Dear Editor,

I refer to an article (23.l.2002) captioned "Attack on C.N. Sharma, no charge laid as yet in which the Public Relations Officer of the Guyana Police Force, Mr. David Ramnarine, stated that the men held by the police were released on bail with the intention of consulting with their lawyers before giving statements to the police.

If one understands the way the police operate in Guyana it will seem strange that the two men arrested by the police while armed with knives that can be considered dangerous weapons would be released after refusing to give their side of the story in writing.

It is important for our newly appointed Commissioner of Police to take full control of the force.

On many occasions, young men and women were arrested for minor offences such as protesting and even vagrancy and were kept in custody for long periods before being charged or released. These men were released hours after their arrest without the police obtaining a medical report on the condition of Mr. Sharma.