Working People's Alliance (WPA) executive member, Eusi Kwayana, in his capacity as a private citizen has initiated criminal action against Senior Superintendent Steve Merai of the Anti-Crime Unit or 'Black Clothes' for the murder of Buxton resident Shaka Blair on April 6.

Kwayana, a resident of the East Coast Demerara village and considered by many as a respected elder, swore to an Information on Oath before the presiding magistrate at the Cove and John Magistrate's Court on April 16.

According to a press release, Kwayana, in his complaint, alleged that on April 6, in the East Demerara Magisterial District, Merai murdered Blair at Buxton.

Meanwhile, at a press briefing yesterday at Rodney House, Kwayana indicated that he had introduced the charge in the interest of bringing the suspect to justice, while avoiding the possibility of any person taking the law into their own hands. He further stated that it was intended to employ a forum where Merai had a right of defence, and where he was presumed innocent until the courts reached a conclusion on the issue. This, he stated, was intended to demonstrate that suspects were entitled to a fair trial.

Kwayana said that under the present constitution, only one person was exempt from civil and criminal proceedings in the courts and that is the President of the republic.

Kwayana, referring to persons who have been calling Blair a criminal offender worthy of death, said they should take note of how suspects were dealt with and how it was felt such persons should be dealt with.

In the earlier release informing of his decision, Kwayana indicated that he was not the only person interested in the matter since the deceased had family and political affiliations, which were not his.

According to the information given under oath, Merai, whose address was given as Police Headquarters, Eve Leary, Kingston, murdered Blair, contrary to Section 100 of the Criminal Law Offences Act, Chapter 10:01 of the Laws of Guyana.

Kawyana said yesterday that the action was his third in the capacity of a private citizen, and was taken following advice by Attorney General Doodnauth Singh and Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Gail Teixeira in a televised programme, that persons concerned should approach the court through laid down procedures.

He also noted statements by President Bharrat Jagdeo at a recent press conference on April 19 which described what the Director of Public Prosecutions, Denis Hanomansingh was doing and asked persons to await the process.

Kwayana on two previous occasions had initiated private action in relation to issues which he felt were worthy of legal challenge. The cases involved the disappearance of weapons seized from a home on the East Coast Demerara in which Mohamed Salim, aka 'Beast', was implicated. The other case involved the shooting to death of Campbellville resident Shawn Nedd by a police officer under what he called questionable circumstances.