Acts of domestic terrorism must be condemned – Prime Minister

Georgetown, GINA, June 8, 2016

Acts of domestic terrorism must be condemned and shall not be tolerated by anyone says Prime Minister and First Vice President, Moses Nagamootoo. He was referring to reports that on June 4, a grenade was found under a vehicle owned by publisher of the Kaieteur New, Glen Lall. At the time, the vehicle was parked at the media house Saffon Street, Charlestown, location.

In an invited comment, the Prime Minister this morning told reporters that, “the attack on Kaieteur News is an attack on freedom of the media in Guyana.” He said that the Government views the incident as, ‘very serious.’

The Prime Minister also noted the work being done by the police in apprehending those responsible. “I believe that this act is more intimidatory than any other thing and the police are doing their work,” he said.

Prime Minister Nagamootoo, who holds the responsibility for the information sector, disclosed that the matter was discussed at both the level of Cabinet and at the National Security Meeting. “At both levels we share the same view, that this act should be condemned by all and shall not be tolerated and that the person or persons who could be charged and prosecuted for this offence of terrorism, if convicted, they should face the full penalty of the law,” Nagamootoo said.

The government had issued a statement on the incident immediately following media reports which partly reads:

“The Coalition Government stands resolutely in defense of press freedom in Guyana and condemns, in the strongest possible manner this heinous and dastardly act of cowardice against Kaieteur News. The Coalition Government is thankful, as are all right thinking Guyanese that no lives or limbs were lost and there was no damage to property.”

“The government stands in solidarity with Kaieteur News and the entire media fraternity that has been shaken by this attempted attack. This attack must strengthen our resolve as a nation that evil, in all its forms and incarnations, must not be allowed to prevail and must be relentlessly and uncompromisingly conquered.”

The Coalition Government commits its full support to the Guyana Police Force as it investigates this sickening attempted act of terrorism.

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