Who gave the order? …Teixeira slams Army, Police for use of “terror tactics” in controversial NICIL probe

People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Chief Whip and a former Home Affairs Minister under the PPP/C Government Gail Teixeira has described the recent move by the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) to stake out Head of the National Industrial and Commercial Limited (NICIL), Winston Brassington’s home as “sinister”, adding that the parties involved must come out and say who really gave the order.

She said too that the move was a violation of one’s human rights; an argument already held by some sections of civil society. The surveillance on the vehicle, which was being driven by a male with the female in the passenger seat on December 30 last, has left Army Sergeant Robert Pyle and his wife Stacey dead after the vehicle they were travelling in slammed into a canter, which was driven by Prashad Nagar resident, Linden Eastman. Eastman also died on the spot.

The Army on Tuesday came out defending its involvement, saying that the young sergeant and father of two young children was doing nothing out of the ordinary. It said that it was “normal” for the Defence Force to offer support to other law enforcement bodies on operations of a similar nature.

The Defence Force also argued that Pyle, who was a member of its Special Intelligence Unit, was working as part of Operation Dragnet; an initiative announced last year by Government to tackle the out-of-control crime situation in the country.

But Teixeira told a media briefing on Wednesday that both entities must come to fore with answers as to who really gave the order which claimed the lives of the three persons.

“The GDF and the Police have to come out and say if they were tracking Brassington’s daughter… If your interest in a particular person, there are mechanisms to doing it and not chasing them down the road. It is not the question of who was the target; it is the question of the methodology. If someone is under watch list, there are procedures and practices so the Police are well aware. To give chase particularly when it turns out they may have been at the wrong place and may have been chasing the wrong people, they have to answer to this,” Teixeira told the media.

She recalled that at the formation of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), under the previous Administration, the Army was never involved in the unit’s operations. She said that as far as she knew, the only time the Army was invited to lend support was during the period she was Minister of Home Affairs back in 2002, when the heated crime wave began.

According to Teixeira, the President at that time made a decision to bring out the Defence Force to assist the Police. She reminded too that the then Opposition, now Government, had cried this move, but it was all an attempt to help control the raging crime spree through the joint operation.

In this case, however, she said it is one of more questions than answers.

“If you are going to search people’s places, it must be done within the confines of the law. What reason could there be for you to be chasing anybody? This is not a robbery, this is not a person running out of house with guns and therefore you have to give chase. And that is scary. That is not something that should be treated lightly and heads of the Army and Police have to answer,” the Opposition’s Chief Whip said.

“Did they give the order and do they take the responsibility for what happened that night. If they are playing Pontius Pilate and have washed their hands, then who gave the order… which agency gave the order?” she questioned.

Meanwhile, Karen Desouza, Head of Red Thread told this newspaper on Wednesday that the operation was a “tragedy of errors” and lacked seriousness, noting that she would not even go into the details about the violation of human rights.

“I honestly do not understand why a serious investigation would be introduced by the number of media teasers that we’ve had by the failure to secure any evidence or documentation. I just find it extremely… ridiculous.”

The Private Sector Commission (PSC) has also weighed in on the matter, calling for answers from the relevant authorities.