that female officers in the office at the time were mocking her as she related her story.
She also noted that even though it has been reported that her 15-year-old son claims that he was slapped by one of the officers at the Number 51 Police Station, they did not invite the boy to the OPR office.
She told this publication that during the meeting, three officers who were at the Police Station were present.
“They did not bring the one that beat me and say that he gone on some course. And one of them who was sitting there when he was lashing me with the baton tell them that he was not there, that he walk out the office.”
Meanwhile, in an invited comment, Divisional Commander Paul Langevine toldGuyana Times that if members of the public are not satisfied with the treatment they receive at Police Stations, they should ask to speak with a senior officer or Sub-Divisional Officer.
Langevine said he is also available at the Central Police Station and is assuring that he will work towards giving persons satisfaction. (Andrew Carmichael)