West Berbice businessman allegedly beaten by road contractor

– stunned to be told matter settled after inquiring about it at DPP

A West Coast Berbice (WCB), Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) businessman claims that seven weeks after he was attacked and beaten by a contractor, which resulted in him suffering a fractured skull and leg, he is now being told that the matter has been settled.
Rajeshwar Arjune 38, a refrigeration technician of 116 Experiment Bath, says there is a contractor who has been upgrading a street at Experiment Bath Housing Scheme, WCB since November. According to the technician, who also runs a small grocery shop, the contractor has been blocking access to the eastern half of the street with some of his machinery.

He explained that on December 20, last he was prevented from entering his street because of the blockage, and asked the contractor when he will be moving the truck, which was parked across the street preventing access to the eastern half of the street resurfaced several months ago, and on which the contractor was not working.
According to Arjune, he was told that the truck will be removed in about 30 minutes and he sat waiting in his car for forty minutes. He said he then got out of his car and used his phone to make a video recording of what was happening and told the contractor that he was going to send it to President Irfaan Ali.
This Arjune said resulted in a virtual confrontation. Nevertheless, he eventually used another road to get home and subsequently telephoned the Clerk of Works who is attached to the Region Five, Regional Democratic Council (RDC) who promised to come on the scene.
Arjune said at about 19:30h the Clark of Works came to his home and invited him to go out to the contractor so that they can have the issue resolved.
“When I reached there, the Clerk of Works called me aside and told me if I have any video let me delete it. I tell him that I will make another video and let Irfaan Ali see the substandard work that you all are doing. The contractor turned to me and said Irfaan Ali is [expletive] your mother. My wife told me for us to go home because they want to make trouble. While walking away the contractor threatened me two times saying that he would finish me,” he recalled.

Arjune is alleging that after a verbal confrontation between the contractor and himself, he and his wife were leaving when he was physically attacked by the contractor.
“The man rush up to me and cuff me in my head. While I am trying to defend myself, his son come from behind and punch me in my back. His son say this can’t finish so, blood have to shed here. The contractor get hold of my hands and his son get a wood and lash me in my head.”
Arjune said he regained consciousness at the Fort Wellington Hospital and was told by his wife that he was out for about thirty minutes.
According to the technician, he underwent several tests which revealed that he had a fractured skull and leg. He now uses a crutch to move around.
The man told this publication that he contacted the female investigating police officer on several occasions and based on what he was being told he decided to visit the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
“When I went there and they called Fort Wellington Police Station they were told that the matter is settled… I never reached the man or any police besides giving the statement,” he said.
Meanwhile, Arjune says that the blocking of the street has been putting a strain on his business and since that is now his only source of income with four children to send to school, it is very difficult for him.
“We are not getting anything; water truck and grocery truck can’t come in. Every day that man is blocking the street. When he is not blocking it with the cement mixer, he is blocking it with the water truck or the trunk that he have cement on,” Arjune related.
Efforts to contact the Regional Police Commander Michael Kingston have so far proved futile.