Blaming Police for Shootings ‘Irresponsible’, Chides Foreign Minister

Wilfred Elrington

A string of unrelated, fatal shootings across the country, involving police officers and allegations of their participation in these incidents, has given the department another black-eye.  The most recent cases including the death of Mario Vernon in Punta Gorda and the murders of Fareed Ahmad and Alfredo Cowo in Hattieville and San Pedro, respectively. Public confidence in law enforcement continues to erode in the wake of these incidents where police officers have been charged, but, according to Minister of Home Affairs Wilfred Elrington, it is irresponsible and unfair to label the entire department as rogue.

Wilfred Elrington, Minister of Home Affairs

“I find that the comments being made in the media and by others in relation to incidents involving the police has the same kind of irresponsible element to it.  I have examined the situation in relation to the Ahmad, the death of the young man, there is absolutely no evidence that this is a death that is associated with the police department.  All the evidence I have seen and a thorough investigation has been done by Chester Williams and he is continuing that investigation along with Mr. Myvett who is really the investigating officer.  Myvett is responsible for investigating the crimes.  Williams is responsible to investigate activities that may be illicit or illegal on the part of the police officers.  All the investigation that both of them have done produced no evidence that the death of Ahmad had anything to do with the police per se.  This was a police woman, incidentally.  Incidentally, she was a police woman, but that is where the relationship with the police ends.  The other death, the guy in Punta Gorda, Vernon, I have not gotten anything official on it.  I have heard unofficially from a prominent resident of Punta Gorda that Vernon was a person known to the police, he was no saint, but I have no details officially from it.  I am not responsible for the day-to-day activities of the police force.  It is really left to Minister Aragon, so that he would be able to better tell you more about it.  I will, in due course, get a report on it because I meet with the high command every Tuesday.”