…seize car during early morning raid

POLICE have arrested six men and seized a motor car in connection with the lobbing of a grenade at the vehicle of Kaieteur New Publisher Glenn Lall last Saturday.

In a statement the police said “relative to the investigation into the grenade attack at Kaieteur News, detectives from the Guyana Police Force after reviewing surveillance footage have detained a motor car matching the description and six suspects.”

According to the police, the suspects were arrested in the wee hours of yesterday morning at different locations and are in custody assisting with investigations.

Guyana Chronicle was told that police are examining a grey Toyota Spacio that may be linked to last Saturday night’s threat on Kaieteur News. The vehicle was found abandoned in the vicinity of Norton Street and Mandela Avenue, shortly after a grenade was thrown at the vehicle of publisher, Glenn Lall.

Commander of the Division, Clifton Hicken disclosed that the owner of the car reportedly told police that the vehicle was hijacked, but this was not reported to the station and it was discovered that he was lying to the police. Upon further investigation it was discovered that the owner of the vehicle loaned his car to some persons who were responsible for the brazen act. The police acting on the information arrested the suspects in several locations in Sophia, South Georgetown and its environs.

The commander said that the vehicle impounded is one similar to the one seen of KN CCTV camera as such the footage is being reviewed for clarity. He said the public also assisted with the investigations and the police are grateful, even as they are optimistic about the investigations.

Only on Monday the Private Sector Commission condemned the attack on Kaieteur News. “If this is a heinous attempt to muzzle the media, such actions have no place in our democratic society and we urge the Guyana Police Force to expedite their investigation so as to bring the perpetrators to justice in the shortest possible time,” the business umbrella body in a statement.

The body assured that it stands with Kaieteur News and the rest of the media fraternity on this issue “and wish to assure you all that our thoughts are with you.” Also on Sunday government condemned the act, describing it as an “attempted act of terrorism”. In a strongly worded statement the coalition Government said it is alarmed by the act of domestic terrorism, which was attempted and sought to reiterate its stance in relation to press freedom in Guyana:

“The coalition Government stands resolutely in defence of press freedom in Guyana, and condemns in the strongest possible manner this heinous and dastardly act of cowardice against Kaieteur News.”

Also condemning the act on Monday was the Guyana Press Association, which called on the Guyana Police Force to execute an in-depth investigation into the presence of the live grenade near Lall’s vehicle.

“Regardless of the motive, the act alone has a chilling effect on press freedom. We take this opportunity to call on the intellectual authors and/or perpetrators to desist from such a dastardly act.

All stakeholders in the international community, opposition, government and civil society must speak out against what seems like a calculated act to intimidate the work of Kaieteur News.”

The GPA said that the media in Guyana must be allowed to carry out its crucial work of being society’s watchdog, ensuring transparency and efficacy in state and the private sector, without frightening distractions like these.

“The GPA notes the government’s prompt statement condemning the attack and of its full support to the Guyana Police Force in the investigations. We stand in solidarity with the staff of Kaieteur News and the wider media community in this period.”

The grenade, discovered by staff of the newspaper did not explode, although it was later discovered that the pin had been removed. Police were subsequently summoned, and the street was cordoned off for an investigation.