Guyanese authorities deny involvement in miners' murder

Call for end to public speculation

Guyana’s Joint Services has "unequivocally denied" being involved in the murder of the eight miners found murdered in a Lindo Creek mining camp two weekends ago.

Joint Services Public Relations and Press Officer, Ivelaw Whittaker said in press release issued on June 23 that the law enforcement agency did not commit the crime, adding that the Joint Services personnel were "highly and specially trained and experienced in the execution of their duties whether in urban or rural terrain."

This followed widespread speculation as to the manner in which the men met their demise, which still remains shrouded in mystery, as authorities have not yet offered a motive for the crime.

One theory is that they were slain by fleeing gunmen who were being pursued by the Guyana Defence Force Special Forces unit. But speculation surrounding the crime was heightened when mining boss, Leonard George Arokium expressed his strong belief that the men were not slain by members of the ‘Fine Man’ gang. According to him, he had received reports that the crew had "washed down" on Saturday, June 14.

He was therefore of the opinion that his crew was slain between Sunday, June 15 and Tuesday, June 16.

"’Fine Man’ would not have been in the location (then)," he said. "’Fine Man’ can’t be in Goat Farm last week and back in this area," he said, referring to reports that gang members Cecil Ramcharran, called ‘Uncle Willie,’ and Robin Chung, called ‘Chung Boy.’ were killed at Goat Farm, an area on the left bank of the Berbice River last Monday.

"Rain is falling and the water is running heavy, (so) ‘Fine Man’ can’t cross the river and cross back as he like," Arokium said.

It is also reported that Arokium’s son, Dean, approached the New York-based organization, the Caribbean Guyana Institute for Democracy (CGID), to request assistance in determining the killers of his relatives and co-workers. The Institute also said that Arokium gave a detailed statement, which was tape-recorded and portions of which would be posted on their website.

Arokium is claimed to have said that the remains of the bodies were removed from the crime scene, but the authorities have not yet advised him or any of the victims’ relatives of the present location of the bodies, the status of the autopsy or the investigation.

Subsequently, the CGID has lashed out at the Guyanese law enforcement and government and is calling for an independent, international inquiry into the murders.

The CGID has said that it has received testimony from witnesses that the killings were allegedly carried out by security forces who "mistook the miners for members of the "Fineman’ criminal gang," while one local newspaper reported that the men who killed the miners were dressed in camouflage uniforms.

The organisation has also said that Arokium "has strong reason to believe that the security forces of Guyana committed the murders and are attempting a cover-up," and have said that these accusations have given them "cause for serious concern."

But Guyana’s Joint Services and government officials have expressed their belief that the killings were done by the country’s most wanted man, Rondell "Fine Man" Rawlins, and members of his gang.

In the face of the allegations, Whittaker called for public speculation and accusations against the Services to come to an end.

"While we understand the state of mind of Mr. Arokium, having lost his family members in this manner, it is unproductive to directly accuse the Joint Services without any shred of evidence and based solely on speculation," said Whittaker. "The Joint Services wish to advise all concerned that such actions do not contribute to a wholesome security environment and issue a call to them to desist from speculations and accusations. We need to be united in the fight against crime."

Sources say the lawmen found three spent shells at the scene, one fired from a shotgun and the others still to be determined and a bloodied sledgehammer.