The Honourable Minister of Home Affairs, Mr. Robeson Benn, M.P, the Commissioner of Police Mr. Clifton Hicken and other Senior Officers, today, Sunday, July 10, 2022, laid wreaths in remembrance of the 65 Ranks who lost their lives in the line of duty.

The ceremony which was held at the Monument for the Fallen Heroes in the Police Officers’ Mess Compound, Eve-Leary, commenced with the laying of wreaths by relatives of the fallen heroes, the Minister of Home Affairs and officials of the Police Force. Followed by a march past, a 21-gun salute, two minutes of silence and reveille.

“On this day we come to memorialize, introspect and recognize the Police officers, who at the point of danger when confronted with the most appropriate action to take, when faced with a significant problem, a significant issue of safety and security for the Guyanese nation, made the ultimate sacrifice”, Minister Benn during his feature address.

Minister Benn in honouring the families of the fallen heroes, stated, “one would perhaps think that in facing the unexpected in dealing with the tragic and traumatic events and departing for ourselves, what they may have been thinking, of course, perhaps suggest the questions of family, of self and perhaps to the country. Why would Policemen when standing up, face the danger, not run away, even at the moment simply but perhaps lay down and made the supreme sacrifice. I posit to you surprisingly, that in these days, we are defending and building and creating the environment for a better and greater Guyana for ourselves, for ourselves for, for all Guyanese.”

He further stated, “I want to stand behind all the efforts by the Falling Heroes Foundation to support the families, the main help in respect of ambitions that the children of the Fallen Heroes. We have the children and the relatives and we stand ready to make proper interventions and help in respect of the care and comfort of the families and, also, to other policemen and women who may have suffered physical disability as a result of injuries in the line of duty.”

“Amongst the fallen are every Guyanese religious belief and practically every ethnic group is represented in the persons who have lost their lives in service”, Minister Benn added.

In closing Minister Benn, thanked the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Clifton Hicken for the splendid display and identified, in his view that with continuing splendid service, the Fallen Heroes will be and must continue to be proud of the Guyana Police Force and be proud and satisfied that their sacrifice would not have been in vain.

The 65 ranks remembered were killed in the line of duty from 1913 to 2016. They include Corporal 1546 James Ramsay, who was killed in 1913 at Plantation Rosehall Canje, Berbice by armed strikers; Corporal 3485 Ferdinand Mitchell who was killed in 1927 when he was ambushed and shot dead on Tarlogie, Public Road, Corentyne, Berbice; Constable. 5527 Claude Allen who was shot at Field 10 aback of Reliance Canje, Berbice, while escorting payroll in 1957; Constable 5062 Leslie Hannibal, hacked to death in 1958 by notorious criminal Edward Lashley in Georgetown; Corporal 4683 Edgar Benn, shot in 1959 by notorious criminal Clement Cuffy at Naamryck, East Bank Essequibo; Constable 4733 Henry Chester, also shot in 1959 by notorious criminal Clement Cuffy at Naamryck, East Bank Essequibo; Sergeant 5065 Clarence Bacchus shot in 1961, while investigating a report of burglary in Albouystown, Georgetown.

Supt. Deryck McLeod shot by an unidentified sniper in Robb Street, Georgetown during ‘Black Friday Riots’ in 1962; Inspector 4412 Whittington Braithwaite, attacked and killed by the Harts and Melvilles at Lethem Police Station during an insurrection in 1969. The other fallen heroes include Sergeant 4590 James Anderson; Constable 5611 James McKenzie; Constable 5691 William Norton; Constable 7178 Kendall Michael; Constable. 8905 Michael Robinson who, in 1973, was attacked, beaten and thrown into a canal where he drowned, while on duty at Canal # 2, West Bank Demerara.

Constable 8898 Kennard Nicholson, stabbed in 1973 at Enmore Police Outpost, East Coast Demerara by Abdool Sammy; Constable 7137 Bhagwan Persaud, who died after being struck down by a car at a road block on Beterverwagting Public Road, East Coast Demerara in 1974; Constable 8646 James Henry who was shot at Number 62 Toll Station, Berbice in 1974; Constable 9002 Audie Bourne, who was shot in Station Street, Kitty, while responding to a 911 call in 1974; Corporal 8250 Gavin King, shot in Albouystown, while investigating a report of robbery in 1978; Constable 0407 – John Shepherd – shot in Laing Avenue, Georgetown by wanted criminal, Simon Mc Phoy in 1979.

Constable 10510 Lakhram Sukdeo, stabbed while on duty at GEC, Sub Station, David and Sheriff Streets, Kitty in 1980; Constable 8818 John Toney, shot and burnt at Mora Point Police Outpost in 1981; Constable 16418 Adrian Williams, shot while attending to a report at West La Penitence, Georgetown in 1996; Sergeant 11117 Richard Faikall, shot by bandits, who had robbed the GNCB, Anna Regina, Essequibo in 1997; and Constable 16138 Allan Higgins, shot by notorious criminal, Hilton Rodrigues at Cromarty, Corentyne, Berbice in 2000.

Const. 17650 Eloye ADRIDGE, shot in 2001 at Sparendaam Police Station, EastCoast Demerara by Colin Hooper; Supt. Leon FRASER, ambushed and shot dead at Yarrowakabra, Soesdyke/Linden Highway by wanted criminals in 2002; Sgt. 12361 Harry KOOSERAM 2 Shot in 2002 while on his way to work by a criminal on Strathspey Public Road, East Coast Demerara; Const. 18521 Sherwin ALLEN,Ambushed and shot at Coldingen, East Coast Demerara by criminals in 2002; R/ Const. Andrew ATWELL in 2002, he was attacked by notorious criminals while on duty at Alberttown Police Station. Const. 15751 Rawle THOMAS, shot and killed by criminals, at Wismar, Linden in 2002, L/Cpl 16987 Adrian LONDON was shot and killed in 2002 by criminals, at Joseph Pollydore Street, Lodge, Georgetown while on his way home from work. Const 11405 Outar KISSOON and Const.15636 Ramphal PARDAT were attacked and killed in 2002 by criminals, at Rose Hall Police Outpost, Berbice, Const. 18271 Feroze BASHIR was shot and killed by criminals at Buxton, East Coast Demerara in 2002.

Ch. Insp. Leland OCTOBER in 2002 he was shot and killed by criminals at Russell and Sussex Streets, Charlestown, while on his way home. Const.19219 Quincy JAMES, Shot and killed by criminals while on traffic duty on Regent Street in 2002. Const.16840 Colin ROBERTSON, shot and killed by criminals at Sophia, while on his way to work in 2002. Const. 15885 Mark LATOUR, in 2003 he was shot and killed by criminals at Arapaima Restaurant, Main and Quamina Streets, Georgetown.

Const.14500 Rayon ROBERTS, shot and killed by criminals on Bent Street, Wortmanville in 2003. Const.17657 Mark YAW, shot and killed by criminals, in a minibus while on his way to work in 2003. Const.18043 Nankumar MOHABIR in 2003 he was 2003 shot and killed by criminals while on patrol duty at Friendship Public Road, East Coast Demerara. Const.18343 Deon JOSEPH, 2003 shot and killed by criminals at ‘B’ Field,

Sophia, while on his way to work in 2003. Const.18411 Ronald ABEL, shot and killed by criminals at Buxton, East Coast Demerara in 2003. Sgt. 0612 Walton BRUMELL in 2003 he was shot and killed by criminals in a minibus at Buxton, East Coast Demerara while on his way to work. Const. 19210 Suresh DHANIRAM, shot and killed by criminals in a minibus at Buxton, East Coast Demerara 2003.

Const.18102 Lloyd CAMERON, in 2003 was shot and killed by criminals at Sophia while on his way to work. Asst. Supt Richard GRIFFITH and L/Cpl.14177 Ramnarine LATCHANA were shot and killed by Ex-Constable Soloman Blackman whilst performing duty at Traffic and Enquiries Offices, Brickdam, respectively in 2004. Const.19156 Omani SAVORY in 2004 he was shot and killed by criminals at Buxton, Demerara. S/Const.13321 Kwesi LAWRENCE, Shot and killed whilst on a Joint Services Operation at Victoria, East Coast Demerara in 2006.

Const.17890 Micah CORT, was in 2007 shot and killed while on duty in New Amsterdam, Berbice. L/Cpl. 18632 Zaheer ZAKIER, Const. 16906 Shane FREDERICKS and Const.19886 Ron OSBORNE were shot and killed when the Bartica Police Station was overrun by armed bandits in 2008. Const.18682 Oslyn GLASGOW was in 2008 shot and killed by bandits at Wellington Park Foreshore, Corentyne, Berbice.

Const. 20740 Baldat BEECRAMSINGH, shot and killed by bandits at Lamaha Springs, La Penitence, Georgetown in 2010. Const. 19510 Marion LETLOW and Const. 21320 Leedon AARON were in 2012 shot and killed by criminals at Karisparu Village. Cpl. 20196 Romain CLETO, shot and killed by criminals at Avenue of the Republic and Robb Street whilst performing patrol duty in 2013. L/Cpl. 20293 Michael FORDE and Const. 18053 Sherwayne PANTLITZ were in 2013 Were killed while attending to a report of shooting incident at Middle Street, Georgetown. Cpl.14996 Silburn ELIAS, shot and killed in the line of duty while trying to arrest a bandit that had escaped from the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation in 2014. Const.21999 Antonio DAWSON, was in 2015 stabbed while apprehending a suspect at Gafoors’ Complex, Houston, East Bank Demerara and subsequently died and Sgt.16934 Leonard LA ROSE was fatally stabbed in 2016 while apprehending a suspect who was wanted for an allegation of rape at Matthews Ridge, North West District.