Guyana Observer News

Criminal Justice in Guyana has evolved under the PPP into persecuting "Just Us"
Monday, 03 August 2009
By Robin Williams
Dear Editor,
The issuance of a charge against ACDA activist Archie Poole for being in possession of his cell phone while in the Brickdam lock ups is further proof of this regime's abuse of the Criminal Justice System to persecute Guyanese of African descent, especially the ones whose activism consciousness impel them to legally challenge the abuses of the PPP Government. Members of the Guyana Police Force cannot spit without the approval of the political minders of that organization. The charge against Archie Poole was issued because of instructions that he had to be criminalized. The offence for which he is really being prosecuted is not about having a cell phone in his possession in a Police Station lockups. The offence for which he is being prosecuted and persecuted is for being black in Guyana under a regime that, more and more, seem to require no additional evidence in order to arrive at conclusions of criminal guilt.
 
It is the duty of members of the force, after they have detained some one, and again before placing them in the lock-ups, to search that person so as to remove implements with which such persons can do harm to themselves or to members of the force. There is nothing in the Police Act under the section that deals with care and custody of prisoners that criminalizes a person for the inefficiency of the Police in searching them. In that context, the decision to prosecute Archie Poole for his cell phone not being removed from his possession is suggestive of a kind of vindictiveness that is consistent with the Pavlovan manner in which the Justice system in Guyana currently interacts with Guyanese of African descent.
 

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