I will be vindicated in the end – Kwame McCoy

Dear Editor,

After several months of intolerable harassment at the hands of the Guyana Police Force, I am convinced that there is a political agenda to use the criminal justice system to witch-hunt me because of journalistic and political activism.

Over the last few months, I have had to endure several days of imprisonment; I spent numerous hours at police stations; I gave several statements to the Police; I have been asked innumerable questions; attempts have been made to frame me for murder; I have been charged with an assault which allegedly took place over five years ago; although assault is one of the most trivial charges known to criminal law, I have been taken to court in chains.

The latest series of harassment are concocted charges that I assaulted Mark Benschop, damaged his motor vehicle and that I stole from the same. This incident is alleged to have occurred again some five years ago.

I submitted a written statement explaining that I was nowhere in the vicinity at the time this incident is alleged to have taken place. The Police claimed that they have an eyewitness. Myself and my Attorney-at-Law requested the name of this witness. We also requested to have a confrontation with this witness. Both of these requests were denied.

My Attorney-at-Law submitted statements from three different eyewitnesses who were present at the time the incident was alleged to have occurred. All of these persons confirmed that I was not at the scene and that I came on the scene some 15 minutes or more after the incident occurred.

These statements were submitted to the Police in a timely manner with a request that they be included in my file which was being reviewed by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and/or the Police Legal Adviser (PLA). The Police refused to include those statements in that file or to send them subsequently to the DPP and/or the PLA.

I reiterate, that I am in no doubt that I am being persecuted because of my journalistic and political activism; I am in no doubt also that the criminal justice system will continue to be used and misused as a political weapon against me.

I call on the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) and on all other human rights organisations in Guyana; I call on the DPP; I call on the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR); I call on the Police Complaints Authority (PCA); I call on those in charge of the administration of justice; I call on our diplomatic community; I call on the Caricom Secretary General and I call on every peace-loving Guyanese and on all political leaders to condemn this political persecution of me.

I will endure this ordeal and I have no doubt that my innocence will be vindicated in the end. I am strong. I worry not for myself but for the other victims that will follow, for I am confident I will not be the last.

Sincerely,

Kwame McCoy