– Minister Webster

THE Government of Guyana will be standing the full funeral expenses for the two civilians who were killed on Tuesday by berserk businessman, Deryck Khanai, who shot them before securing himself in a salon located at the bottom of his apartment. While in there he continued his indiscriminate firing, killing two policemen, Lance Corporal Michael Forde and Constable Sherwin Pantliz.

Yesterday the relatives of one of the policemen and the two civilians were visited by a high level team from the Guyana Police Force headed by Senior Superintendent and Staff Officer, Maxine Graham and other senior officers from the Police Welfare Department of the Force, along with Human Services Minister, Jennifer Webster and her team.
Minister Webster reiterated that the shooting was indeed an unfortunate encounter as she entered the home of fallen police officer, Michael Forde to comfort his mother and other relatives and friends. Incidentally the woman is also a staff member of the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security.
The minister promised the woman that the ministry will be doing everything possible to ensure that she get the support that is needed at this time.
Senior Superintendent Graham brought a message of condolence from Police Commissioner, Leroy Brumell. The Senior Superintendent and Staff Officer told the grieving mother that the Guyana Police Force will do all that needs to be done to ensure that her son has a decent funeral and that she is comfortable thereafter.
According to Staff Officer Graham, all benefits of the fallen officer will be handed over to the family following the due process. She noted that all police officers are mourning and hurting since the fallen cop was one of theirs.

STATE OF SHOCK
Meanwhile following the news of her son’s death the woman apparently went into a state of shock and up to noon yesterday was unable to speak and had to communicate with relatives by writing. The woman communicated with her relatives by writing her thoughts in an exercise book.
After listening to Minister Webster and Staff Officer Graham the woman then wrote in her exercise book, expressing her gratitude to them and their organisations.
The woman also showed the visiting officials that yesterday she and her son had a discussion and he expressed his reluctance in going to work and she forced him to get up and go to his job. Relatives noted that the woman has expressed her hurt that she forced her son to go to his job and he died.
Webster and Graham were also told about Forde, uncannily communicating with relatives, friends and even senior officers as early as 4 am on Tuesday, apologising for wrongs he had done. They said that he even asked for forgiveness.
The next stop was New Market and East Streets where the team met the next of kin to pensioner Hugh Allister Paul who was shot while passing through the area. It is widely believed that the man who is a very open person who liked to engage in conversations may have stopped to converse with the other shot victim, Vanessa Williams, when he himself was shot.
His daughter who is said to be a doctor in the United States should be travelling to Guyana sometime soon. His next of kin, popular designer Patricia Coates, was given the assurance that all funeral arrangements and other assistance for the man would be done through her, since she was the person caring for him at the time of his death.

SECURITY IS EVERYONE’S BUSINESS
Following the visits the minister while speaking to the media called for the public to be more responsible and sensitive about what is happening in their environs. She made the call after being told that the man was seen walking along the street with a gun in hand and one in his waist. Security is everyone’s business, she remarked.
The visit was wrapped up at the home of taxi dispatcher Vanessa Williams. Her house was filled with relatives, including her mother, grandfather, children and sibling. The family received words of comfort from Senior Superintendent Graham and the Minister Webster both of whom expressed sadness at the events of Tuesday in the city.
The family was told that following the post-mortem, the family can approach the ministry and the entire funeral expenses will be taken care of by the Government of Guyana through the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security.
The dead woman’s youngest child attends primary school and according to the minister, the child will receive counselling while her grandmother will be receiving financial assistance from the ministry to facilitate the continuation of her schooling. The child will be placed under the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security’s foster care programme.

(By Leroy Smith)