‘Suspected murder rocks Amerindian Hostel occupants’
The concocted and misleading statement by  Kaieteur News, dated Tuesday, June 1, 2010, “Suspected murder rocks Amerindian Hostel occupants” is highly inaccurate and far from the truth. Kaieteur News, in its effort to maintain a market for the newspaper, resorts to speculative reporting and disregards all the principles of journalism, a statement from the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs said yesterday.
Following is the text of the statement:
This daily has become like a poisonous arrow over the years and by its actions has exposed itself as the new opposition.
The Ministry of Amerindian Affairs would like to clarify the circumstances and misguided report by the Kaieteur News surrounding the death of Mrs. Evelyn Daniels, a 63-year-old Amerindian woman from Matthews Ridge, Region One, at the Amerindian Hostel, Princes Street, Georgetown.
It is alleged that on May 31, 2010, the now deceased Daniels was found inflicting fatal wounds to herself at the Amerindian Hostel. It must be noted that the staff of the Amerindian Hostel immediately rushed the patient to the Georgetown Public Hospital. Following, with the same level of urgency, the matter was reported to the police. The Ministry of Amerindian Affairs promptly responded to the emergency call of the Administrator of the Facility by dispatching a team consisting of the Permanent Secretary and two Project Officers. Internal findings by the team indicated suicide. However, the Ministry awaits the findings of the police investigations.
It is therefore reprehensive and unforgivable for Kaieteur News to seek to paint a picture of suspected murder, and to imply that patients and staff of the residential facility may have had something to do with the death of Mrs. Evelyn Daniels. Such actions obviously are devoid of proper conduct of professional journalism; the reporter(s) surely did not inquire from the police as to the findings of the investigations on the matter. This questions the credibility of the newspaper as a reliable source of information.
The demise of Mrs. Daniels has obviously shocked the occupants of the Hostel; the Ministry regrets the tragic loss of life and will assist in the burial arrangements. The Ministry of Amerindian Affairs wishes to extend our heartfelt sympathy to the children, family and friends of the late Mrs. Evelyn Daniels.