President Ali pledges swift justice for slain teens
-assures families of support
Georgetown, Guyana – (September 7, 2020) His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, today, assured the families of slain West Coast Berbice teenagers Masters Isaiah and Joel Henry that he will work with law enforcement to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to swift justice.
The President made this commitment to the families, during a telephone call, this morning, to Mr. Gladston Henry, the father of Master Isaiah Henry and Ms. Gail Johnson, the mother of Master Joel Henry, to express his condolences.
“This morning, I had the unfortunate task of speaking with the father of Isaiah and the mother of Joel. It is unfortunate because of the tragic way that these young men met their death. On behalf of the people of Guyana and my own behalf and that of my family and Government, I express our condolences to the family, to the parents,” President Ali said.
The President said the murders are particularly heinous and reiterated his Government’s commitment to bring those responsible to justice.
“I assure you that as President, I will work very, very hard to ensure those criminals are brought to justice…. We have to work on ensuring that crimes like these do not reoccur,” President Ali said.
The President also called on the nation, and Berbicians in particular, to stand in solidarity during this tragic time and to offer their support to the teenagers’ grieving parents, relatives and community.
“I want to ask all Guyanese not to use this moment to divide us or to separate us, but for us to be conscious of the implications that our statements, comments and posts can have, especially on social media… I can tell you the parents of these two young men are sincere; they are humble people, and as they go through this moment of loss, as they grieve in these moments, communities from which these young men came… what we can do as a people, as a country, as Guyanese is to strengthen our resolve, strengthen our commitment, strengthen our sense of purpose to our communities, to our neighbours, to our friends, to each other in ensuring that our society… our communities do not have to go through these painful moments,” President Ali said.
The President also called on the public to exercise patience and to allow the Guyana Police Force to conduct their investigations.
“I ask that you give them an opportunity to complete their work, to support them as they seek to aggressively bring the perpetrators to justice; that whatever we do in demonstrating our emotions, I appeal to you to do so in a peaceful manner, to do so in a respectful manner, to do so in a lawful manner,” President Ali said.
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Statement by H.E. Dr. Irfaan Ali on murder of teenagers in Berbice
It is with a heavy heart that I was informed of the brutal and senseless murders of Isaiah Henry And Joel Henry of West Coast Berbice. I have since spoken to the Minister of Home Affairs and Commissioner of Police urging them to deploy all needed resources to bring the perpetrators to justice.
We cannot and would not tolerate this type of brutality in our communities and country. I can understand the pain of the families and community and my prayers and thoughts are with you.
Whilst we await the swift work of the police to bring those responsible to justice, I urge residents from the communities to be patient and support the police in ensuring justice is served.
I ask you to act lawful and responsible in demonstrating your anger and hurt. As President, I can understand the emotions but I ask that the police be given an opportunity to do their job.
I also assure all of you that I have asked for a constant update on the progress of the investigation by the Police to be shared with the media, community and country.
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“No excuse for what happened to the young men”- Min Benn
Isaiah BraithwaiteSeptember 7, 2020
–will pay visit to family of deceased
–three persons arrested thus far
The gruesome murder of two teens, Joel and Isaiah Henry has again been condemned by Minister of Home Affairs Hon. Robeson Benn.
“Whatever may have been the reason there could be no excuse for what happened to the young men and grievous mutilation of their body,” the Minister said during a press conference.
Minister Benn said that he was surprised at the extreme nature of the act. He noted that the Guyana Police Force has thus far been active in investigating the matter in a professional manner to bring the perpetrators to justice.
The Minister also expressed his sympathy adding that he will be visiting the families of the deceased young men. “We want to reassure all Guyanese that no efforts will be spared to bring the perpetrators to justice,” the Minister stated.
Commissioner of Police (ag) Nigel Hoppie said that the Police have been working around the clock to bring the matter to a finality. He disclosed that “information so far has led to the arrest of three persons who are assisting in the investigation.”
The persons arrested include the owner of the coconut estate close to where the bodies of the young men were discovered, his son and the handyman.
Commissioner Hoppie noted that “the Guyana Police Force would conduct a thorough investigation into this matter and no stones will be left unturned.” In this effort, the Guyana Police Force has dispatched investigators from its Major Crimes Unit and the Criminal Investigations Department headquarters to aid in the probe.
It was disclosed that when the missing persons’ report was filed, due to concern expressed, a search was immediately launched even though the mandatory 24 hours’ time frame had not elapsed. The bodies of the cousins were found with their throats slashed and other gruesome marks about the body in Cotton Tree Village backdam.
However, both Minister Benn and Commissioner Hoppie are calling on persons in West Coast Berbice villages who are engaging in riot to resort back to order and let the police carry out their investigation. The burning and blocking of roads and the destruction of public and private property have been deemed unlawful.
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Min. Benn urges end to violent protest in response to death of teens
Isaiah BraithwaiteSeptember 7, 2020
Minister of Home Affairs Hon. Robeson Benn is calling on persons in communities on the West Coast of Berbice to desist from the ongoing violent protest. The protest broke out after two teenagers were found brutally murdered in Cotton Tree village.
“No one would want the escalation of any situation on the coast, including the resumption of blocking of the public highway to a point which will bring about a further deterioration in the law and order and to create the possibility of bringing more harm to residents of the area and to the destruction of property and further loss of life,” the Minister said during a press conference.
The Home Affairs Minister noted that the Guyana Police Force must be allowed to do a professional investigation into the matter.
“I want to continue to appeal to the residents, to the communities out there, to those upstanding and reasonable persons in the communities to bring their influence to bare to have a resort and a resumption to order and the unblocking of the roads,” Minister Benn pleaded.
He noted that the members of the Guyana Police Force are in the communities and are making efforts to bring calm to the situation.
The Minister said that he recognized that due to the gruesome murder of the two teenagers, it would spark protest. However, he pointed out that blocking and burning of roads and causing harm to others will not solve the issue.
Commissioner of Police (ag) Nigel Hoppie said that thus far, three persons have been arrested in relation to the murder and are assisting with the investigation. He also gave assurance that leads will be followed and no stone will be left unturned.
