PANDEMONIUM broke out in Stabroek Market Square, Georgetown, early yesterday morning when an explosion killed one man and injured 19 others.

Eyewitness reports said the incident occurred around 10:00 hrs when a device exploded, killing the victim called ‘Yankee’, ‘DJ’ and ‘American’,  who was cleaning a beverage stall in the market vicinity.

Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH), in a press release, named those who suffered injuries as:

* Marvyn Adams, 30, of Lot 248 First Street, Mocha (injury on
the left arm);

* Seon Barrow, 4, of Lot 3 Bagotville, West Bank Demerara
(injury on left shoulder);

* Gampattie Mohanlall, 66, of Lot 21 Timehri, East Bank
Demerara (injury on left foot);

* Irfan Alli, 42, of Lot 54 Stewartville, West Coast Demerara
(injury to right eye and left thigh);

* Victorine Campbell, 76, of  Lot 19 New Hope, East Bank
Demerara (injury to the right shoulder);

* Clayton Alleyne, 30, of Lot 318 Kuru Kuru, Soesdyke/Linden
Highway (injury to right eye);

* Egbert Austin, 40, of Lot 74 Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara
(puncture wound to the abdomen and admitted to Male
Surgical Ward);

* Esther Sutherland, 55, of Lot 44 Palm Street, Georgetown
(injury to the neck);

* Avis Davidson, 49, of Lot 59 La Retraite, West Bank Demerara
(burns about the body);

* Surjpattie Rajkumarie, 63, of Lot 213 Grove Squatting Area,
East Bank Demerara (injuries to the left shoulder and skull);

* Sandra Harrilall, 33, of Lot 81 Diamond Housing Scheme, East
Bank Demerara (injury to the right shoulder);

* Trefa Hinds, 31, of Cummings Lodge, Greater
Georgetown (injuries to the eyes and jaw);

* Dennis De Freitas, 50, of Lot 32 Robb Street, Georgetown
(puncture wound to the left forearm);

* Malvina David, 67, of Lot 4 Aubrey Barker Road, South
Ruimveldt, Georgetown (injury to the right thigh);

* Randolph Browne, 34, of Lot 538 Mocha Housing Scheme, East
Bank Demerara (injuries to the neck and one leg);

* Allen Daniels, 50, of Lot 23 Number 41 Village, West Coast
Berbice (injury to the chin);

* Edward Dalton, 38, of Lot 76 Hyde Park, Timehri, East Bank
Demerara (injuries to the left leg, thigh and neck);

* Shane Wiggins, 28, of Lot 33 First Street, Herstelling, East
Bank Demerara (no injury stated) and

* an unidentified male of African descent (multiple injuries about
the body).

GPH said Alleyne and Hinds were sent to the Main Operating Theatre while x-rays were being done on the others, all of whom were taken to the Accident and Emergency Unit (A&E) at 10:41 h, following the explosion.

NOTEWORTHY

The release said it is noteworthy that the persons who suffered injuries were all treated within an hour of their arrival, as doctors, nurses and other A&E staff worked meticulously to ensure that all the victims were attended to in a timely and efficient manner.

Cynthia Bharrat, daughter of injured Surjpattie Rajkumarie, said she was at work when she received a telephone call from the driver of the minibus her mother owns and conducts that Rajkumarie was injured.

Bharrat said she hurried to the GPH after being told by the bus driver that he was in the line-up for passengers at the Route 42 park when her mother said she was going to the washroom.

Within minutes, the man said he heard the explosion and saw her covered in blood.

Some eyewitnesses described the incident as shocking and said they thought it was a figment of their imagination but reality hit them when they saw bloodied people and the deceased lying on the ground with his body parts scattered around him.

Speaking to reporters at the scene, later, Minister of Home Affairs Mr. Clement Rohee said the authorities are awaiting crime scene reports in order to make a conclusive statement about what actually happened.

He stated, however, that preliminary indications point to the victim being in contact with an explosive device.

“One of his hands was blown off , which is an indication that he may have been in possession of what appears to be an explosive device,” Rohee said.

According to him, there was much speculation about the cause of the explosion, which is typical of the illegal activities in the area.

About the heavy presence of ranks from the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and Guyana Fire Service (GFS), Rohee said: “In addition to the unusual nature of the crime and the fact that the Fire Service headquarters as well as Brickdam Police Station are in close proximity would explain the heavy presence and the seniority of the ranks.”

“This is a crime scene, an incident where a person was killed as a result of an explosive device and we are yet to establish if he was in possession of it but it is also speculated whether it was in the vicinity,” he said.

The minister said the Stabroek Market Area is a haven for all types of illegal activities and, as a result, the Police have been carrying out campaigns on Saturday nights.

EXAMPLE

“I don’t think we need to speculate at this time. This is an example of the kind of illegal activities which take place in this area,” he added.

Fire Chief, Marlon Gentle, said he was in office when he heard the explosion and the GFS responded to the scene a short distance away and transported 12 of the injured persons to the GPH.

He said, from reports, the man who died was in the process of cleaning when it is believed he came in contact with the device that exploded.

As a consequence, he was killed and other persons nearby were peppered with shrapnel.

The body of the yet unnamed man who succumbed was removed two hours after he died and ranks of the GPF were combing the place for clues and collecting scattered fragments.

The face and left hand of the deceased were separated and the man, believed to be in his thirties, is known to do cleaning jobs in the area every morning.

The owner of the stall in which the device exploded was not inside at the time but was detained for questioning by the Police.

A nearby stall owner, Yonette (only name given), who was in close proximity of the explosion, said she was preparing to open her business when she heard the blast and, although she was not hurt by it, her face was swollen and red from the effect.