Following the explosion at the Stabroek Market, Georgetown, on January 5, in which a man was killed and 19 others injured, Minister of Home affairs Clement Rohee told a press conference yesterday that they have not unearthed any evidence that Hilton Lazarus was involved in any deviant activities.
Rohee said that police also confirmed that the man, who died in the blast, was not involved in any crimes. Rohee said, “A grenade is not something to play around with; as for me, I don’t know what to do with a grenade if I get one.”
The man, who Police Commissioner Henry Greene said was a courier involved with illegal substances, has been identified as Hilton Lazarus.
Crime Chief Seelall Persaud added that the identification was made by the man’s mother, Desiree Bacchus, of 44 South Sophia, Greater Georgetown, on Tuesday.
Mr. Persaud noted that the last place Lazarus resided was with his family at the address given.
Last Wednesday, the explosion killed Lazarus, called “American”, who did odd jobs for vendors in the area.
Police reported that parts of a fragmented grenade have been recovered by the team of investigators which included police explosives experts.
It is believed that “American” was holding the grenade in his hand when it exploded.
Late Wednesday night last week, Rohee told a press conference that for sometime they have been looking at the numerous illegal activities taking place in and around the Stabroek Market, and the need to clean-up the area.
According to the Minister, the lawless activities at the Stabroek Square included the establishment of a number of illegal rum shops, harbouring of persons of unsavoury character, playing of loud music, trafficking in narcotics, vending of stolen articles, the establishment of unauthorised cook shops, barber shops, and hair-dressing salons, most of which have illegal connections from the Guyana Power and Light.
“We have also received reports about the selling of raw gold openly, which is an illegal activity, renting of illegal firearms, the sale of small amounts of ammunition around the area, the snatching of cell phones, just to mention a few.
Meanwhile, Commissioner of Police, Henry Greene, who was also present at the press briefing on Wednesday night, said that the police had been doing work at the Stabroek Market area in recent months and managed to stymie some of the illegal activities.
He added that since October, 2009, he had spoken of sanitizing the Stabroek Market area, to make it safe for the public; and they have been doing so with ranks to police the area.