Grenade found at school was a “training device” – Crime Chief

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) has confirmed that the grenade that was found in the possession of a Grade Five pupil of the Timehri Primary School was a training device that is predominantly used by members of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF).

In an invited comment, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum told Guyana Times that the device is not harmful but the mere fact it was in the possession of a pupil raises some concerns while praising the teacher for being vigilant.

He nevertheless confirmed that the parents and an uncle of the child were questioned in connection with the incident.

However, this newspaper was told that the child’s uncle is a Sergeant attached to the Guyana Defence Force and might have unknowing taken home the device after training at Camp Stephenson, Timehri, East Bank Demerara.

The Sergeant’s son saw the device in his father’s bag and as such took it, this newspaper was told. In turn, he handed it over to his cousin, who is a pupil at the Timehri Primary School.

This publication understands that the military base at Timehri has been called in following the discovery of the device. This prompted an investigation.

The device was discovered after the child was seen playing with it during school session on Monday. The teacher from the inception thought that it was a “real” grenade but after consulting with the head teacher, she was told that it was a toy.

She nevertheless, took the devise to another teacher who has family members in the Army and she confirmed that it was a “real” grenade after an inspection. At this point in time, the Police were summoned.

Classes at the school were abruptly disrupted and the child’s parents were called in. The discovery of the device did not go down well with the parents who up to Tuesday were still curious and showed some signs of concerns.