Gya: Water more than flour, so Gajraj asks for probe

Under mounting pressure embattled Home Affairs Minister Ronald Gajraj yesterday asked the Head of State for an impartial inquiry into the death squad allegations, saying he is willing to proceed on leave to calm any fears of interference.

In an unexpected twist in the saga that started four months ago when the explosive allegations surfaced, Gajraj asked President Bharrat Jagdeo to commission an impartial inquiry "so that the people of Guyana can know the truth".

"I am prepared to proceed on leave upon such mechanisms being put in place to facilitate a fair and impartial inquiry and to allay fears of interference with the process that warped and corrupt minds may harbour," he said in a three-page statement that was issued by the Govern-ment Information Agency (GINA).

The administration is yet to pronounce on the minister's request, though a statement is expected to be made.
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The allegations emerged after the murder of cattle farmer Shafeek Bacchus on January 4. Soon after, his brother publicly admitted to once being part of a group that was set up to hunt criminals. George Bacchus, who is believed to have been the real target of the drive-by shooting in which his brother was killed, claimed to have worked as an informant for the group. Bacchus admitted that he used his own money to locate criminals for the group, which also carried out several contract killings.

He said the group operated with the Minister's knowledge and the financial and tactical support of several senior policemen and prominent businessmen, who were also implicated.

He explained that the gang was formed to stem the tide of the crime wave that followed the February 23, 2002 jail-break, which included spectacular robberies and the murder of policemen.

There were also claims that Gajraj had been in regular phone contact with one of the suspected death squad members, Axel Williams, who himself was executed last year. Gajraj has never fully explained those contacts. The minister had also signed a gun upgrade approval for Williams.

Because of the allegations, both the local US and Canadian embassies revoked the travel visas of the Minister. The visa of ex-police Commissioner Floyd McDonald was also revoked by the US Embassy.