Business community condemns gruesome murders, violent WCB unrest

…calls on Guyanese to respect, uphold rule of law

The business community has condemned the gruesome murders of 19-year-old Joel Henry, his 16-year-old cousin, Isaiah Henry and 17-year-old Haresh Singh. The badly mutilated bodies of the Henry cousins were found on a coconut farm at Cotton Tree, West Coast Berbice (WCB) on Sunday, one day after they were reported missing.
Singh was found on Wednesday, beaten and chopped to death after he left home to attend to a farm in the backdam of Number Three Village, WCB.
The Henry cousins had left their homes to go and pick coconuts.
The Private Sector Commission (PSC); Upper Corentyne, Central Corentyne and the Berbice Chambers of Commerce (UCCCBC); and the Bartica Chambers of Commerce (BCC) on Wednesday all expressed condolences to the families of the dead teenagers.
The PSC, UCCCBC and the BCC have called on the Guyana Police Force to ensure that all efforts are placed into a thorough investigations and that the perpetrator(s) of these horrendous crimes be brought to justice without delay.
The PSC said it was appalled at the politicisation of these murders and condemned in the strongest possible way any attempt to incite division.
It is also urging Guyanese to support peaceful protest action.

Violent protest, destruction
The PSC said it has observed with increasing concern instances of violence and destruction of property amid the investigation into the deaths of the teenagers. The PSC said that while it recognised the constitutional rights of Guyanese to peaceful protest, it condemned all forms of violent protest, destruction of public infrastructure, robbery and attacks on people that are taking place.
Meanwhile, the BCC urged Guyanese to support peaceful protest, which is guaranteed under the Constitution and laws. But it is calling on citizen to raise their voices and take a stand against criminal elements who are seizing this period to rein terror by attacking and robbing innocent commuters.
“It is the right of every Guyanese to vent their feelings and frustration by way of protest or picketing exercise, albeit must be done within the confines and remit of the law; any other way or form taken to vent such feelings where public and private properties are damaged in the process must be met with the strongest of condemnations by all law-abiding Guyanese,” the BCC added.
Further, the UCCCBC disclosed that its efforts to meet with the families of the Henry cousins have been unsuccessful owing to the road blocks. It added that it was unfortunate what has taken place since Sunday has overshadowed the grief of the families and all Guyanese.

“Terror has been unleashed on innocent citizens. All business activities and movement of people from Region Six through Region Five has been brought to standstill. Worse yet, citizens of Region Five and anyone passing through have been terrorised, beaten, robbed, vehicles destroyed and properties burned, many times in the presence of the security forces.
“The Police who are working long hours and assiduously trying to solve this crime have been hampered from freely doing their job. The actions of criminal elements have completely hijacked the protests and the gruesome murder of the two young men and the family’s grief seem now to be secondary,” a statement by the UCCCBC added.
The PSC is also calling on Government to act swiftly in the restoration of law and order. It said that all political and social leaders must urge all citizens to refrain from various acts of violence and damage to public and private property, thereby promoting peace, harmony, and good relations. The UCCCBC, on the other hand, noted that politicians must ensure their supporters do not impede the Police in their work to solve this crime.
The PSC is pleading with all citizens to cooperate and work with the Police to lend any assistance which may contribute to the efficient conclusion of this investigation and said it remained willing and available to engage the leaders and the Commissioner on these matters.
The PSC especially called upon Guyanese to respect and uphold the rule of law and to keep the peace in their individual and collective well-being and in the interest of the country.