Ramjattan seeking explanation for police occupation of Berbice man’s house
Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan has asked for an explanation from the Guyana Police Force in relation to the complaint lodged by a Berbice River resident that police ranks occupied his home without his consent.
Ramjattan told Stabroek News on Thursday that he was made aware of the complaint lodged at his office by Wayne Halley whose home was occupied for approximately two weeks. Ramjattan said that he has requested an explanation from the Commissioner of Police, Seelall Persaud.
According to the Minister, the ranks should be investigated by the Police Office of Professional Responsibility. According to Halley, a cash crop farmer of Taurnama Creek, on the right bank of the Berbice River, three Fridays ago four boatloads of policemen entered the area and the lawmen unlawfully occupied his house without his knowledge and consent.
He said that four boats belonging to the police were docked at his waterfront and his entire yard was filled with ranks. He said he continuously asked the officers why they did not stop at a public property but got no answers. He was interrogated by the lawmen and questioned on the location of marijuana fields, however he denied any knowledge of fields and was later released.
After the interrogation, the Berbice farmer said, the police told him they needed to stay at his house for another six days. However, he said he told the officers that they should go and stay at the school that was not too far away but they refused.
Halley said he is seeking compensation for the mattresses that were used by the policemen and for damage done to his farm. He stated that on his land he had approximately 2,000 pepper plants and the majority died since his caretaker was not present at the home as a result of the intrusion by the police.