Barker reportedly complained of feeling unwell before being sent on duty
BIG Smith Crime Watch has received information that Police Constable Ronel Barker, the driver of the ill-fated police car which was heading to serve as the ‘sweep car’ in the presidential convoy on Tuesday morning, reportedly told a Police Sergeant that he was not feeling well but was nevertheless ‘forced’ to work according to a police source.
Barker was reportedly detailed to drive the sweep car for the presidential escort and at the time of the crash, was racing to meet with rest of the team which was already at the president’s private residence at Pearl, East Bank Demerara when he collided with a car owned and driven by the Guyana Defence Force Sargent, killing five persons in the process.
Yesterday efforts by Big Smith Crime Watch to confirm from two senior police sources if indeed Barker indicated his inability to perform the escort were unsuccessful.
The Ministry of the Presidency has announced that President David Granger has ordered a Commission of Inquiry into the horrific East Bank Demerara crash that claimed the lives of five persons including the policeman and a Guyana Defence Force Sargent.
I would like you to know that this shocking event will be thoroughly investigated. In fact, soon after the accident, within two hours, I directed the acting Commissioner of Police, Mr. Nigel Hoppie to launch an inquiry headed by a person no lower in rank than the Deputy Commissioner, to determine how such an accident could have occurred and also to make recommendations to prevent a recurrence,” the Head of State told the Public Information and Press Service.
In two earlier statements Minister noted that the president extended condolences to the families and friends of the deceased as well and clarified that the time of the accident, the car driven by the police man was not part of the presidential convoy.
Also in a statement last evening, the Guyana Police Force issued a statement where they identified the dead persons and provided addresses for their relatives.
