Former Guyana police comish to be buried on Saturday

Former Guyana Police Commissioner Henry Greene who was killed in a vehicular accident at Harlem, West Coast, Demerara recently will be buried on Saturday, Sept. 15.

A 10-year-old girl Shaffiya Jamaluddin also died in the three-car smash-up on the West Coast Demerara Public Road, near Harlem, about seven kilometers from Vreed-en-Hoop.

Greene, 58, was driving a white sport utility vehicle east along the West Demerara Road when he collided head-on with a car, which was transporting six persons, including Jamaluddin. He then crashed into a Bakewell Distribution truck, which in turn slammed into the car Green had struck.

Greene and the young girl died before receiving medical attention.

The other injured persons were taken to hospital for treatment.

Greene once headed the Criminal Investigations Department in 2004, a position he held until 2006 when he was put in charge of the force.

But scandals marred his career. There were allegations of his involvement with drug cartels and of surrendering his independence to the government of the day. Greene was confirmed as police commissioner by then President Bharrat Jagdeo at the end of 2008.

Foreign governments, especially the United States, tried to convince Jagdeo that Greene should not be appointed commissioner, owing to allegations that he was benefitting from the drug trade. However, Greene denied the allegations.

The U.S. government had revoked Greene’s visa.

In December last year, a 34-year-old woman alleged that the top cop had raped her in a city hotel. Green subsequently proceeded on leave to facilitate the investigation, which was conducted by a team of Jamaican detectives under the supervision of crime chief Seelal Persaud.

Green denied he had sexual intercourse with the woman.

The Director of Public Prosecutions recommended that Green be charged with rape, but he successfully got the High Court to block the charge.

Greene was eventually forced out of office, handing what the government announced was a letter of retirement in April.