August 30, 2008
Five-year ‘Fineman’ operation ends in his death
A woman said to be close to Jermaine ‘Skinny’ Charles collapsed as she walked away from the Lyken’s Funeral Home yesterday. She was eventually placed inside a bus by relatives and driven away.
Five years after gaining notoriety when police published a wanted bulletin for his arrest in the midst of the Camp Street prison escapee-led crime wave in June 2003, Rondell ‘Fineman’ Rawlins finally met his end, shot dead by members of the Joint Services yesterday.
During his criminal career, he had sparked fear in the heart of the nation, accused of committing horrific crimes, including the execution of a serving minister of Government, and the three massacres this year that left 31 persons dead.
Dubbed by police as the leader of the Agricola/Buxton criminal gang, the Agricola, East Bank Demerara-born resident has been on the run since 2003 and while several of his associates had been captured or killed, Rawlins managed to survive.
He gained notoriety when police published a wanted bulletin for his arrest in the midst of the escapee-led crime wave in June 2003.
Police had said that Rawlins was wanted for a series of robberies. Still in his early twenties when the bulletin was published for his arrest, Rawlins is said to have grown up in the Agricola community with his siblings and other relatives. Not much is known about his schooling and his childhood days.
Rawlins was said to have been involved in armed robberies and when the prison escapees were on the loose he was drafted in as a look-out mainly based in Agricola. Soon, some of the escapees were killed and Rawlins found himself in Buxton taking charge of small groups who were also part of the criminal gang. He was linked to a number of high-profile assaults including the one in 2005 in which Agricola resident David Barrow was beheaded.
In that attack, Barrow, Shamika Boyce and a Paul Persaud called “Yankee’ were killed. Barrow called ‘Gurple’ was said to have been the “biggest name” in the village. Rawlins was also linked to several raids on East Coast villages. But it was in February 2006 that Rawlins gained further notoriety. Police had said that he was part of the 15-member gang that brought terror to Agricola on February 26, 2006 killing eight people and attempting to blow up a gas station.
Reports at the time indicate that over a dozen gunmen under his command, reportedly dropped off in cars, blocked off a section of the road at Mc Doom and at Eccles and carried out a one-hour assault on residents of Agricola and Eccles.
Some of the men walked to Two Brothers Gas station where they launched an attack aimed at burning it down. They then unleashed a volley of shots at three MMC security guards whose vehicle was having air put into its tyres at the time. The three men, Sheldon Smartt, Cedric Dummett and Loris Semple died on the spot.
Following the execution of the guards, the gunmen walked into Agricola where they apprehended Hannah Cameron and David Brummel in their homes. The elderly couple was shot several times and Brummel’s throat was sliced. They were then set alight on their bed.
A similar assault was carried out at Caesar Street, Agricola where Assistant Town Clerk, Lavern Scott-Garraway was shot and her body burnt. The gunmen went to the home and asked for her husband, David Scott, who wasn’t there at the time. They then demanded money, but before the woman reacted she was riddled with bullets and her house set on fire.
Stabroek News was told at that time that it was clear that the gunmen knew who their targets were. One resident had told this newspaper that persons had gone around the village a few days before warning villagers of the attack. Cameron’s grandson Fenton Rudder and Cecil Duncan of Kitty were also killed.
Assembled
Police had linked the killings to the Buxton criminal gang and had assembled a team of detectives to investigate the slaughter. They had said that Rawlins was behind the attack. Then on the morning of April 22, 2006 seven masked gunmen dressed in military fatigues invaded the home of the then Agriculture Minister, Satyadeow Sawh and riddled him, his two siblings, Phulmattie Persaud and Rajpat Sawh and his guard Curtis Robertson, with bullets.
Police stand guard at the Lyken’s Funeral Home where the bodies of the three dead men were taken yesterday afternoon.
Reports were that the minister’s wife, Sattie and his brother, Omprakash, were in the kitchen around 12.15 am when they saw a masked gunman through the window.
Sattie had said that she alerted the minister who was in his hammock on the veranda, but before he could have scampered to safety, he was shot. He collapsed just inside his front door.
Omprakash hid his sister Phulmattie Persaud underneath a bed, but the gunmen found her and dragged her out. Omprakash had said that he begged the men for his sister’s life and gave them $23,000, a digital camera and a watch, but they still shot her in the face.
The gunmen then turned their guns on the minister again and at the same time placed Omprakash on top of Rajpat to execute them both. He said he and his brother were praying for their lives and as the gunmen left they fired shots killing Rajpat. Since the incident police have issued several wanted bullets for persons including the late notorious prison escapee Troy Dick. Jermaine ‘Skinny’ Charles, one of the two men killed with Rawlins yesterday, was in December 2006 also charged with the minister’s murder. He was
remanded to prison.
In January last year, police had offered a reward of $2 million for information leading to the arrests of seven men, they had said were wanted in connection with the investigation into the murder of Sawh, other murders and serious offences. Rawlins was listed among those, who were wanted.
Rawlins’ name surfaced again in 2007 in connection with the slaying of two men at a beer garden on Agriculture Road, Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara. Reports are that five men armed with rifles carried out the attack, killing Fazal Hakim and Rajesh Singh, while robbing Narendra Mukhram the owner of the beer garden.
Massacres
Apart from the more mind-chilling crimes, there had been claims by many robbery victims that he was among the bandits who attacked them. 2008 was a year, unmatched in ferocity, as attacks were launched on a scale that shocked and left the nation scarred. Three massacres, 32 men, women and children dead and citizens in a state of mourning.
The name Rawlins was spoken about with fear. It started with the disappearance of his purported pregnant girlfriend, Tenisha Morgan on January 18. Police said that a man purporting to be Rawlins contacted the Criminal Investigation Department headquarters several days later issuing threats if the girl was not found. Morgan had travelled to Georgetown as it was near time for her to give birth. She disappeared and her whereabouts is still unknown.
That very night gunmen engaged the army in Buxton killing one soldier and wounding another during a 20-minute shootout.
Two days later, they turned their attention on the police and on the night of January 25, in one of the most brazen attacks in recent history, gunmen blasted three policemen manning the western gate at the Police Headquarters, Eve Leary, hitting two in their legs and leaving the force scrambling to protect its base. Police Commissioner, Henry Greene had told this newspaper that Rawlins was believed to have upped the ante against the security forces following the alleged abduction of Morgan.
In the wee hours of January 26, the East Coast Village of Lusignan was hit. A large band of gunmen slaughtered 11 persons, including five children in the community. Those killed were 48-year-old Clarence Thomas, his 12-year-old daughter Vanessa Thomas and his son Ron Thomas; 32-year-old Mohandai Gourdat and her two sons, four-year-old Seegobind Harrilall and ten-year-old Seegopaul Harrilall; 22-year-old Shazam Mohamed; 55-year-old Shaleem Baksh; and Seecharran Rooplall, 56, his wife, Dhanrajie Ramsingh, 52, and their 11-year-old daughter, Raywattie Ramsingh.
One day after, Police offered a $30 million reward for Rawlins capture and several days later upped this to $50M, the highest reward the force had ever offered for one man.
The nightmare however continued on the night of February 17. In an hour long brutalizing attack, over a dozen gunmen stormed the police station in the interior community. Around 9.45 that night, an estimated 15-20 gunmen rampaged through Bartica. Reports were that three of the men were left to guard the river while more than ten others assaulted the community in the hour-long attack.
The police outpost was first attacked and three officers, Lance Corporal Zaheer Zakir and Constables Shane Fredericks, Ron Osborne were killed while two others were seriously wounded. The gang of gunmen carted off several firearms and ammunition from two strongboxes at the outpost.
As the gunmen moved through the community, they shot dead 72-year-old security guard, Irving Ferreira even as he attempted to flee. The other persons killed in the attack were Bartica residents Edwin Gilkes and Dexter Adrian; Deonarine Singh, who was from Wakenaam; Ronald Gomes of Kuru Kururu, Ashraf Khan of Middlesex Essequibo, Abdool Yasin, Errol Thomas of Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo and Baldeo Singh of Montrose East Coast Demerara, who were shot execution style at the Transport and Harbours Stelling. The gunmen also stole safes, guns and ammunition. Rawlins name was called again.
On June 6, nearly three months after the attack on Bartica, the Joint Services on the basis of intelligence they had received located Rawlins’s camp at Christmas Falls, some 300 miles up the Berbice River. According to the lawmen, the gunmen opened fire on them, and in the exchange one gang member was killed, and six others fled. Subsequently, three other men associated with the gang were killed by the Joint Services in Region 10.
Shock
But another shock awaited the nation. The burnt bodies of eight miners were found at Lindo Creek. They were believed to be the burnt remains of Clifton Wong, Nigel Torres, Cecil Arokium, Compton Speirs, Bonny Harry, Horace Drakes, Dax Arokium and Lancelot Lee. The gruesome act was believed to have occurred in early June but the remains were not discovered until June 21 by the owner of the mine, Leonard Arokium.
It is believed that one or more of the men may have been tortured before being killed and their bodies burnt along with all their possessions at the camp site. The question of who carried out that slaughter was mired in controversy as Arokium had blamed the Joint Services but they had strongly denied this. They blamed Rawlins and his gang.
Since the attacks this year, several persons have been charged in connection with the killings but Rawlins had managed to elude capture. That ended yesterday.
Jermaine Charles
Charles escaped from custody at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court on June 25th.
Charles had appeared at Sparendaam for the continuation of the PI into the slayings at the home of Minister Sawh.
According to reports, after “Skinny” had appeared before Magistrate Yohhanseh Cave, he was taken downstairs to the holding area in the police station and disappeared afterwards. Police ranks only realized that the man was missing when they were lining up the other prisoners to take them back to the Camp Street prisons. Onlookers related that the police then launched a frantic search which turned out to be futile.
One woman told Stabroek News that she went to the station to look after some personal matters but was asked to wait outside of the compound. She said she was not aware of the reason but heard persons saying that “some prisoner like he escape.”
Another man said that he saw the police peering underneath the station which is about two feet off the ground. He added that he heard some ranks saying that they saw prints in the “sappy” ground under the flooring of the station which would indicate that “Skinny” escaped via a loose floor board and then crawled out unnoticed.
Charles has been charged along with Dwight Da Silva, Quincy Evans, Terrence John, Delwayne Carrington and a boy who is now 15-years-old for a number of other murders. He was charged along with Da Silva for the murder of Barbot Paul, the Kaneville, East Bank Demerara businessman who was shot and killed outside his home on August 6. Charles is also accused of killing Devon Charles of Agricola on June 23, Guilford Henry on June 26, 2005 and 12-year-old Kevin Browne on March 18, 2006.
He shares the murder charge for Browne with Dego France. Charles is also charged with Da Silva and Evans for being part of a group of men who allegedly murdered five Kaieteur News pressmen - Chetram Persaud, Eion Wegman, Richard Stewart, Mark Maikoo and Shazeem Mohamed in August 2006.
It is also alleged that they killed Wordsworth Grey on August 8. The 15-year-old boy, who was 13 years then, was also charged for that murder. Charles was then charged for the murders of Sawh, Rajpat Sawh, Phulmattie Persaud and Curtis Robinson on April 22 at La Bonne Intention (LBI) East Coast Demerara. David Leander, called ‘Biscuit’, was also charged separately with the LBI slayings.
Charles had a three-hour lead before a manhunt was launched for him.
The loose board was something the station sergeant had knowledge about over a month ago, the police admitted. Greene speaking at a press conference at his office on the prisoner’s escape told reporters that the police were convinced that the man’s escape was well planned. (Stabroek News/Staff)
Kuru Kururu residents thought gunshots were lightning
The weapons found after the police killed Rondell `Fineman’ Rawlins and Jermaine Charles yesterday.
Kuru Kururu village on the Linden-Soesdyke Highway erupted in gunfire around mid-morning yesterday shortly after residents observed scores of soldiers and police entering their community.
About an hour after the gunfire, residents saw police and soldiers leaving the area with what appeared to be three bodies at the back of a pick-up.
They later learnt that two of Guyana’s most wanted and feared bandits, Rondell ‘Fineman’ Rawlins, and prison escapee Jermaine ‘Skinny’ Charles were cut down in a hail of bullets. “When I first hear de thing I thought it was lightning, because last week lightning flash and a big hole end up in the road. But it is after then I get to realise it was bullets dem man deh firing,” one resident told Stabroek News.
The shooting of Fineman and Skinny happened just behind the village in an area where there are just about two buildings; one of them a half-built shack. When Stabroek News arrived on the scene, residents were on the roadway discussing the shooting and many of them had shocked expressions on their faces, questioning how Guyana’s most wanted man had entered their village without them knowing. Members of the armed forces were still in the area conducting investigations.
One of the army’s recently acquired helicopters was also seen in the area and according to residents, both of the helicopters were flying over their area for some time yesterday morning. After spending some time on the ground, the helicopter left their area along with soldiers and police officers, some of them fingerprint experts.
From all indications, the men were attempting to escape the lawmen when they were cornered. A third man, identified as Shawn Grant, was reportedly shot behind the airport early yesterday morning. Residents in the area aback of the Cheddi Jagan Interna-tional Airport, Timehri, told this newspaper that the shooting occurred in a bushy area behind their community. They said they had heard gunshots early yesterday morning and later saw soldiers leaving the area.
The other criminals had then attempted to escape but by then the soldiers had the area surrounded and there was no escape route. From all indications, at least one man was shot in the half-built shack at Kuru Kururu, as blood and brain matter were evident in the floor.
One resident reported that the criminals were running through the grassy and sandy area without shirts. He said the men ran past him even as shots were being fired at them and he had cause to seek refuge. He was not only afraid of being hit by a stray bullet but he was also afraid of being mistaken for one of the men since he was also half-naked.
After the shooting most of the residents in the immediate area closed up their homes and left in a hurry. Their neighbours said some of them were afraid of being called informers, while others were just afraid of being in the area following such an operation.
Even children in the area were overheard discussing the incident and one child, about ten years old, even offered to take this newspaper into the area, which would have seen him trekking through grass taller than he is.
Celebration
According to residents following the shooting, the lawmen were in an obvious celebratory mood. “If yuh see high five with dem men, and some of dem even hug each other when dem come in the area after deh shooting,” one resident said.
“I glad dem man tek dem down, man. But I wonder how dem sure is Fineman,” one resident said as others praised the lawmen for their work. They pointed out that the lawmen carried out their operation in such a manner that most of the residents were only aware that something had happened after it was over.
“But wha I want know is how Fineman allow he self to get killed like duh man? Imagine dem man didn’t even wearing no shoes or nothing,” one bemused-looking resident said.
Heavy security
As Stabroek News travelled to the area, the East Bank public road and part of the highway were swarming with soldiers. The pick-up with the bodies passed this newspaper’s vehicle in the vicinity of Eccles and there were two police outrider cars with sirens blaring. Several other police and army vehicles also followed behind. Three pairs of legs clad in camouflage pants were observed; there were no shoes on the feet. One of the army helicopters flew above the line of vehicles.
Stabroek News passed four roadblocks on the way to the scene and was stopped once by a soldier who wanted to know who authorized the vehicle’s windows having a light tint, but was allowed to proceed after identification was given. On the highway many soldiers were seen standing with their guns at the ready while others were sitting at the side of the road. (Staff/Stabroek News)
August 29, 2008
Guyana’s most notorious wanted man Rondell ‘Fineman’ Rawlins
shot dead by Joint Services ranks FINEMAN DEAD
Skinny, other gang member killed
Guyana's most notorious criminal and wanted man, Rondell Rawlins called ‘Fine Man’ and two accomplices, including prison escapee Jermaine Charles called ‘Skinny’ were killed in a confrontation with the Joint Services Operation Group (JSOG) in the Timehri/Kuru Kururu area yesterday.
Guyana Defence Force Corporal Cush was shot on his right hand during the shootout and was taken to the medical centre at Camp Ayanganna where he was reported to be resting comfortably yesterday afternoon.
Commissioner of Police (Acting), Henry Greene told a news conference yesterday that about 05:45h, two teams of the JSOG converged on an area in Timehri about 500 metres east of an Army ammunition dump following a ‘tip off’.
He said the teams came under fire from a house in the area and they took cover and returned fire. During this process, Greene said the ranks saw three men jump out of the house and run into some nearby bushes in an attempt to escape.
Chief of staff at the GDF, Commodore Gary Best and Commissioner of Police (Acting), Henry Greene
On descending upon the scene, they (the ranks) found the body of a male African lying on the ground. He was picked up and rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation where he was pronounced dead on arrival,”
Greene told reporters. Corporal Cush was taken to the Medical Centre at Camp Stephenson and subsequently transferred to Camp Ayanganna, he said. In the interim, the ranks continued to search for the other men.
Consequently, about 12:45 h, Greene said the JSOG team – while continuing to pursue these men - came under fire from a small unfinished concrete structure which appeared to be an old shop in the Kuru Kururu area. “There was an exchange of gunfire and two male Africans were shot in the exchange,” Greene said. He said they were taken to the mortuary where they were pronounced dead on arrival.
Greene said a search of the structure revealed two (2) AK-47 rifles and two hundred and fifteen (215) 7.62x39 rounds contained in seven (7) magazines. The scene was visited by Crime Scene ranks of CID Headquarters, Eve Leary. He said the two male Africans were identified by two Prison Officers as wanted men Rondell Rawlins, called ‘Fineman’ and Jermaine Charles, called ‘Skinny’.
Fineman's hideout
Greene also disclosed that the Police were carrying out fingerprint examinations on the bodies to doubly confirm their identity.
Chief of Staff of the GDF, Commodore Gary Best, who shared the joint press briefing with Commissioner Greene, said one of the two AK-47s recovered from the dead bandits had been stolen from Camp Ayanganna in 2006. The origin of the other firearm had not yet been determined.
Commenting on the killing of ‘Fineman’ and ‘Skinny’, Greene said the JSOG has, over the past year, made significant progress in dismantling the notorious gang. "We have either killed or captured most of the prominent members and additionally, over twenty five of them are currently in prison awaiting trial,” he told reporters. He said JSOG had also succeeded in dismantling the support network of the gang with several persons in prison awaiting trial on charges for sheltering the criminals.
The death of Rawlins in the shootout with the JSOG caps their efforts to date, with Greene saying he was convinced that the operation yesterday had “broken the back” of the notorious gang. He said, too, that the operations will continue since there were many other known members of the gang still at large. On this note, the Commissioner of Police made an appeal to the remnants of the gang to give themselves up and face justice for their crimes.
Commodore Best said the operation, which led to the killing of the three bandits, was a purely indigenous effort by the Army and Police since there had been no external help in this specific operation. He, however, expressed gratitude to the Government for giving the JSOG an increased capability including better weapons, transportation, helicopter surveillance resources which played an important role in the locating and killing of the bandits, and bullet proof vests with 7.62 resistance.
On the question of the $50 million dollar reward for ‘Fineman’, Best said that was “a discretionary matter” which was now in executive hands. Meanwhile, when the welcomed news of the demise of ‘Fineman’ and ‘Skinny’ spread in the city yesterday, a large crowd converged at the GPHC to get a glimpse of the bodies of Guyana’s most wanted. However, after a while, people were told that the bodies of ‘Fineman’ and ‘Skinny’ were transported to Lyken Funeral Parlour, the crowd raced there too.
A team of policemen fingerprinted the dead men at the funeral parlour and took photographs of their bodies which were described as ‘disfigured’. On the roadway, body parts including brain matter and a pool of blood trickled from the police vehicle that transported the bodies of ‘Fineman’ and ‘Skinny’. An anxious crowd was ordered to keep their distance by ranks who stood guard at the Lyken Funeral Parlour yesterday.
Many there were in disbelief that Guyana’s most wanted were finally cornered and killed and they debated for a while among themselves. Some asked to see the bodies while others in obvious frustration left the scene. And earlier in the day, a senior joint services rank involved in the operation told the Guyana Chronicle that Rawlins looked a ‘lot different from photos in the wanted bulletin” issued by the Police Force and which was published daily in this newspaper.
“Fineman was clear in complexion; the newspaper got him looking like a blackman…,” the Officer blurted out. The Officer revealed that the joint services received intelligence that the men were hiding out in that area, and they began their operation in the wee hours of the morning.
“This thing happened as soon as you climb the top hill (first hill) on the Linden/Soesdyke highway on the left hand side about 1000 feet from the highway…” the officer disclosed. There are also reports that Grant’s girlfriend, who was pregnant and with him in the house when he was killed, was arrested and is currently in custody. (Guyana Cronicle/Michel Outridge and Clifford Stanley) President Jagdeo lauds joint services
PRESIDENT BHARRAT JAGDEO
‘I hope that this will bring closure to the activities of this notorious gang which has terrorised our country for several years’
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces President Bharrat Jagdeo has commended the Security Forces for their hard-work and commitment in pursuing Guyana’s most wanted man, notorious gang-leader Rondell Rawlins known as ‘Fineman’ who was killed yesterday along with two of his accomplices Jermaine Charles called ‘Skinny’ and Seon Grant called ‘Troyie’ at Kuru Kururu, Soesdyke/Linden Highway.
The concrete hut where Fineman was gunned down.
Speaking to the media yesterday at the Youth Village in the National Park, Georgetown President Jagdeo applauded them for ensuring the country maintains law and order.
“As you are aware, I said that we will pursue this criminal ‘Fineman’ at any cost and we set up in January, the JSOG (Joint Special Operations Group) that is a joint group from the Army and Police with a special task of tracking down ‘Fineman’ and his notorious gang,” the Head of State recalled.
“That group (JSOG) along with the Special Forces from the Army this morning had an operation and they killed the three of them. I hope that this will bring closure to the activities of this notorious gang which has terrorised our country for several years,” Mr. Jagdeo stated.
In fact, if you take out their activities from the overall crime rate you will see that we have probably one of the lowest crime rate in the region but hopefully this will bring closure to his criminal activities and also in the lives of the families of the victims, many of them who were so notoriously and brutally murdered especially the babies,” the President emphasised. “We still have vivid memories of this gang killing helpless babies in their sleep so hopefully those families will be able to have closure in their lives,” he reiterated.
“The security forces will remain alert and will have my full unequivocal support. I have always said that and I want to commend them once again,” President Jagdeo lauded.
Asked if the $50M reward which was out for any information leading to the capture of Rawlins, will go to the Joint Services, he replied: “We are going to look at that but I think they deserve our commendation. We will look at the financial reward later.” (Guyana Cronicle)
August 28, 2008
Breaking News - Police say “Fineman”, “Skinny” killed
Rondell Rawlins (left), Jermaine Charles (right)
Commander of `A’ Division Welton Trotz this afternoon said that two of the country’s most wanted men, Rondell `Fineman’ Rawlins and Jermaine `Skinny’ Charles were shot and killed by members of the joint services on the Linden/Soesdyke Highway.
Asked how the positive identifications were made, he said that they knew the men from their general appearance. “We know them. They can’t hide”, he told this newspaper.
The men, who were reportedly part of a gang, were fatally wounded during a confrontation with the law enforcement ranks which began late Wednesday night, in a bushy area behind the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri. During that first confrontation, Shawn Grant, 31 of Eccles, East Bank Demerara was killed and a soldier was injured. (Stabroek News)
More details later
August 25, 2008
Policeman accidentally shot by fellow cop in barrack room Investigations ongoing
Police are investigating the accidental shooting of a policeman in a barrack room at Timehri, East Bank Demerara, about 21:00 hrs on Saturday. According to a Police statement, “two ranks were in the barrack room joking and chatting when the round was accidentally discharged, hitting Constable (19705) Larson in his left shoulder”.
The Police said he is a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) listed in a stable condition. Meanwhile, in a separate incident that occurred about 21:30 hrs Saturday, four gunmen robbed the occupants of a house at Line Path, Corriverton, Berbice, of $40,000 in cash, articles and documents.
Police reported that Rama Jagdeo, 44, and her mother Ramkumarie Jagdeo, 62, were in their ground floor home when the suspects barged in through an opened door and held them up, demanding money and jewellery. The robbers assaulted the elderly woman and discharged a round in the home before escaping with the booty which was handed over to them. Investigations are continuing, Police said. (Stabroek News)
August 21, 2008
Linden man charged with harbouring Fineman gang
Shemroy Lyte
A 34-year-old Linden man was yesterday charged on three counts relating to the harbouring of wanted man Rondell ‘Fineman’ Rawlins and his gang. Shemroy Lyte of 36 Stewart Park Wismar Linden was not required to plead to the indictable charges when they were read to him by Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.
It is alleged that between February 18 and April 22, at Wismar Linden, Lyte received, relieved, comforted, harboured assisted and maintained wanted men Rondell ‘Fineman’ Rawlins, Clebert Reece called ‘Chi Chi,’ Cecil Simon, Otis Fefe and Mark Roydon Williams, also known as Roydon Durant or ‘Smallie’ who are wanted for the Bartica killings.
Between April 27 and June 16, at Christmas Falls, it is alleged that Lyte knowingly harboured the said individuals whose names and photographs had been published as being wanted by the police for the Bartica massacre and other criminal offences.
It is further alleged that between February 18 and April 1 at Wismar Linden, Lyte knowingly harboured the said men whose names and photographs had been published as wanted by the police for the Bartica massacre. Lyte was unrepresented in court yesterday.
Since the February 17 killings at Bartica where 12 persons were gunned down several persons have been charged either with the murders or with harbouring the ‘Fineman gang’ which the authorities believe is responsible for the Lusignan, Bartica and Lindo Creek killings.
On April 9, Roger Simon, a 44-year-old miner and father of nine was the first person charged with the 12 Bartica murders. His matter was transferred to the Bartica Magistrate’s Court by Magistrate Melissa Robertson-Ogle. On May 28, a 30-year-old miner Clebert Reece called ‘Chi Chi’ of Lot 63 Barr Street, Albouystown, was charged with the 12 indictable counts of murder.
So far three men have been charged with harbouring Fineman and members of his gang. 32-year-old Sheldon Williams of 74 Seventh Field, Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara was remanded after he was charged with knowingly harbouring Mark Roydon Williams, also known as Roydon Durant or ‘Smallie’ who was said to be a member of the Fineman gang.
The 20-year-old Durant of Uitvlugt, West Coast Demerara and a 14-year-old boy of Strathspey Squatting Area East Coast Demerara were jointly charged with the murders of the Lusignan 11. Those murdered at Lusignan were 48-year-old Clarence Thomas, his 12-year-old daughter Vanessa Thomas and his son Ron Thomas; 32-year-old Mohandai Gourdat and her two sons, four-year-old Seegobind Harrilall and ten-year-old Seegopaul Harrilall; 22-year-old Shazam Mohamed; 55-year-old Shaleem Baksh; Seecharran Rooplall, 56, his wife Dhanrajie Ramsingh, 52, and their 11-year-old daughter Raywattie Ramsingh.
On June 23, Rogers Omali Rogers 30, of 83 Woodpecker Lane Amelia’s Ward Linden was charged with harbouring the Fineman gang at Christmas Falls upper Berbice. He was also charged with ‘accessory after the fact of murder’ on June 24.
Royston Waldron 36, of Friendship East Bank Demerara was also charges with harbouring Fineman and members of his gang at Goat Farm. Both men pleaded not guilty to the harbouring charges when they were read to them by Magistrate Melissa Robertson-Ogle.
Waldron had also faced a number of robbery charges before Magistrate Hazel Octive-Hamilton. He was named as the number one defendant in three of the matters and number two, in another. The other named defendant was Rondell ‘Fineman’ Rawlins. It is alleged that on June 16 at UNAMCO Road Upper Berbice River Waldron armed with a gun robbed Tyrone Halley of one Toyoto Hiace minibus-BGG 501 and a cell phone, Anita Hunte of one cell phone, Indra Bissoon of two cell phones and Donna Ford of one cell phone.
Attorney-at-law Glen Hanoman who had represented Waldron in these matters told the court in his application for bail that the institution of these charges was a “publicity gimmick” intended to appease the public. He had said that in the end the matters would amount to nothing due to the “unorthodox” manner in which the police were going about their work. Hanoman had said that his client had been arrested on June 10 at Linden, miles away from where these alleged acts had occurred.
Just over three weeks after the Lusignan killings, gunmen struck at Bartica though security had been heightened countrywide. On the February 17 at about 9.40 pm, some 20 gunmen attacked Bartica killing 12 persons including three policemen during an hour-long strafing. Around 9.45 on the night of February 17 an estimated 15-20 gunmen rampaged through Bartica.
Reports were that three of the men were left to guard the river while more than ten others assaulted the community in the hour-long attack. The police outpost was first attacked and three officers were killed while two others were seriously wounded. The gang of gunmen carted off several firearms and ammunition from two strongboxes at the outpost.
The gunmen then descended upon the CBR Mining Company, further up First Avenue and shot 72-year-old security guard, Irving Ferreira as he attempted to flee. Once inside the building, the gunmen broke into a safe and removed 11 guns: six shotguns and five .32 pistols and a quantity of ammunition. Police said that the gunmen also took away two safes containing gold, jewellery and cash.
The other persons killed in the attack were Bartica residents Edwin Gilkes and Dexter Adrian; policemen stationed at the Bartica Police Station – Lance Corporal Zaheer Zakir and Constables Shane Fredericks, Ron Osborne and Deonarine Singh who was from Wakenaam; Ronald Gomes of Kuru Kururu, Ashraf Khan of Middlesex Essequibo, Abdool Yasin, Errol Thomas of Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo and Baldeo Singh of Montrose East Coast Demerara were shot execution style at the Transport and Harbours Stelling.
After striking at the mining company, the bandits turned their attention to the home of a businessman and broke into the heavily-grilled home of Gurudat Singh, a gold dealer of First Avenue, a short distance away from the company. Firing their weapons and then using a sledge-hammer, they broke a window and knocked out part of a concrete grill to gain access to the home. Singh said that the gunmen took away two attaché cases.
A police press release issued late on Tuesday evening had stated that the police had arrested another man fingered in the February 17 Bartica massacre and had recovered two metal vaults and a briefcase containing documents which were identified as belonging to the CB&R mining company which was robbed on the night of the killings. (Stabroek News)
August 18, 2008
Lindener shot in head, car stolen
A Linden taxi-driver has been hospitalized in a critical condition having suffered two gunshot wounds after being robbed of his car in the mining town on Saturday night.
Kerwin Morris, 28, of Amelia’s Ward, Linden is in the High Dependency Unit of the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) in a serious but stable condition. He sustained two gunshot wounds to the left side of his head and stomach during the incident which occurred at about 10:30 pm.
Police have since detained the suspect along with three other persons, who are assisting with investigations. According to information reaching this newspaper, the men were found in a house at Retrieve, Linden and are reportedly friends of another taxi driver previously attached to the base, from which Morris works. The suspect is reportedly an ex-policeman while another of those detained is said to be a 19-year-old ex-soldier.
Police, in a press release said that Morris was hired to take the suspect in car HB 5869 to Georgetown. At Millie’s Hideout, Linden, the man requested Morris to stop and asked him to help him put a bag in the car. “The suspect then shot the driver in his abdomen and left side head and drove the car away”, the release stated.
Police said that Morris contacted a friend, who took him to the McKenzie Hospital from where he was later transferred to the GPH. The car has not yet been recovered, the police added. At the hospital yesterday Morris’s father, Roland Morris said that he was told that a man had hired his son to transport him.
While on the way, he said, Kerwin was asked to stop to pick up a bag and when he came out of the vehicle, he was shot. He said that the bullets were still lodged in his son’s body.
Police investigations are continuing. (Stabroek News)
Businessman robbed in South Ruimveldt
The police are investigating two armed robberies which occurred at Herstelling, East Bank Demerara and South Ruimveldt on Wednesday, during which the gunmen fled with cash and jewellery. In the first incident, businessman Jermaine Langevine was robbed by four gunmen around 1:30 am as he was climbing the stairway to his Kiskadee Drive, South Ruimveldt home.
A police press release said that Langevine left his place of business at Hadfield and John streets and was climbing a stairway at his home when the suspects held him up and robbed him of jewellery valued $620,000, $1,200 US currency and $860,000 cash. The gunmen, according to the release, while fleeing discharging a round. Police responded and subsequently retrieved two metal fragments from the scene.
The second incident occurred about 11:30 am at Lot 89 Herstelling during which Beethdial Balram, a 74-year-old businesswoman and Joy Khan, 53 years also of Herstelling were robbed by two men both armed with handguns.
According to a police press release Beethdial was in her shop which is located on the ground floor of her two-storey home chatting with Khan when the suspects held them up and demanded money and jewellery. One of them stood guard while the other relieved the women of jewellery valued $66,000 and $6,000 cash. The suspects according to the release then fled north into the village. (Stabroek News)
August 7, 2008
Guard dies of gunshot at MMC HQ
Michael Thomas
A 19-year-old guard attached to the MMC Security Force died last night after allegedly shooting himself at the company’s Happy Acres, East Coast Demerara headquarters just as he was about to go out on patrol.
Dead is Michael Thomas of Princes Street, Georgetown. The teen, who had only been working with the security service for about two months, had signed for the gun at the company’s Happy Acres head office and then walked close to the gate, where the incident occurred at about 7:50 pm.
His colleagues were in disbelief when Stabroek News visited the compound last night and a pool of blood lay close to the gate. One rank related that Thomas had only begun working there two months ago and was a patrolman.
According to the rank, Thomas was working the night shift last evening and had just come in and signed for his gun. He then allegedly walked just behind the gate, put the gun under his chin and pulled the trigger.
Another of his colleague, who had transported him to the hospital related that five minutes before the incident, Thomas had told him (the colleague) that he would wait on him and give him a “drop” as he was going in his direction. The guard went into the building to change and minutes later heard the gunshot.
When he came outside, he saw the teen lying in a pool of blood. The ranks said that Thomas had given no prior indication that he was in any way troubled. The bleeding man was picked up and rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Dozens of relatives converged at the medical institution upon hearing of the young man’s demise and loud wailing ensued.
Constantly lamenting what the dead man had “gone through” one relative told this newspaper that Thomas had been a policeman before joining the MMC. However, according to the relative, Thomas lived in Buxton at the time and was constantly “harass-ed” by persons there. After his experiences in that community, he gave up the police uniform and went to live at Princes Street and joined the MMC Security Force.
Both relatives and colleagues questioned the reasons for the young man’s actions. “The boy de alright, if he de going out, everybody does want wuk with he”, one of his colleagues said. An MMC official contacted by Stabroek News at 8.10 pm was unaware of the incident. No other official was available for comment last night. (Stabroek News)
August 6, 2008
Nude body of man found at No.69 pasture
The nude and decomposing body of a male of Indo-Guyanese descent was found in a pasture at Number 69 Village yesterday around 1:30 pm in a clump of bush. Stabroek News was told that two children who were passing in the area made the discovery and raised an alarm. The police were informed and they visited the scene along with the Berbice pathologist, Dr. Vivikanand Brijmohan.
The man appeared to be in his 30s. Reports are that the man’s clothing which included a pair of long blue jeans, a long-sleeved white shirt and a belt which was off the pants, was scattered nearby. Blue and white sneakers and green underwear were also found. He appeared to have been there for about two days leading investigators to believe that he must have been “sporting” at a wedding house nearby.
The discovery of the body was made a few days after the badly burnt remains of Bishnu Singh called ‘Suresh’ or ‘Ears’ were found close to the Number 63 Beach on July 21. His brothers, Haresh and Devendra Singh identified his remains on Friday morning after receiving a message from an anonymous caller that it was at the Skeldon mortuary.
Singh was apparently murdered, then dumped in the area and burnt. Police said that he bore what appeared to be bullet wounds to his head. The Singhs told Stabroek News that although they had learnt that a body was found they did not think it was their brother. According to them he had planned to “go for scrap iron in the river [Corentyne]. We thought he was there and expected him to show up after a few days.”
Singh, the captain of a tug for a logging operation in the river had only returned home on July 18 and collected his salary the following day. Reports are that residents saw him in the village around 10 pm on July 20. Around 7 am on July 21 there were reports that a body was discovered. A post-mortem examination was performed on Singh’s remains but this newspaper understands that the doctor is still to determine the cause of death. (Stabroek News)
August 1, 2008
Cops under watch after murder accused flees
Two police ranks have been placed under close arrest following the mid- afternoon escape of a murder accused from a prison van on Wednesday as he and others were being taken back to the Camp Street prison after an appearance at the Providence Magistrate’s Court.
Despite several searches by members of the Guyana Police Force on Wednesday and yesterday, Trevor Major has not been apprehended and up to press time last evening no wanted bulletin had been issued for him. In a press release issued at minutes to six yesterday afternoon police said that the circumstances surrounding the 20-year-old’s escape on Wednesday are being investigated.
According to the release Major who hails from Mc Kenzie, Linden and Mocha Arcadia, East Bank Demerara was among five other remanded prisoners who were being transported in a police prison van from the Providence Police Station back to the Georgetown Prison “when it is alleged that he managed to pick the handcuffs and open the prison van door and escape in the vicinity of Croal Street”.
As the investigations continue two police ranks are under close arrest, the release said.
Though the escape reportedly occurred around 3:30 on Wednesday afternoon, yesterday’s release was the first from the police. Observers have said that residents on the East Bank should have been immediately alerted by the police of the escape via radio and television.
When contacted yesterday Police Public Relations Officer, Ivelaw Whittaker could not provide any information to this newspaper and Whittaker said when he was asked about the likelihood of a press release being dispatched later said that he did not have any information at that point in time. This was yesterday morning. This newspaper then attempted to get some more information about two hours after noon but was told again by Whittaker that no information was available.
Major was charged last September with the murder of security guard Melvin Sancho whose decomposing body was found on a bed in his Supply, East Bank Demerara home. There were wounds to Sancho’s head and a bloody piece of wood was lying nearby.
Major was arrested several days after the gruesome discovery which was made when residents living nearby were alerted to a strong stench. He was placed before the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court and the matter was then transferred to the Providence Court. At the time of his escape, the preliminary inquiry was still being conducted.
This newspaper was reliably informed that the prisoner made his dash for freedom in the vicinity of the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court after freeing himself of the handcuffs he was wearing. It is not clear if the ranks saw when he jumped out.
The prison vans are usually locked with huge padlocks from the outside so it is unclear how Major managed to get out of the moving vehicle. Even if the padlock was not locked but still hooked on the door it would still have been difficult for him to escape. Deputy prison head Poshanand Tahal told this newspaper that the incident is out of the hands of the prison department since it was the police who were escorting the prisoners at the time of the escape.
“This has nothing to do with us. It is the police who was escorting the prisoners”, he said.
Tahal added that the information he has is that the prisoners left the court and somewhere along the route, Major escaped. He did not say where or when the escape may have occurred.
He could not provide this newspaper with any information on what may have transpired on Wednesday afternoon but said that “I am getting more information from reading the newspapers than I am getting from the police or my people”. Further he said that on Wednesday the police took some statements and left. This newspaper was later told that the police visited the prison and took statements from the prisoners who were travelling with Major at the time of the incident.
This newspaper was told that the van was not being escorted by a police vehicle as is customary. It is unclear if others in the van also attempted to escape. Crime Chief Seelall Persaud said yesterday that the two ranks who were escorting the prisoners have been placed under close arrest.
Asked where the ranks were during the journey, he said that the two were sitting at the front of the vehicle. The prisoners would have been secured in the enclosed back of the vehicle. According to him, to facilitate his escape, the accused picked the lock on his handcuffs and the police have already taken statements from the prisoners to ascertain how he did that.
This escape comes on the heels of another which occurred a month ago during which multiple murder accused Jermaine `Skinny’ Charles managed to escape unnoticed from the Sparendaam Police Station lock-ups.
According to reports he managed to squeeze under loose floor boards in his cell shortly after a court appearance and ranks only realized that he was missing several hours later when they were preparing to take the prisoners back to the Camp Street prison. Several ranks have since been transferred from that station and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) now has to decide if charges will be laid again any of the officers. (Zoisa Fraser/Stabroek News)
