– students express frustration over constant bomb threats

By Tamica Garnett

EXAMS were cancelled, projects had to be postponed, and persons were made to brave the rain in an emergency evacuation of the University of Guyana (UG), Turkeyen Campus on Friday amidst yet another bomb scare, which police later determined was hoax. The Police Bomb Unit conducted a thorough search of the campus and found no evidence of a bomb.
As they exited UG compound or stood around waiting for an update on the situation, most of the University students were more annoyed than scared about the disruptions to their studies and final year exams.

Many were quick to suggest that the threat was perhaps the idle work of a student who was not ready to write their Friday exams.
“To be honest, I’m actually annoyed. It just feels like somebody just doesn’t want to write final exams and they’re just choosing to call in. I have other things to do and they need to quit this nonsense already. I’m not even scared I’m just annoyed,” related Kimeanda Hinds, a final year biology student. She was in the University’s laboratory working on her final year project when she had to leave campus because of the bomb scare.

The Police Bomb Unit and the Fire Service responded to a report of a bomb threat at the Turkeyen Campus after it was issued via social media around 10:45hrs. The campus was evacuated and all afternoon examinations were cancelled as a precautionary measure, the University of Guyana said in a statement.

The message, which was sent to some media houses and circulated on social media, stated that 20 bombs were placed throughout the Turkeyen Campus. The person said the bombs would be activated unless their demands were met, despite the fact that there were no demands.

The message was accompanied by a picture of what the person said was the bomb, but which was later proven to be an image from a 2018 bomb incident in Dublin.
The Guyana Police Force (GPF) was contacted, and it carried out a thorough search of the school, while the Guyana Fire Service dispatched a unit to the campus. However, by late afternoon Police confirmed what many were already openly suggesting, that the threat was a hoax.

“A little after 9 am we [GPF] were called by somebody from the media. We searched all the buildings on campus and nothing was found or any trace of anything,” reported Commander of ‘C’ Division, Senior Superintendent Calvin Brutus.
“If there’s a report we have to respond to it and follow the law. We’ve already completed [the search] and vacated. We don’t have anything else to do as it is now, but in terms of classes (resuming) the school’s authority would have to determine that,” the Commander added.

He said the next move is to locate the individual or individuals behind the threat, and charge them for cybercrime. The Criminal Investigation Division (CID), he said, would be conducting the investigation.

“In terms of cybercrime they are doing their own investigation at the CID [Criminal Investigation Division],” Brutus posited.
Friday’s bomb scare at the school was the fourth such case for the year. UG student Sheliza Jafferally was in February charged with the misuse of a telecommunication device after a telephone number belonging to her was linked to the number from which a number of bomb threats on the University were allegedly made.

She is currently out on bail, and the case is ongoing. Jafferally, who goes by the nickname ‘Shelly’, is the niece of former People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Region Six Member of Parliament (MP) and current Region Five Campaign Manager Faizal Jafferally.
Students fear that the continued bomb scares may result in a case of the boy who cried wolf, and are concerned that the continued false threats are making it all the more difficult for what could play out in the case that something serious does happen.
“We were in the library studying,” explained third year Chemistry student Melissa Thomas as she walked out the campus gate with her friends.

“At this state I’m tired, it’s frustrating and I am tired, we have to leave campus for the entire day. Money spent on transportation wasted. We’ve been calling scares for too long, this is like what the third one or fourth one? My thing is if something does actually happen would anyone actually believe it?” Thomas asked as she vented her frustration.
Yanick Austin, another final year biology student, found out about the bomb scare when he arrived to work on his final year project, and saw persons being prevented from entering the campus. Concerned about his work he chose to wait out the search to see if students would be allowed back on campus.

“I was outside, and we saw the traffic and I overheard someone talking about it. I’m not too please because I need to do my project work so this is impeding me. I need to get the results today. I just have to wait and see,” Austin said.

“I’m very upset because you would’ve lose a lot of sleep, you put your mind to this and now to come and have the exam cancelled it is so annoying, I am very angry,” commented accounting student Melissa Rodrigues, who was not happy that her afternoon accounting examination was cancelled.

“You waste a lot of passage to come here. This is not the first time, this is not the second, it’s not the third, I don’t feel it’s real. It makes no sense you’re making other people uncomfortable, wasting people’s time, energy and money to come here,” she added.
In a statement issued by the University, Vice-Chancellor Ivelaw Lloyd Griffith said he was thankful that the threat was a hoax. “I also appreciate the professionalism of the police bomb squad in handling the matter. Thanks, too, to the students and staff who responded with appropriate calm,” the Vice Chancellor added.

He stated that the inconsiderate and dangerous acts cause considerable physical and psychological stress, and are particularly disruptive at this crucial time for thousands of students and dozens of invigilators.

“My hope is that we do not experience any such acts going forward,” he said.
The search of the campus revealed no explosives of any kind nor were any suspicious packages or items located during the search, the University also confirmed.
Following the thorough sweep of the campus Inspector Dyal of the Police Bomb Unit issued the ‘all-clear’ signal. Students and staff members are asked to note that full operations will resume on Saturday, May 25, 2019.