I had no contact with Rohee – Hicken tells inquiry

By Vahnu Manikchand

Former E&F Division Commander Clifton Hicken said he had no contact with Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee on the day when police shot and killed three protesters and wounded several others when they clashed with residents who were demonstrating against the electricity tariff hike.

Hicken, who was immediately removed from the division following the shooting, gave his testimony on day three of the ongoing commission of inquiry into the July 18 incident. In his testimony Wednesday morning at the High Court’s Law Library, Hicken told the commission that he had no contact with Rohee at any time on July 18.
He noted that he reported the contents of the incidents to the acting Police Commissioner Leroy Brumell, and had received instructions only from the commissioner.
The matter was not elaborated on during the morning session of the inquiry. The senior officer made this statement after the question was put to him by Attorney Peter Hugh, who along with Attorney Paraag Hukumchand is representing the interests of the Guyana Police Force in the inquiry.
At Monday’s hearing, Attorney Nigel Hughes, representing the three deceased’s families and also the Alliance For Change (AFC), had asked Commissioner Brumell if the home affairs minister called him on July 18, requesting Hicken’s number and whether he had expected the minister to call the senior officer 45 minutes before the shooting. The acting commissioner denied having knowledge about either.
Hicken, now deputy commander of B Division, told the commission that during the period of July, he was the divisional commander of E and F Division, which Linden falls under. He revealed that prior to his post as E and F Division commander; he was stationed at the Tactical Services Unit (TSU) as the commanding officer.
Hicken said that based on the Police Force’s organisational structure, only the commissioner and the deputy commissioner have the authority to issue instructions to any Riot Unit deployed or coming out of the TSU. He then explained the process of obtaining a permit to have a march, stating that the application will have to be made 48 hours before the event and it would be sent to the commissioner, who will decide whether to approve it or not and then it will be returned to the applicant.
Hicken said that an application by the Region10 Chairman Sharma Solomon was approved for a march on July 18 from Christiansburg Community Centre Ground, Wismar, to Kara Kara, MacKenzie. He told the commission on July 18, the police officers accompanied the process to ensure that the approved routes are being followed and that there is no disturbance to other road users.
The senior officer was shown the permission for the march, which was tendered in evidence and marked as exhibit nine, and read the contents of the document listing the conditions of the permit.
On July 18, the senior officer said he arrived in Linden about 05: 30h, and went to the Mackenzie and Wismar Police stations to inform the officers that he was in the district. He then remained at the Mackenzie Station until about 11: 05h when he received certain information, and as a result, he went to a bridge that separates Mackenzie and Wismar, where he observed protestors in large numbers blocking the bridge with various objects and there was also tents on the bridge.
At the time, an assistant police superintendant and other ranks were at the Wismar/ Mackenzie Bridge. The then E and F commander then spoke to the regional chairman and trade unionist Lincoln Lewis about conditions of the permit being breached, as it did not approve any protest action, and they both assured him that the bridge would be cleared.
He then reported, via cellphone, this development to the police commissioner, who informed him to continue speaking to the leaders of the procession and get them to move. He then had another conversation with the leaders between 10: 50h and 11: 05h and kept on reporting the developments to the commissioner.
The senior officer was then asked about the TSU’s arrival in Linden and responded saying that a half unit from the TSU, comprising of the Assistant Superintendant Todd and 17 ranks, arrived at the Mackenzie Police Station about 05: 30h and where placed on standby. He then sought permission from the police commissioner to get the unit on the bridge, and based on instructions handed down to him, the ranks went to the bridge about 11: 05h and they stayed for a short time after which he along with the TSU ranks returned to the station.
The officer said that when he left the bridge, it was still blocked but the amount of objects had increased with about 900 protestors on the bridge. Hicken told the commission that after he left the bridge for the station, he was in constant contact with Assistant Superintendant Stanton, at the bridge and kept updating the commissioner of the events in the mining town. He said that he then left the station again around 17: 05h after he received certain information from officers at the bridge and when he arrived there, he observed the number of protestors had increased, and so were the number of tents on the bridge, adding that persons were even seen cooking there.
The senior officer then said that he informed the commissioner of the situation, noting that “they were shouting at a loud tone, saying ‘we are not paying any increase in electricity and if y’all (police) try to stop us, we will burn down the bridge and burn down Linden town because is only Linden can make decisions for Linden”.
The then E and F commander said that he also spoke with Working People’s Alliance (WPA) executive David Hinds, who assured him that, he and Lewis will clear the bridge before night. He said that he informed the commissioner that he pleaded with the leaders to clear the bridge, but his efforts were futile and he was instructed to return to the station.
According to the senior police officer, the commissioner then instructed that the half unit clear the bridge, and as such, Hicken passed on the instructions to Todd and the TSU half unit departed the station to go the bridge. He said that he monitored the situation via cellullar communication with Todd and Stanton and kept on updating the commissioner about the situation.
Hicken disclosed that he subsequently left the station about 19: 30h after receiving further information from Todd that he was informed via cellphone call that someone was injured. As such, the senior officer went to the MacKenzie Hospital where he was met by “an unruly crowd”, stating that they were chanting “y’all can’t come in here officer, y’all injure some people”. Hicken said he contacted the commissioner and related the development after which he summoned the detective corporal of that division to launch an investigation into the injuries of the protestors.