Govt committed to offer assistance with investigation – President Ali

His Excellency President Dr Irfaan Ali on Thursday reiterated that his Government is ready and willing to assist the Guyana Police Force (GPF) with whatever help it needs in the ongoing investigation into the murders of Isaiah Henry, his cousin Joel Henry, and Haresh Singh.
The Head of State made this declaration while fielding questions from journalists on whether his Government would be taking up the offer of assistance extended by the Argentine Forensic Anthropologist in probing the killing of the teens.

“First of all, let me say that the Government has facilitated the RSS (Regional Security System). In some component of the investigation, I know the Police Force has reached out to the FBI, and that is a continued collaboration. The investigation is ongoing, and the Police would determine and advise me on what additional help is needed,” he said.
The President also emphasised that it is not a matter of whether the Government is or is not in favour of utilising the expertise of the Argentines, but rather, Government is awaiting the advice of the Police on what additional help is needed.

“I have told the Police that whatever additional help they need, and we can facilitate, we will.”
On September 6, 2020, the mutilated bodies of the Henry cousins were found in the backlands of Cotton Tree, West Coast Berbice (WCB). They had left their Number Three Village, WCB home some days ago to pick coconuts in the backdam, but did not return home.
Their butchered bodies were found in clumps of bushes partially covered in mud after relatives went in search of them on a Sunday.

Post-mortem examinations conducted on the bodies of the teenagers revealed they had died from haemorrhage and shock. 16-year-old Isaiah had sustained a severed spine between the second and third vertebrae, and a number of chop wounds to his head.
The body of 19-year-old Joel had a total of 18 wounds. He, too, had suffered a severed spine between the first and second vertebrae. It is believed that after sustaining wounds to the head, he fell to the ground and then got the wound that severed his spine.

The murders sparked widespread protest action, particularly along the West Coast Berbice corridor, with persons blocking the road and burning debris while calling for justice.
The situation escalated as protesters blocked traffic along the WCB roadway while robbing, beating and extorting from innocent commuters. Millions of dollars were also lost as vehicles went up in flames.
As the unrest continued, 17-year-old Haresh Singh of Number Three Village, West Coast Berbice (WCB) was found dead hours after he had left home on his motorcycle to attend his farm in the backdam.

It was reported that the sound of Haresh’s motorcycle stopped along the dam, and shortly after, his family members saw a fire blazing on the dam. Suspicious that it was the motorcycle, relatives went to investigate, and discovered the motionless body of the teenager and the torched motorbike.
The teen was bleeding through his nose and had wounds to his head, ears, neck and hands. According to the family, there was also an “X” on his neck. They then rushed the 17-year-old to the New Amsterdam Hospital, but he succumbed on the way.
Several persons have been arrested, but were subsequently released. To date, no one has been charged for the gruesome murders.