(The following editorial appeared in yesterday’s Barbados Daily Nation and is being reprinted, courtesy of that newspaper:)

“THE GUYANA Police Force has confirmed that the destruction by fire-bombing of two buildings of the country’s Ministry of Health in Georgetown early Friday morning was the act of arsonists and that investigations were being pursued to apprehend the perpetrators.

This is quite a tragic development for that Caribbean Community partner state which has been experiencing a period of relative calm following the successes of its security forces against armed gangs and rampant criminality.

Whatever differences there may be between Guyana and Barbados, we have no doubt that the administration of Prime Minister David Thompson would be quite concerned about the implications that could only aggravate some of the very social and economic problems associated with labour mobility within CARICOM.

As the Guyanese security forces were engaged in round-the-clock investigation, both the Guyana Chronicle and the privately-owned Stabroek News’ published editorials (on Sunday) strongly critical of what they regard as a senseless and dangerous development. “What a disaster”–lamented the Stabroek News, “for the health sector, for our material heritage, for the political environment and, most of all, for the people of Guyana”.

Contending that “there is something wrong with whoever burnt down the Ministry of Health, if by some twisted logic they seriously believe that this is a step towards making Guyana a better place”, the newspaper noted:

“There are certainly wild men out there who do not adhere to any formal party structures, but who are incited to commit dangerous acts because of a tense political atmosphere, or careless statements made in the political arena, even though these were not intended to incite anyone…”

President Bharrat Jagdeo has denounced the destruction of the Ministry of Health buildings as “a despicable act” and vowed that the government “will leave no stones unturned to bring the perpetrators to justice”.

Leader of the main parliamentary opposition, Robert Corbin, noted that there have previously been some mysterious fires at other government buildings and urged “a thorough investigation” into the destruction of the Ministry of Health buildings.

For the ‘Chronicle” newspaper, which discussed the tragedy in the context that “there is no room for terrorism”, editorially declared:

“This nation simply cannot afford a return to the lawlessness, destruction and fear that not so long ago gripped too many of our communities, with loss of lives, including children, and the destruction to property, plus the bitterness spawned by acts of criminality…”

Health Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy has assessed the losses of the two main buildings, valuable equipment and a “complete destruction of the most sophisticated computerised system” at an estimated US$5 million.

He was anxious to praise the “spirit of dedication and commitment” of the Ministry’s entire staff, most of whom are expected to be temporarily relocated by this (yesterday) afternoon to continue providing service to the public as they join in awaiting the outcome of the police investigation