‘Fine Man’s Gang’ a child army -‘Mud up’, 16, ‘Chung Boy, 16, Sancho, 14

‘Fine Man’s Gang’ a child army -‘Mud up’, 16, ‘Chung Boy, 16, Sancho, 14
By Dale Andrews

Evidence has emerged that the gang controlled by Guyana’s most wanted man, Rondell ‘Fine Man’ Rawlins, consists mainly of teenage boys who fled from their homes in the village of Buxton.


Recent evidence has brought out that many of the members of the gang are no more than 17 years old.
Dwayne Sancho, who was captured by the security forces on Monday in a trail near Ituni, is only 14 years old, while Otis Fiffee, called ‘Mud Up,’ who was killed during the initial raid two Fridays ago, and Robin Chung, called ‘Chung Boy’ were mere 17 and 16 years old respectively.

Initially, Fiffee’s age was stated as 21 years old; however, when this newspaper visited Buxton yesterday during his funeral, the age on his coffin was stated as 17. His parents had given the earlier age.
There is evidence that Rawlins and other senior members of his gang had initially recruited the teenagers as look-outs while the gang was hiding out in the village of Buxton.

After they were flushed out by the security forces, some of the young men, who were already a part of the gang, went with them.

The parents of these young men, during recent interviews, indicated that their children left their homes despite several pleas for them to refrain from the criminal activities.

Speaking with this newspaper yesterday, Sancho’s mother, Karen, said that her son had joined the gang just as he became a teenager.

She said that on several occasions he was forcibly returned home by older relatives, who had urged him to change his ways.

However, according to his mother, the last time she saw him was several months ago, when he packed all of his clothes, stole her money and fled the house.

She said that she visited the Brickdam Police Station yesterday after she learnt that her son was captured, but was unable to speak with him.

“I carry food for him,” the woman said.

Sancho, who was discovered in a trail hungry, reportedly told investigators that he had survived in the jungle on kokerite and water.

Chung’s mother said that she learnt of her son’s death from yesterday’s edition of the newspapers. She said that she had not seen her son in quite a while.

These sentiments were also expressed by Fiffee’s mother, Wendy Fiffee, in a previous interview.

“I talk to he over and over! He get licks all. He used to say, ‘nah mind he business, people ah cochore and dem go dead,’ and all dem things.”

Eyewitnesses to the Bartica massacre had indicated that most of the gunmen were ‘young boys’.
But what could have led to these young men throwing their lives away to join a gang, knowing that the consequences invariably lead to certain death?

Many villagers are of the opinion that this is a result of constant Police harassment and profiling of the youths of Buxton. The young men became sympathizers with the gunmen.

“Dis boy was a quiet boy, but after Police keep harassing he and dem other boys in the village, he run away from home and I never use to hear from he,” Fiffee’s aunt, Wendy Roberts, had stated.

“Everybody scared of the Police! The young men, when they see Police, they run fuh they life; they ain’t gat fuh do nothing,” she added.

She added that because of such incidents no one feels safe in the community anymore, and some have chosen to flee the community because of the constant harassment.

“I remember another lady son de run away because Police always picking he up, and de next time she see he back, he de dead; and de thing is when dem run away you don’t hear from them until Police kill dem, and then you hear dat dem responsible for a set ah killings,” one resident said.

It was hardly any different for Simeon Ramcharran. A sister said that he left home in 2002 and never returned.

She said that in his younger days he was a bad boy, but not in the violent sense of the word. The Police would come to the house because people pointed fingers at him every time something happened in the village. “Even if he ain’t do something, them would say is he.”

She said that as her children became older, she and her brother clashed repeatedly, and that she could not keep having the Police visit her home.

Simeon left and lived with a girl on East Bank Demerara. The sister said that she soon heard that he was in Buxton, but by then it was too late. She said that he called in the early days, and when advised to leave, he would say that he was into something and that he could not come out.

“I use to attack the Police for him when they tried to assault him.”

His mother was philosophical about his death. “You live by the sword, you die by the sword.” She was dry-eyed while her daughters were in tears over their brother’s death.

The sisters also acknowledged their brother’s selfish streak. “He never catered for his mother or for anybody in the house. He never gave anybody anything.”

They are, however, prepared to bury him, and today they will visit the Georgetown Public Hospital Mortuary to identify the body.
http://www.kaieteurnews.com/?p=1346

Dwayne Sancho is only 14 years old

‘Child killers’ phenomenon a source of grave concern - AFC
The Alliance for Change (AFC) yesterday said that there should be sociological study into the root cause of the phenomenon of child killers.
According to party leader, Raphael Trotman, even if the current crop of child killers was to be wiped out if there was no investigation and intervention at the stage of the root causes then the next crop would be even more dangerous than present.
Trotman alluded to the fact that the new breed of criminals was becoming younger and younger with criminals such as Nasty Man and others having been spawned ever since 1992.
Trotman said that his party was very concerned given that the young men were being adversely influenced and apparently did not see themselves as having a life in Guyana such as growing up, going to school, getting a job and being married among other things, “as God intended them to do”.
He noted that because of the prevailing circumstances, they (child killers) are being converted to crime.
Trotman emphasised the need to identify the root cause of crime. “What is driving young men at age 13 to take up an AK-47 and confront the security forces?”
He added that there needs to be a stance involving not just the shooting to death of these young men but to also understand the genesis of their actions.
“If you manage by some means to wipe out this entire gang then the ground still remains fertile for more like them to take their place and the next crop is going to be far worse…little effort.” has been going into the studies
Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee, during the 2008 Budget debates, lauded advances by the police when he listed a number of persons who were shot and killed by the police.
He had elaborated on what he called politically motivated crimes, saying that such crimes had nothing to do with poverty in that some unemployed youths in their formative years can be influenced by politicians or social malcontents who wished to leverage their political agenda utilising various means, including the use of force and gangs.
Regarding the possibility of making the call through a resolve clause in a parliamentary motion, Trotman said that past experiences did not bode well for such a course of action.
He drew reference to the tabling of the legislation to legalise casino gambling where the AFC had asked for a study to be conducted by the University of Guyana and was staunchly denied by the ruling party, as was the case with a motion to review Guyana Power and Light.
He noted that the party was not ruling out the possibility of approaching Parliament to call for a sociological study.
Evidence has emerged that the gang believed controlled by Guyana’s most wanted man, Rondell Rawlins, consists mainly of teenage boys.
Recent revelations suggest that many of the members of the gang are no more than 17 years old.
Dwayne Sancho, who was captured by the security forces on Monday in a trail near Ituni, is only 14 years old, while Otis Fiffee, called ‘Mud Up,’ who was killed during the initial raid two Fridays ago, and Robin Chung, called ‘Chung Boy’ were mere 17 and 15 years old respectively.
Sancho is expected to be charged with several accounts of murders linked to the gang given his confession as being a part of the gang.
Initially, Fiffee’s age was stated as 21 years old; however, when this newspaper visited Buxton yesterday during his funeral, the age on his coffin was stated as 17. His parents had given the earlier age.
In recent times another young man James Hyles, 19, was charged with several counts of murder stemming from the Lusignan massacre.
Jermaine Peters, 15, was also killed in Buxton during a confrontation with police.
He was accused of the shooting to death of a police rank.
Some other names linked to high profile murders in recent times are Nasty Man, 14, Jermaine ‘Skinny’ Charles who was arrested while still a teenager along with Dwight Da Silva and Quincy Evans among others.

Dwayne Sancho’s mother reportedly said her son joined the gang

Islam does not tolerate aberrant, forbidden practices
DEAR EDITOR
Philosophical indeed are the words of Cecil Simeon Ramcharran’s mother: you live by the sword; you die by the sword. (KN 2008.06.18). Thus ends the murderous saga of the chief recruiter of the teenage Buxton gang of murderers headed by ‘Fine Man’ Rawlins.

His sister reportedly said that, “he called in the early days, and when advised to leave, he would say he was into something and cannot come out.” She was then quoted as saying, “I use to attack the police for him when they tried to assault him.”

Dwayne Sancho’s mother reportedly said her son joined the gang just after he became a teenager and that on several occasions he was forcibly returned home by older relatives who urged him to change his ways.

Otis Fiffee’s mother, Wendy Fiffee is quoted as saying, “I talk to he over and over! He get licks. He used to say, ‘ na mind me business, people a cochore and dem go dead…” This was a seventeen year old boy speaking to his mother, actually telling her he will kill people!

These people have sullied the good name of a most wonderful human being and humanitarian, Mother (Madam) Fiffee who used her God given talents to heal and preserve life. They should hang their heads in shame.

Now what is the common link here? Every single one of the mothers, sisters and relatives were and are aware of the linkage and involvement of their sons, siblings and relatives with the murderous ‘Fine Man’ Rawlings Buxton gang! Out of their own mouth cometh their complicity, albeit in apparent silence!

Simeon’s sister, even though she knew he was involved in murdering innocent people, acts of banditry and criminality, still, in her own words used to, “attack the police for him when they tried to assault him.”
Finally the dust is settling and the true picture is emerging. Not that it was not known. The problem is however, that it could not have been proven up until now.

Many of the residents in Buxton, in particular women, deliberately used their gender to aid fleeing bandits when being pursued by security forces.

They threw themselves upfront knowing the possibly political spin off should the security forces deal with then condignly.

Many formed body barriers, tactics used in the days of the “FBB or Fat Batty Brigade” where they were schooled by political aspirants, in preventing the police and security forces from making arrests.
Up to today, this is still the practice where women protesters are placed in the forefront.

They are used as the ‘vanguard’ which is a deliberate tactic to hinder effective police action; and in the event that force is used, those involved would have a propaganda bonanza to malign and demonize the security forces and Government.

It is public knowledge that many of these dead teenage bandits initially started their association with criminal elements and crime when they were recruited as eyes for the bandits at very tender ages.

These were the ones walking with expensive cell phones, securing themselves so as to alert the bandits of the movements of the security forces.

As look outs for ‘Fine man’ Rawlings gang, they were paid handsomely. You mean to tell me that the mothers, sisters, brothers, fathers and relatives of these ten, eleven and twelve year boys never asked from where they are getting these expensive cell phones, how they are paying for the calls, with what they are buying phone cards or from where they are getting all this money?

The fact is blood money was the reason why the gang could have safely ensconced itself for so long in Buxton.

Many in the village lent formidable support buoyed by the largess and blood money shared out by the bandits much to the chagrin, fear and disappointment of many others in the same village.

Yet in the same vein, we are being told that these baby bandits initially turned to a life of crime because of police harassment and the profiling of youths in Buxton? What crass nonsense!

Those who have encouraged this either by way of overt, covert, implicit or explicit support have knowingly or unknowingly unleashed upon themselves the forces of their own destruction.

Time is showing despite all of these machinations, the bandits are coming home not to roost, but in body bags to be buried.

That is what the complicity of silence, racial or crass ignorance and misguided political aspirations have led to: death, destruction, grief, sorrows and pain. God’s own words did say, “What ye sow, so shalt thee reap.”

You sow death, poverty and destruction and you are reaping the rewards of your actions — death, poverty and destruction.

This is an immutable universal spiritual law beyond the reaches of man. It is the same physical law that says something like, for every action there is an equal and exacting reaction.

Each and every one of us will have a time to atone for our sins, for whatever is sewn in the dark shall be brought to light, political expediency or pragmatism notwithstanding. Every single day this is happening around us, yet we choose to shut our eyes to this reality and blame others for our actions.

Now, having brought to light this complicity, I simply ask, can these people be brought before the Courts for “knowingly aiding and abetting criminal activities” leading to murder, robbery, rape, death and destruction?
Name Withheld
http://www.kaieteurnews.com/?p=1472

Dwayne Sancho - 19 years old, Member of Rondell ‘Fine Man’ Rawlins’ Gang.

Dwayne Sancho - 19 years old, Member of Rondell ‘Fine Man’ Rawlins’ Gang.
Where are the fathers?
DEAR EDITOR,
One of the questions that most people are grappling with is how is it possible that those who are responsible for the recent massacres are mere teenagers.
Kaieteur News reported recently that the gang which is controlled by wanted man Rondell ‘Fine Man’ Rawlins consists of mainly teenage boys - Otis Fiffe - 17 years old, Robin Chung -16 years old and Dwayne Sancho - 19 years old.
At such tender ages these young men should have been in school studying, but instead, they were a part of a notorious gang, planning who next to rob and kill.
Where are the fathers? This is the question that startles me.
From the recent media reports, it seems as though only the mothers are around to give accounts for the lives of these young boys. Had their fathers been in the home, the outcome of their lives may have been different.
Many young men today have been raised in families where fathers have neglected their responsibilities to their wives and children. Many young men are looking for love, protection and someone whom they can admire, someone they can look up to.
When fathers fail to be that someone, then men such as Rondell ‘Fine Man’ Rawlins will take that place in the lives of our youths. The result is our children become criminals in society.
Part of a father’s responsibility towards his family is to love, protect, provide, teach and care for his family. The presence of the father in the home affects how a child thinks and behaves. The presence of the father in the home also influences the values with which a child grows and matures.
To a great extent, the father’s presence influences the outcome of the child’s life.
I encourage every father to be a man and face up to his responsibilities. What our children become tomorrow greatly depends upon our fathers today.
Navindo Tinsarran
http://www.kaieteurnews.com/?p=1549

Angela Sancho Robbed by Gunmen

Angela Sancho Robbed by Gunmen
Two bandits armed with guns robbed a New Amsterdam businesswoman of $800,000 in cash at her home before escaping on Saturday night.
A police press release stated that the lawmen are investigating a robbery under arms that occurred at about 9:30 pm on Saturday at Penitentiary Walk, New Amsterdam, during which businesswoman Angela Sancho and her husband were attacked and robbed by the two men armed with handguns.
Police said that investigations revealed that the victims had just returned home and were about to exit their vehicle when they were held up by the two men who took away $800,000 in cash and a cell phone and escaped.
http://www.stabroeknews.com/?p=14839

Armed Robbers go off with $800,000
THE police are investigating a robbery under arms that occurred about 21:30h Saturday at Penitentiary Walk, New Amsterdam.
The victims, businesswoman Angela Sancho and her husband, were attacked and robbed by two men armed with handguns.
A police statement said the couple had just returned home and were about to exit their motor vehicle when they were held up by the two men who took away $800,000 in cash and a cell phone.
The robbers made good their escape.
http://www.guyanachronicle.com/ARCHIVES/archive%2016-06-08.html#Anchor-------------54654
Gunmen stage daring robbery outside prisons
NEW AMSTERDAM, BERBICE - Two gunmen staged a brazen robbery on Saturday night just about 200 yards from the gate of the New Amsterdam Prisons, and made a clean escape.


The area where the robbery took place
The victims, who did not want to be photographed, were robbed of an undisclosed amount of cash and $18,000 worth of jewellery right in front of their home at Penitentiary Walk in New Amsterdam.
Wolford Sancho, a 48-year-old, and his wife, 46-year-old Angela Sancho, both operate a business concern in the New Amsterdam Market and another at Strand and Pitt Streets.
Their drama began to unfold at just about 21:30 hours on Saturday. The couple had earlier closed business for the night and had driven home. After Mr. Sancho parked his car in front of his residence, which is right on the corner of Penitentiary Walk and Ferry Street, he was securing the trunk.
His wife had just stepped out of the vehicle, and was standing by the door on the passenger side, about to lock it. He recalled that he saw the two men as they strolled in his direction. “Two guys just come across and stick us up at gun point. No masks…both men had small arms.
They ordered me to lie on the ground, empty my pockets and tell me to hand over my phone. They got a silver band with gold on it worth about $18,000.” They ordered Mrs. Sancho to hand over whatever money she had, “They demanded - ‘Where the money deh?’ That (the money) was on the car seat. It was in a bag but you can’t estimate how much money right now, but it was in a normal business bag that had the money, her ID card, bank books, bank statement and other things.”
After the couple saw the guns they complied. The money represented what they had earned earlier in the day. “Everything happened within five minutes, not no big long thing. They say lie down on the ground and that’s it. By the time they get the bag I was already on the ground, but she did not have to lie down.” The men collected the loot and left on foot, “They left the same way they came. They came through Ferry Street into Penitentiary Walk.
When they were approaching they were coming slow, just casual. They retreat by walking a little distance and then start running.” Being a man around the town, he said, he still was unable to identify the bandits, “I don’t know them! You does know people, but you don’t know everybody. So I don’t know them.”
The matter was reported to Central Police Station about ten minutes later, “The Police responded quickly, but by then they had already cleared the way. The Police make some circles but they ain’t get anybody…so far.”

This is the first time he was the victim of an armed robbery, but had small incidents, “I am traumatized but fit to go.” The businessman said that never would he have imagined being robbed so close to home, and moreso that close to the New Amsterdam Prisons. “On the road, just on the corner, got street lights. So if you stop your car and you see these two persons coming around the corner you wouldn’t think it was bandits.
That is why I move so cautious, without fear, because it was so close. The guys said, ‘If you mek any noise both of y’all dead,’ so we didn’t make any noise. I think it was a well planned and executed act.”
http://www.kaieteurnews.com/?p=1204