There has been no love between the People’s United Party and the Gang Suppression Unit and tonight those bad relations have reached rock bottom. Complaints of police brutality at the hands of the Gang Suppression Unit are commonplace. In fact, since its formation in 2010, citizens have come on a frequent basis to vent their frustration with the GSU’s modus operandi. The unit’s unorthodox approach to crime fighting reared its head again last week when a property on Kraal Road was raided by the elite task force, while residents of the community were reportedly physically and verbally abused by the officers. On Saturday, during the People’s United Party’s endorsement convention for Lake Independence standard bearer Cordel Hyde, former prime minister and Fort George area representative Said Musa took the Barrow Administration and the Gang Suppression Unit to task. Musa openly criticized the dubious manner in which the GSU carries out its mandate, particularly where it concerns the unit’s mode of operations. Those rather pointed remarks were the views of the seasoned politician and two-time prime minister. But on Monday, Inspector Mark Flowers, the recently appointed head of GSU, responded to the sharp criticism by excoriating Musa in an interview with another media house. That inflammatory response has led to the People’s United Party asking for his removal from the post. For context we begin with Musa’s remarks.
Said Musa, Area Representative, Fort George
“The GSU is out of control and if I have my way, if I have anything to do with it that is one of the first things the PUP will do. Out with the GSU! Abolish the GSU! Because that is no way to be treating people man! We have ministers of government who are mollycoddling the criminals, the real criminals and then the innocent people are being repressed and oppressed by the GSU, no man! In fact, the GSU going after little people, poor little black boy smoking one stick of weed, lock up people for one stick of weed, when they leave the big drug barons to do what they like. That will have to stop my friends.”
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