GHRA calls for civilian committee to oversee police
The Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) is calling on government to establish a Civilian Oversight Committee following reports of the excessive use of force by the Guyana Police Force (GPF) over the past 12 months. In its report entitled 'An Overview of the Performance of the Guyana Police Force', the GHRA yesterday observed that political interference in police matters has not been "consciously acknowledged" over the past two decades. The organisation rapped the PPP/Civic administration for not taking steps to investigate incidents on December 18, last year and June 30, this year, when persons were shot and wounded by police fire, even though it had indicated its commitment to respecting the impartiality of state institutions. "The GPF as an institution needs to be insulated from political interference by the creation of a Civilian Oversight Board appointed in a manner which is demonstrably free of party influence," the GHRA suggested. It accuses government of "lacking the political will" to move forward on this issue noting that such a body should not only be responsible for ensuring that complaints against the police are efficiently and impartially investigated but also advise and monitor "a wide range of policy matters with respect to how law and order is carried out in Guyana". The report notes that over the past 19 years the GHRA has spoken about political interference undermining the operations of the police. It also said that the absence of an Oversight Board has led to a feeling of confidence that the disciplinary measures under the law will not be applied to those in the force who use excessive force. According to the GHRA, over the past year, too, it has underlined the fact that bright and qualified young people are not finding employment in the police force made unattractive because of the poor salaries and conditions and limited advancement opportunities. In fact, the GHRA says that in written reports, submissions to the Crane Commission of Enquiry, and visits to successive home affairs ministers over the years it had said that no serious increase in police efficiency or standards can be expected from the poor level of salaries and career prospects. In addition, the GHRA said, neither the police nor the courts demonstrate enough concern over the rights of victims of crime either to a speedy resolution of cases or to considerations of compensation or other forms of redress. On the issue of excessive force, the Human Rights organisation notes that although there has been a significant decline in the number of fatal shootings since August last year, there was an equally significant rise in non-fatal shootings "and a significant decline in reported cases of police brutality". Figures of fatal and non-fatal shootings, police brutality and deaths in custody totalled 43 for 1995, 41 in 1996 and 65 in 1997. For the year up to June, there have been five cases of fatal shootings, 17 non-fatal shootings and one case of police brutality. The GHRA pointed out that 11 of the 20 cases of non-fatal shootings for last year occurred when police fired on demonstrators outside the Elections Commission office on December 18. Some of the significant fatal shootings by police for last year and up to June this year include that of Julian Bremmer of Linden, who was shot in the lower abdomen on September 24, 1997. Police claimed that the man, who was wanted in connection with an armed robbery on a barber shop, had pulled a pair of scissors on them. Twenty-six-year-old Roy McCurdy, who according to police had thrown a live grenade at a group of policemen was shot three times in his foot, back and chest on November 11. Police say he was deportee wanted on charges of larceny, assault and damage to property. In January this year two men allegedly responsible for the kidnapping and robbery of the Barakat sawmilling family of the Pomeroon, were shot dead. And last month Victor Bourne a 27-year-old resident of Rasville, Roxanne Burnham Gardens was shot dead by police while in his bed. Police say he was wanted in connection with a series of armed robberies and fired at them when confronted. Non-fatal police shootings mentioned by the GHRA included that of 18-year-old Paul Beckles in August last year. The teen was shot in the hip while police were arresting him and a police prosecutor subsequently said he had knives, narcotics and a live bullet on his person. And the GHRA mentioned that on June 30 this year, 14 employees of the Supreme Court were shot and injured while standing outside the court after a bomb threat had forced them to leave the building. Police reportedly mistook them for protesters and opened fire. As regards police brutality, the GHRA report mentions the cases of Simone Fable of Friendship who alleged that police manhandled her and beat her in December last year and Earl McAdam whose attorney said he was beaten by police who accused him of robbery and assault also in December last year. The GHRA was particularly harsh in its criticism of the Police Complaints Authority which it described as irrelevant. "The GHRA is calling for this mechanism to be scrapped and replaced with a genuinely independent procedure for investigating claims against the police," the report said. It felt that further support for this position is provided in the manner in which other forms of official investigation are conducted noting that "protracted delays..lack of purposeful interest" and accommodating the interests of accused rather than the victims, characterises official hearings. The GHRA noted that while this is due in part to a lack of training and experience, the hostility directed to the police force is also due to the fact that it is perceived as an arm of the government of the day rather than the state. It accused the State media of reinforcing this image by rarely reporting incidents of excessive use of force by the police "and demonstrating a readiness to condone actions which should be criticised or condemned." 
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