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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday January 10, 2014
Prisoners at GPHC to get priority attention - hospital CEO - in wake of escapee incident that led to cop’s death By Leroy Smith CHIEF Executive Officer of the Georgetown Public Hospital Mr Michael Khan, on Wednesday, confirmed to the Guyana Chronicle that with effect from Tuesday all prisoners and persons who are escorted to the facility by police and prison officers will be given priority treatment. The new arrangement came into effect immediately after a prisoner disarmed a police constable and bolted out of the Accident and Emergency Unit of the hospital with the cop’s firearm and who later shot at a detective corporal who attempted to arrest him. This arrangement will apply for their visits to the various clinics Mr. Michael Khan, CEO within the hospital or to the A&E of Georgetown Public Unit. The CEO said that while he Hospital has asked his chief security officer to submit a report regarding the escapee incident, it has not yet reached his desk. Khan said that it was always a personal concern of his as well as management whenever police and prison officers with guns show up at the facility with prisoners or other persons in their custody. He said that the safety of staff and persons who visit the facility for medical attention is something that is always under consideration. The incident on Monday, he said, could have been worse in the event that there was an exchange of gunfire if other police officers were at the facility or if the prisoner had decided to go on a shooting rampage. Khan also noted, that while the subsequent shooting was unfortunate, the blame should not be cast on the A&E Unit since the place was packed with patients at the time and at the end of the day the department is an “emergency” one.
He also reminded that the department has a triage system and that was being followed on Monday when the prisoner decided to make his escape. Meanwhile, a hospital source on Wednesday confirmed to this newspaper that the prisoner was not there for more than five hours. The source stated that the prisoner arrived at the facility at 15:00hrs and was registered at 15:15hrs. It was at approximately 18:30hrs that he made a dash for his freedom. The hospital CEO said that while the hospital has changed the system to accommodate the police and prison, those two agencies have an obligation and mandate to ensure the protection of the public and they can do that effectively by ensuring that when they bring prisoners to the hospital they are properly secured. A post-mortem performed by government pathologist Dr. Nehual Singh on the body of detective corporal 14998 Silburn Elias revealed that he died as a result of haemmorhage and shock caused by gunshot injuries. Crime Chief, Deputy Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud confirmed that a single warhead was retrieved from the cop’s body. And he informed that the investigations into the matter are ongoing. The post-mortem also confirmed that the policeman was shot dead by a bullet from a .38 revolver. When the prisoner, Delon Abrams disarmed police constable Joel Greene on Monday at the Georgetown Public Hospital he made off with the policeman’s .38 service revolver. Meantime, there have been reports in sections of the media that the corporal might have been shot by friendly fire from another weapon in the hands of one of his colleagues. However, the police public relations department dispelled those claims as their release sought to confirm that the cop was shot by the prisoner with the gun he had wrestled from the cop at the hospital. And there was no mention of the claims by the prisoner that he was also able to wrestle a second firearm from another constable. The police were to conduct a video interview with the prisoner who said that it was not his intention to shoot the cop and it was an accident.
Over 4000 animals removed from roadways by Stray Catching Unit in 2013 THE Home Affairs Ministry’s Stray Catching Unit has recorded satisfactory success in 2013 in keeping stray animals off the roadways, so much so, that there were no reports of fatal accidents involving strays during the course of the year. For the period January 3 to December 31, 2013 the Unit caught and impounded 4,434 animals: 2,089 cows; 1,167 goats; 430 horses; three asses (donkeys), and 745 sheep. Operations were conducted in Demerara and Berbice in accordance with the objective of the programme of enhancing traffic safety on the roads, by catching and impounding strays wandering on the public roads; thereby reducing the risk of accidents resulting in deaths, damage to vehicles, and injuries. The Georgetown Unit accounted for the three asses, 660 cows, 673 goats, five horses and 429 sheep. The Berbice Unit on the other hand, caught 425 horses, 1,429 cows, 494 goats and 316 sheep. A total of 174 animals were impounded at pounds in ‘A’ Division, 2,664 in ‘B’ Division, 769 in ‘C’ Division, 758 in ‘D’ Division and 69 in ‘G’ Division. Additionally, Stray Catchers benefited from weekly training sessions in the areas of: the Laws of Guyana relating to the Pounds Act Chapter 71:04; the Cattle Stealing Prevention Act Chapter 9:03; the Local Government Act Chapter 28:02 and the Roads Act Chapter 5:01. They also received training in police and public relations; guidelines for catching stray animals, and self defence. With regard to reported deaths of impounded animals and in some instances, escape of animals, the Home Affairs Ministry is calling on the police to ensure the safety, health and wellbeing of animals that are taken to the pounds. Moreover, the recommendations to have a pound erected at the East La Penitence Police Station compound, and that all police pounds be compartmentalised to facilitate the accommodation of both small and large animals, are being considered by the Ministry.
Con artists, thieves target unsuspecting patients at Georgetown Public Hospital By Michel Outridge CON artists and thieves invented novel ways of fleecing and robbing unsuspecting people, recently. The latest trend that has surfaced at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) targets patients waiting to see a doctor or collect medication at the pharmacy there. During the past Christmas season, a woman was sitting on one of the wooden benches provided for persons collecting medication when another woman went and sat next to her. To pass time, patients would chat among themselves and a conversation soon started involving several women. However, it was sometime during that chat that one woman found her way into
another’s handbag and took out the US$100 that was in it. The money was meant to do the victim’s Christmas shopping but, when she returned from a visit to the washroom, she realised that it was missing. By then, the thief had vanished, leaving the loser in tears and, although the security guards were alerted and an alarm raised by other patients, the perpetrator was not caught. She is just one of many who find themselves at the GPH to prey on others. There is also a mature couple who would go into the wards, pretend to be relatives of bed-ridden patients enfeebled by varying illnesses, and pack and take away their belongings. A young man of East Indian descent also frequents the institution relating a sad
story and saying he needs to make an urgent telephone call to some relative, informing of his arrival at the GPH. But when he finds a sympathetic person who allows him to use a cell phone, he escapes with the instrument. Several persons were victims of his trickery after he made off with ‘Blackberry’ phones among others, following his keen observance of the owners. Among the tricksters, too, is a young woman who pretends to be mentally challenged and would appear amidst patients and their relatives, and whenever the opportunity presents itself, she picks up their bags and disappears. Despite the hospital having internal security, these incidents continue to occur at the
institution. GPHC Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Michael Khan was unavailable for comment yesterday, as he was involved in several meetings for most of the day and calls to his cell phone went unanswered. NEW GANG Meanwhile, a new gang has emerged in the Stabroek Market area, operating mainly on the crowded Water Street where they would snatch gold jewels from persons. During the Christmas season, this group which comprises about four identifiable young men, grabbed jewellery and terrorised law-biding citizens. One woman, who was traumatised after a robbery perpetrated by these youths, said she went to make a purchase at a
store and was on her way back to her vehicle which was parked nearby when she was suddenly confronted by the trio. They surrounded her, brandishing knives and guns, as they forcefully took off her gold chain and a gold band she was wearing and gun-butted her when she offered resistance. She recalled trying to fight back but one of the robbers declared he did not have any problem killing her and she should “rest herself”. This incident occurred on December 30, 2013, about 14:45 hrs while Water Street, Georgetown, was crowded with hundreds of shoppers/ vendors, some of whom witnessed the incident, but did nothing to assist the frightened woman, she remembered.
Three charged with murder of Mahaicony farmer Dearoop Siewchand
Premnauth Seepersaud, 37 years, of Planters Hall, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara; Karran Ramhit, 23 years, and Doodnauth Siewchand, 47 years, both of Zeeland, Mahaicony, ECD, were yesterday charged with the murder of Dearoop Siewchand on January 05, 2014. According to a Police report, they appeared at the Mahaica Magistrate Court before Magistrate Ms. Sueanna Lovell and were remanded to prison until February 05, 2014.