Slain CANU Deputy Vibert Inniss was laid to rest yesterday in his home village of Mahaicony amidst calls for the police to take back the country from the criminals.
The 40-year-old Inniss of Melanie Damishana, East Coast Demerara was gunned down on August 24 on the Buxton Public Road ECD.
Hundreds flocked to Mahaicony yesterday for a last glimpse of the body of the former Deputy Head of Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU). His bullet-riddled face had been stitched up by morticians yet many could not have recognised him in his casket. Five bullet holes were seen on his face and many who turned up to view his corpse were not able to. From all corners of the tent at Calcutta there was loud wailing.
Head of CANU Bernard Truman in an emotional tribute said the cloud that loomed over CANU after Inniss’ death must not be mistaken for a wet blanket. Standing beneath a tent inside the Calcutta Community Centre Ground, where the funeral service was held, Truman told the mourners: “A soldier has fallen robbed of his life, snatched by cruel cold blooded hands... the lion has been wounded, a poison arrow has pierced his heart. Today we lay our soldier to rest and at the same time remove that poison arrow and return it to the sender”.
He described the killing of Inniss as a despicable act adding that it was a declaration of war. “Civil blood has already made civil hands unclean. The question is for how long? How long shall innocent blood wash our streets? How long must we stand by and watch our fathers die? It is time for us to take back our country.”
Minister of Home Affairs, Ronald Gajraj, described the slain officer as courageous and analytical and called on the other officers to walk in his footsteps. He pointed out that his investigative skills were not only confined to Guyana but he had worked along with officers overseas and had developed good relationships with them. Gajraj urged the mourners to celebrate Inniss’ life rather than mourn his death. “It is therefore incumbent upon his colleagues to take a stand and fight the same fight as Inniss, even onto death.”
The Home Affairs Minister also extended sympathy on behalf of the government and his ministry to the grieving relatives.
Yesterday morning the officer’s body was opened for viewing at the Merriman’s Funeral Home. During this period several dignitaries who did not travel to Mahaicony for the service used the occasion to sign the book of condolence and pay their respects to Inniss’s family and relatives.
Among them were United States Ambassador to Guyana, Ronald Godard; officers of the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA); Director of Public Prosecutions, Dennis Hanomansingh; Minister of Finance, Saisnarine Kowlessar and top officials from the Guyana Police Force, the Guyana Defence Force, the Guyana Prison Service and Commissioner of the Customs and Trade Administration Lambert Marks, who was the former head of CANU. Inniss, known as ‘Colin’ or ‘Boopsie’ was the son of the late William and Millicent Inniss. He was a member of the GPF for 15 years after which he joined CANU. He was known to be a strong and dedicated person and had possessed a special quality of willingness to help others through difficult times and experiences. He leaves to mourn his children; Delmark, Shibiki, Kelly Ann and Shaquille.