Ali voices ‘full confidence’ in cops after arrests yield charges for West Berbice murders

President Irfaan Ali yesterday expressed “full confidence” in the Guyana Police Force (GPF) after its recent arrests resulted in charges against three persons over the murders of West Coast Berbice (WCB) cousins Isaiah and Joel Henry.

Ali described the development as a step forward for the country.

“This was very important for us nationally and now it’s a step forward and I am very, very happy,” Ali said.

He was at the time speaking to reporters at the sidelines of an event held at State House.

The President said he is “very happy” that progress was made in the months-long investigations.

“I have full confidence in the police force and the ability of the Crime Chief and his team and I am very happy that we have made such great progress in this matter,” Ali stated.

Meanwhile, Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn told reporters yesterday morning that despite all the critiques faced in recent months, the case appears to have been “fairly” and “quickly” resolved.

According to Benn, the fact that the law enforcement officers were successful in getting to this stage in the matter shows that the Guyana Police Force is capable of engaging “difficult things” in a “fair” manner.

“The fact that we have done this particularly by ourselves shows that we have the capability,” Benn said, while adverting to what he described as attempts at “interfering with and confusing the investigations and also putting out doubts and malicious suggestions that we do not have the ability and capability to solve this problem.”

He added, “we will now await the outcome of the judicial review of the manner.”

Isaiah, 16, and Joel, 18, went missing on Saturday, September 5th, 2020 after they left home for the Cotton Tree backlands to pick coconuts. Their mutilated bodies were found the next day.

Three men including two brothers were yesterday charged with the murders and remanded to prison.

The men were arrested by the police on January 10th and January 11th. One of them provided the police with a recorded statement detailing his involvement in the murders.

He implicated his two accomplices, who denied the allegation.

The suspect who confessed told investigators that the Henrys were allegedly murdered over the destruction of a quantity of marijuana plants.

Given the nature of the crime, Benn was asked about the level of security which will be provided to the trio while they are in custody awaiting the hearing of their respective matters.

He said the Guyana Police Force will have to ensure that they are “safe” and “securely” kept.