Even as the Guyana Police Force moves to further embrace forensic technology, a major internal conflict is brewing, following the removal of the head of the Force’s forensic laboratory.
This newspaper was reliably informed that Superintendent Stephen Greaves, who has been in the Force’s forensic department for the past 25 years, was relieved of his post as head of the section and transferred to the Brickdam Police Station, where he will serve as a uniform rank doing general duties.
No official reason was given for the move, but a reliable source high up in the Guyana Police Force informed that Greaves’ transfer has to do with a falling out he had with the Force’s CID top brass over a highly contentious issue that came up during the Linden Commission of Inquiry.
According to the source, Greaves, who is the longest serving Superintendent of Police, had been requested to prepare a “specific” report on ballistics tests carried out on weapons used during the Linden riots that led to the deaths of three persons. He refused to carry out the request, claiming that it was against his professional ethics.

Amid loud screams and thunderous applause from the audience early Sunday morning, Miss Blueberry Hill Latisha Phillips was crowned Miss Linden Town Week 2013 at the pageant held at the Mackenzie Sports Club (MSC) Ground in Linden.

The show was held under the theme “The Rising”. Phillips copped the prizes of one Jailing motorcycle, a pair of gold earrings, and a gift set for her astounding performance at the event, which was hosted by De Sheriff Entertainment and Club L&L.

The large crowd that witnessed the annual Linden Town Week pageant was well entertained as nine beautiful ladies participated in the intelligent and talent segments and flaunted magnificent outfits in the evening and swimwear segments.

July 29 – Aug 3, 2013
The Linden Fund USA (LFU), in collaboration with the Overseas Medical Assistance Team (OMAT), is set to conduct its annual medical mission to Linden - Guyana, from July 29 to August 3, 2013. The medical mission’s services are administered free of cost to hundreds of patients each year. In addition to these services, the mission will also facilitate a series of educational forums for medical professional and community members; and a National Woman’s conference in collaboration with the Women Of Mission Intl. (WOMI), a women’s empowerment organization.
The visiting team includes medical doctors and surgeons from the USA, who will be supported by overseas nurses, social workers and support staff, as well as nurses and other medical personnel attached to the Linden Hospital Complex. It is led by our own Linden son Dr. Stephen Carryl, Chairman of Surgery at the Wyckoff Heights Hospital Center in Brooklyn, NY; Board member of the LFU; and President of OMAT.

The schedule of activities for the visit are as follows:

1. A Health Fair and Lecture at the LEN conference center, on July 31, 2013 to educate the attendees on conditions that include diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, HIV/AIDS, prostate, breast and cervical cancers;
2. An all-day Women’s Conference themed, “Take Action – Make It Happen” on July 30 at the Egbert Benjamin Center on Republic Ave in Linden;
3. Lectures for nurses at the Linden Hospital Complex.
4. A pediatric community outreach on Aug 2 at the WisRock Pediatric Center; and
5. A Community Outreach & Day Trip to Muritario (up the Demerara River) on Saturday Aug 3.

“In 2007, the LFU teamed with a 30-member North East Mission of Hope medical team to sponsor our first medical outreach for the people of the Linden community and Region 10. Starting in 2010, the LFU has teamed up every year (except 2012) with OMAT to provide the medical outreach. Throughout these years our dedicated teams have worked around the clock during the visits to provide hundreds of critical surgeries and procedures to the people of our community and the 2013 team is now very excited to resume these much needed services, after a break in 2012, due to unrest in the Linden area. “We hope that residents of Linden and Region 10 would seize the opportunity to receive free and expert medical treatment, complimenting the existing services offered at the local hospitals and health centers,” said Ms. Felix-Johnson, Executive secretary of the LFU.
Medical professionals are encouraged to join the Fund’s registry to volunteer and provide services to the people of Region 10 on a regular basis. Volunteers who are interested in this initiative are asked to contact the Secretary of the Linden Fund USA by phone at 347-377-7097 or 347-362-1362; or by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Relatives of two of the three men shot dead in a protest at Linden last July have appeared before the Commission of Inquiry set up to probe the incident and look at compensation.
 
Taking the stand on Thursday were Jacqueline Bouyea, and Clyde and Rodwell Lewis. The two men were respectively the brother and elder son of the now deceased Allan Lewis while Bouyea is the mother of Shemroy Bouyea who along with Ron Somerset were the others killed on July 18 allegedly by the police.

Attorney for the families Nigel Hughes explained that Somerset’s mother was en route from Suriname and would be present to give testimony Friday morning.
 
Bouyea said her 24-year-old son used to do odd jobs for someone in the market for $10,000 a week, half of which he would give to her to help with his two brothers aged 15 and 29. The woman explained that her surviving sons both have mental disabilities and do not work. She denied that Shemroy had any mental disabilities as had been widely reported.

Bouyea said she was employed as a security guard and made about $30,000 per month. She explained that her only other source of income was the $11,000 she received monthly in Public Assistance for both of her surviving sons. Public Assistance is paid by the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security.
 
Meanwhile, Clyde Lewis testified that his 46-year-old brother had worked intermittently as a mason, carpenter and handyman and took care of their elderly mother Daphne who was present at the hearing on Thursday. However, he was unable to present a clear estimate of his earnings. Asked by the commission how often his brother would work Lewis averaged about three-quarters of the year in total.                                                                                
 
Allan Lewis was also the father of Orlando, 19, who finished CAPE exams last year. Twenty-one-year-old Rodwell is a mechanical engineering student in his second year at the University of Guyana. He told the commissioners that his father made a “significant contribution” to his studies by paying his rent which was $10,000 per month at the university dormitory.
 
He added that his father also contributed another $8,000 to $10,000 weekly for his meals and other study needs. The youngster noted that he was also receiving assistance from his mother.
The commission is set to begin its deliberations on Friday after it hears the testimony of Somerset’s mother. The body expects to finish its reports by February 28 which will then be presented to President Donald Ramotar.

Written by Kwesi Isles