tied up and tortured by
the Russian guards
The two Russian guards who were captured on video beating two Guyanese miners near the Quartzstone River in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) have on Wednesday been arrested.
In confirming the arrests, the Police have said investigations revealed that the Russians are employed by West Bank Demerara Gold Inc, which is licensed to operate in Guyana; and as Supernumerary Constables, they are authorised to carry firearms. However, they breached the conditions of that authorisation in that, at time of the incident, they were not attired in the uniform prescribed by their employer and approved by the Force’s Administration. This however, was not evident in the video footage which was circulated on social media.
At a forum held on Wednesday, Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman raised concerns over the fact that foreigners are being granted firearm licences.
Concerns
“I am concerned about foreigners having weapons; licensed weapons. I am told that precepts were issued. A precept is really a kind of permission given by the Police Force to persons to act as security guards and also to carry firearm licences. I am concerned about that and the number of persons who may have them,” Trotman disclosed.
He explained that the interior is known to be “Wild West”, and so the number of guns present there would have a direct bearing on the levels of crime and violence in the area.
“It also tells us that people expect or need a greater Police presence, and so I believe Government is looking at that. We recently launched the Corps of Wardens, and that Corps of Wardens will come alongside the Police Force, when necessary, to assist not just with law and order, but of course to ensure that the laws (such as) mining laws, forest laws, wildlife protection laws etcetera, are respected,” the minister added.
An official report was on Sunday received by the Police from a miner who claimed that he had been brutalised by a group of Russian guards attached to the gold company.
‘F’ Division (interior locations) Police Commander Kevin Adonis told Guyana Times International there is on the miner’s body evidence suggesting he had been beaten and tortured. As such, an investigative team from the Force’s headquarters travelled to Quartzstone, where the incident allegedly occurred, and arrested the two foreign nationals.
On April 3, 2018, two employees of Hopkinson Mining Logistics were performing duties on their employer’s concession when they were intercepted by two Russian operatives, who made every attempt to prevent them from doing their work. A security officer of Hopkinson’s recorded the incident with his cellular phone. The video recording showed a Russian guard demanding documentation, challenging the two employees’ right to be on their employer’s claim, and subsequently attempting to block their access.
The foreigners were seen beating the men before pulling out a gun.
