Deputy Commissioner and team visits injured ‘hero’ ranks

Deputy Commissioner Graham, Divisional Commanders Stephens, and Brutus along with other officers visit an injured and hospitalized police rank

A police rank receives a hamper from force welfare officer Jewel Hayles-Sullivan

A team of police officers headed by Deputy Commissioner of Police (operations) Maxine Graham paid a visit to a number of police ranks who were injured on Friday when protestors turned their wrath on them as they, the rank sought to maintain law and order in West Berbice.

The visit comes following repeated calls by this publication since Thursday for the Police Commissioner and his administration team to become visible and for them to show some sort of direct empathy to the junior ranks who have been facing the brunt of the post-election stress, unrest, and violence over the last few days.

“Ranks of the Guyana Police Force who were injured while executing their duties during protest actions at Bush Lot, Bath Settlement and Cotton Tree Villages, West Coast Berbice were yesterday (March 7, 2020) visited and presented with hampers” a statement from the Guyana Police force noted on Sunday.

In addition to Deputy Commissioner Graham, other members of the team included the Commanders of Regional Police Divisions 5 & 6, Superintendent  Yonette Stephens and Senior Superintendent Calvin Brutus as well as the Force’s Welfare Officer, Deputy Superintendent Jewel Hayles-Sullivan.

According to the police statement, Deputy Commissioner Graham assured the ranks of the administration’s full support in ensuring their complete recovery which includes receiving all the necessary and required counseling.

Deputy Commissioner Maxine Graham speaks with an injured police rank 

The injured ranks are Sergeant Punit Nuth Ibaran, W/Constable Shomeika Wickham, Constable Ron Grant, W/Constable Tussie Walleson and Constable Jafta Fraser.

Protestors on Friday have police officers running away from an area in Cotton Tree as they attempted to quell and disburse the gathering which has been wreaking havoc on passers-by including children as well as causing damage to public infrastructure and private property.

One man who reportedly attacked a policeman with the cutlass was shot and killed in the process of unrest all of which followed a declaration of unverified results of the elections which have given the APNU+AFC victory in the just-concluded National and Regional Elections.