Minister of Home Affairs, Ronald Gajraj approved the upgrade of the firearm licence of suspected death squad member, Axel Williams.

Following the approval, Commissioner of Police, Floyd McDonald issued a letter officially permitting the upgrade for Williams, despite his killing of a vendor a year before.

The top of a letter written by Williams on May 23, 2003 to McDonald, requesting the upgrade, carries the signature of Gajraj stating that he (Gajraj) had approved the upgrade of the licence on July 4, 2003.

On February 16, during the swearing in of Commissioner of Police Winston Felix, Gajraj when asked whether he had given instructions to McDonald for the upgrading of Williams' firearm licence, simply stated, "I don't recall so doing."

Gajraj had also stated that the commissioner had certain responsibilities with respect to the issue of firearm licences and that even if such instructions were to come, whether from him or anybody else, he would expect the commissioner to exercise the discretion he considered appropriate.

The approval by Gajraj on July 4th was followed by McDonald's letter to Williams dated July 18 informing him that approval was given for him to be issued with a firearm licence to use a 9mm pistol/revolver.

This latest bit of information is likely to add to calls for the minister to be investigated in relation to what he knew about Williams and an alleged death squad. Gajraj could not be reached for comment yesterday. In recent weeks he has not made himself available to the media except for when he attends public functions.

In his application letter to McDonald, Williams, who gave a South Ruimveldt address, stated that he was the driver of HA 7969 and also the licensed holder of a .32 pistol.

"Because of the recent crime rate in the country and hire-car drivers are [being] targeted at gunpoint and their vehicles being taken away, I am seeking your permission to have my .32 pistol upgraded to a 9mm pistol/revolver which will enable me to be in a better position to defend myself, if being attacked."

Sources had told this newspaper that 9 mm pistol licences are only issued to businessmen in high-risk businesses such as gold mining and cambio.

Gajraj's approval came despite Williams having shot and killed food vendor Rodwell Ogle on August 8, 2002 and an inquest being ordered. Williams himself was killed on December 10, 2003 amid allegations that he was a member of the death squad formed to kill criminals.

When McDonald was asked just before he had retired about the letter approving the upgrade he had told Stabroek News that after being in the force for many years he did not deserve to be harassed.

At the swearing in of Felix, Gajraj had also said that it was the then Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Dennis Hanomansingh who advised that Williams' firearm be returned to him and it was the DPP who also advised that an inquest be held.

"Because it would appear that when the initial advice was given there were certain pieces of evidence that were not in the file and having had the benefit of those pieces of evidence, in particular the cause of death of (the vendor) Rodwell Ogle, he considered it appropriate to render such advice," Gajraj had said. Ogle died a few weeks after he was shot.

The police had taken a statement from Ogle before he died and the DPP chambers issued the advice to hold a coroner's inquest on September 12, 2003. Earlier advice that same day from an attorney in the DPP's Chambers had recommended a murder charge.

Deputy DPP, Roxanne George, who is currently performing the functions of DPP, had acknowledged that the original charge was murder and it would have had to be changed by a very senior officer.

She had told this newspaper that the direction to hold the inquest was not in the files at the chambers, but the police had provided the chambers with their file showing the chambers as advising that an inquest be held.

The inquest was not held.

George Bacchus, a self-professed informant for an alleged death squad, had said that Gajraj had knowledge of the group's activities. Gajraj has dismissed the allegations as speculation.

But he has admitted that Williams had called him on several occasions. Telephone records, which this newspaper has seen, indicated that Williams made several calls to the Home Affairs Ministry and to the residence of a ministry official. The records show calls made to Williams' cell phone including three on November 24 from a number said to be from the official's residence.

The minister had said Williams was only one of several people who had been in contact with him on several telephones.

Since Williams' demise there has been a marked reduction in the number of unexplained executions.