Gov’t condemns attack on KN
Kaieteur News’ Publisher Glenn Lall
Kaieteur News’ Publisher Glenn Lall

The Government of Guyana (GoG) has condemned what it described as an “attempted act of terrorism” perpetrated on Kaieteur News (KN), after a grenade was found alongside a vehicle belonging to the newspaper’s publisher, Glenn Lall, late on Saturday night outside the newspaper’s office and printery on Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown.In a strongly worded missive issued on Sunday, the coalition Government, alarmed by the act of domestic terrorism which was attempted, sought to reiterate its stance in relation to press freedom in Guyana: “The coalition Government stands resolutely in defence of press freedom in Guyana, and condemns in the strongest possible manner this heinous and dastardly act of cowardice against Kaieteur News.”

The grenade, discovered by staff of the newspaper, did not explode although it was later discovered that the pin had been removed.
Police were subsequently summoned, and the street was cordoned off for an investigation.

Appreciative of the fact that no one had been harmed, the Government said it stands in solidarity with Kaieteur News and the entire media fraternity, which has been shaken by this attempted attack.

Further, the Government said it believes that the dropping of a grenade alongside a vehicle, even if the device was found to be fake, cannot be considered a joke or a hoax.

“It was grave and an undisputed act of terror designed to intimidate, harm and create fear,” the statement said.

As such, the Government contends, this attack must strengthen “our resolve as a nation that evil, in all its forms and incarnations, must not be allowed to prevail, and must be relentlessly and uncompromisingly conquered”.

Additionally, the Government has committed its full support to the Guyana Police Force as that entity investigates this “sickening attempted act of terrorism”.

“The Government looks forward to the perpetrators and possible intellectual authors being identified, pursued, arrested, and placed before the court; and being dealt with to the full extent of the law,” the statement said.

The statement also highlighted that Kaieteur News is one of Guyana’s leading independent media organisations, and it has proudly and zealously guarded a reputation for fearlessness in reporting Government excesses, corruption and abuse of power. Testimony to this is its aggressive and relentless reporting on the findings of the many audits of state agencies, the revelations that have oftentimes been explosive, the statement said.

It added that Guyana has emerged from the dark days of oppressive press intimidation and attacks.
“We must never permit dark and evil forces to cause us to regress”, the statement admonished.

In August 2006, five Kaieteur News pressmen: Eion Wegman, Richard Stuart, Mark Maikoo, Shazim Mohamed and Chetram Persaud, were heartlessly slaughtered in what was the worst attack on the media in the history of this nation.

In recent years, a columnist of the newspaper was also attacked, while a minister of the former Government had threatened to physically harm staffers there.

 

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