A grenade was found near the vehicle of Kaieteur News publisher, Glenn Lall, late Saturday night. The vehicle was located outside the newspaper’s office and printery on Saffon Street, Charlestown.
While the Peoples Progressive Party (PPP) condemns the act, it has taken offence at the statement issued by the government in relation to the issue.
During a Press Conference today, General Secretary of the PPP Clement Rohee noted that “the PPP has always been opposed to any act of terrorism” in response to questions raised by the media.
However he stated that “what I find disgusting is the statement that was issued by the government because they are pointing the police in the direction in the direction of the Peoples Progressive Party (PPP), because those instances that were listed, by indication reeks of the PPP being the prime suspect.”
In a statement condemning the incident at the weekend, the Government stated that Kaieteur News has been in the forefront “of aggressively and relentlessly reporting on the findings of the many audits of state agencies, the revelations that have oftentimes been explosive.”
Head of the Criminal Investigations Department, Senior Superintendent Wendell Blanhum confirmed to the media that it was a live grenade and with the safety pin detached.
The government stated that it stands resolutely in defense of press freedom in Guyana and condemns, in the strongest possible manner this heinous and dastardly act of cowardice against Kaieteur News. It further stands in solidarity with Kaieteur News and the entire media fraternity that has been shaken by that attempted attack and supports the GPF in its investigation.
Questioning whether the incident is an attempt to muzzle the media, the Private Sector Commission (PSC) in a statement today, also condemned the incident, noting that such actions have no place in our democratic society.
The Commission urged the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to expedite their investigation so as to bring the perpetrators to justice in the shortest possible time.
The PSC said it stands with Kaieteur News and the rest of the media fraternity on this issue.
Additionally, the Guyana Press Association (GPA) calls on the intellectual authors and/or perpetrators to desist from such a dastardly act. The GPA added that all stakeholders in the international community, opposition, government and civil society must speak out against what seems like a calculated act to intimidate the work of Kaieteur News.
