Gloria Thomas house destruction & repair - Joint Service
JOINT SERVICES PRESS RELEASE
Contact Persons: ACP I Whittaker, Major E Daniels
Tele Nos’ GDF: 226-1488, 226-8002
GPF: 227-2685, 225-5401
JOINT SERVICES PRESS RELEASE
Between Saturday February 02 and Sunday February 03, 2008, ranks of the Joint Services conducted searches and special operations in Brushe Dam, Buxton; Friendship North, Mon Repos and Bare Root on the East Cast of Demerara as Operation Restore Order continue. A total of fifteen (15) houses were searched.
During the search of several houses earlier in Buxton/Friendship, the Joint Services found it necessary to damage the floor of a house belonging to Gloria Thomas of 151 Friendship, ECD. The damaged area is some 8’ x 14’ with a 2” thick concrete. However, since the sand was not well compacted this produced a hollow effect when the ranks tested it and prompted them to dig it up. The Joint Services have since effected repairs to the floor of the house costing some $75,000.00.
The Joint Services reiterate the commitment to be professional in conduct in the execution of our duties with full respect for the rights of the public; but the nature of the operations is such that some amount of collateral damage may be occasioned. However, it is an aspect of the Joint Services’ standard operational procedure to repair damages done by its personnel.
The Joint Services has been made aware of the allegation that ranks mixed kerosene oil in rice at a shop in the Buxton/Friendship community during one of its operations. No report of any such unethical behaviour by the ranks was made to the Joint Services and it appears that this only surfaced during a visit to the community by the Opposition Leader Robert Corbin among others.
The Joint Services wish to emphasise the appreciation of the support being given by the members of the Buxton/Friendship and neighbouring communities with Operation Restore Order and are prepared to accept and deal with any and all reports of misconduct on the part of its ranks. We are calling on the members of those communities not to allow themselves to be swayed away from their so far positive attitude.
It should be noted that the shop where the incident is alleged to have taken place is known for the harbouring of criminal elements and has been the target of several searches before. It was from this very shop that armed gunmen opened fire on the Joint Services ranks on Wednesday January 23, 2008, during which army Corporal Ivor Williams was killed.
Deon Newton, 24 years, and Mike McLean, 14 years, both of 151 Friendship, ECD, who were arrested by the Joint Services during search operations conducted in Buxton/Friendship, were charged with acquiring military stores and unlawful possession of four (4) cell phones, respectively. They appeared before Magistrate Melissa Robertson-Ogle today, where they pleaded ‘not guilty’ and were placed on self bail to return to Court at Vigilance on February 22, 2008.
2008-02-04
