The PNC/R yesterday called for the immediate arrest of members of Target Special Squad and his ranks, following the shooting to death of Buxton resident, Shaka Blair on Saturday.

The party claimed that in any part of the world as long as someone is killed by the police under such circumstances as Blair was, the officer/s would be stripped of all responsibilities and suspended from performing any duties until the investigations are completed.

The party also called for the immediate formation of a commission of inquiry, to examine the functioning of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and to make recommendations for its reorganisation to meet the uncontrolled crime situation, to review all claims and allegations of extra-judicial killings and make findings leading to the prosecution of those responsible and to critically assess the necessity of an anti-crime unit attached to the GPF and the future management and functioning of such a unit.

Following a press conference where it outlined its position on the incident at its headquarters at Sophia, the party mobilised a group of Buxtonians mainly female who armed themselves with placards and proceeded to the office of Commissioner of Police (ag), Floyd McDonald, at Eve Leary. There four members of the party's central executive held discussions with McDonald. While in the meeting the protestors peacefully displayed their placards and chanted while they marched around. When the team, led by Raphael Trotman, emerged from the meeting, the protestors were briefed on what transpired.

Trotman reported that McDonald had not refuted claims by Blair's wife and others, who maintained that Blair wasn't linked to the crimes as was claimed by the police. According to Trotman the commissioner also could not say whether Blair's name was on the wanted bulletin, but he urged that persons who have other versions of what the police submitted to go forward and give statements. Meanwhile later in the afternoon, Trotman, Deborah Backer, Vincent Alexander and relatives of Blair also met Minister of Home Affairs, Ronald Gajraj, at his office on Brickdam.

Buxton residents also protested peacefully outside Gajrai's office. Trotman reported at the end of the meeting, which lasted for over two hours, that they called on him to disband the 'Black Clothes Squad' forthwith, but the minister didn't seem prepared to take such a stand. Rather he assured them that an overall reformation of the force would be done to purge it of the bad image it bears.

The minister also agreed, according to Trotman, to allow for the setting up of a commission of inquiry into the operations of the police force in general with special emphasis on the recent spate of extra-judicial killings allegedly committed by members of the 'Black Clothes'. He further promised to launch an immediate investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Blair and argued that even though there have been conflicting reports about the man's death no one had come forward to refute the police's claims. Trotman said that Gajraj expressed sympathy to Blair's relatives who were also part of the meeting and assured them that he would do whatever possible to resolve the problem.

Earlier, at the press conference, Trotman said that the party condemned the brutal murder of Blair in the presence of his wife and children. According to him, Blair was well known as a community leader and activist in Buxton and had earned his living as a mason, a small contractor and an operator of a hi-fi music system for hire. He said that the manner of his death and the fabricated explanations publicised by the Police Public Relations Department was an affront to the many witnesses, the village and all the self-respecting people of Guyana. "Of greater concern, however, is the clear signal that the police intend to cover-up this heinous crime committed in the name of law enforcement by maligning the character of this young man."

Trotman said that if police wanted Blair indeed no explanation could be given for the manner of the police operation when he was in public view all week in the village and was in the police compound at Vigilance Magistrate's court on April 4, dealing with a family dispute. "More bizarre is the fact that Shaka Blair was shot while making a telephone call to the Vigilance Police Station requesting police assistance in what he mistakenly believed was an intended robbery by bandits," he said.

"The PNC/R is convinced that the murder of Blair was and is part of a wider conspiracy by the People's Progressive Party/Civic administration to divert attention from the serious problems facing the country's economy and to foment unrest in Guyana, thus providing an excuse for repression." Trotman contended that the party will neither be distracted, nor diverted from its course of action. The party will hold a protest march today, which will commence at about 12 noon. The march will move off from the Square of the Revolution.

Meanwhile, he noted that today marked one year since the death of Donna McKinnon, who died under strange circumstances, which to date have neither been investigated nor has the death been the subject of an inquest despite orders by the High Court that an inquest be held. "The failure to have inquests as required by law for many persons killed under strange circumstances over the past five years must be a matter of concern to all law-abiding citizens."

Trotman said it was evident that citizens' fundamental human rights would be continuously trampled upon unless they demonstrated their concerns, so that their voices were heard.