No report forwarded on Shaka Blair's death to police complaints body
Stabroek News
May 3, 2002
To date no report or statement has been forwarded to the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) by the Guyana Police Force on the April 6 shooting death of Buxtonian Shaka Blair.
Chairman of the Police Complaints Authority Cecil Kennard
noted that the PCA act required the police to submit statements and a report in instances where police officers had discharged their weapons in the course of duty.
Blair was controversially shot by the police at Buxton and the manner of his death is now engaging the attention of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Kennard, former Chancellor of the Judiciary, was recently appointed the new head of the PCA and has vowed to work to ensure that the office is more effective. In the past, the PCA had been heavily criticised for inaction and lack of its own investigative capacity. The body had also complained about the level of cooperation from the police. Following his assumption of office, Kennard had said that he would pursue legislative changes to improve the functioning of the PCA.
The former chancellor told Stabroek News that the only report, minus a statement, that he has in his possession is in relation to the December 2001 shooting in Angoy's Avenue, New Amsterdam where a young Berbician was shot in his leg by a party of policemen.
The 12-year-old, Vincent Griffith Jr, had his left leg below the knee amputated at the New Amsterdam hospital after he was shot by police in the ankle as he emerged from hiding in a wardrobe in the Smythfield/Mt Sinai house. Griffith, a first form student at Berbice High School accompanied by his father Vincent Griffith visited the offices of the PCA earlier this year to solicit its assistance in securing a speedy investigation into the lad's shooting.
Meanwhile, according to Kennard, his office has received some 40 complaints from persons who have visited the PCA on matters which they requested his urgent attention.
The PCA, the chairman stated, has employed an open-door policy to members of the public wishing to air their grievances to freely approach that body.
According to Kennard it was only recently that he had cause to write to the police requesting them to submit outstanding reports and statements for cases in 2000 and 2001, otherwise work is progressing satisfactorily.
On the issue of adequate staffing, Kennard stated that several of the vacancies, which had existed at the time of his appointment have since been filled including those of legal officers and administrative assistant.
The office, he further stated, has also been provided with certain pieces of equipment to aid in its delivery of service including a computer, fax machine and photocopier.