Thieves raid former President’s house

…escape with TV, computers

Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding a break and enter and larceny committed at the house of former President David Granger.
The former Head of State had lived in the house before and shortly after becoming President of Guyana.
Reports are that between 18:45h on April 24 and 05:45h on April 25 at Thorne Drive, D’Urban Backlands, Georgetown, the premises were broken into.
Among the items stolen are a television valued $240,000, a stand valued $7000, four computers valued $320,000, a printer valued $120,000, and a barber set valued $50,000.
Police said on April 24, a security guard who works for the former President secured the premises and went home.
The following day, he returned to the building where he discovered that the door was open and the lock was on the ground.
He immediately began to make checks and discovered that the television was missing.
He contacted the former President who came and made further checks and discovered the rest of the items were missing.
Police said entry to the building was gained through the northern door of the one-storey concrete structure. Investigations are ongoing.
Chetwynd Learning Centre
However, the former president does not live at the location. As a matter of fact, in February 2017, in honour of the 94th Birth Anniversary of former Guyanese leader, Forbes Burnham, Granger, opened the Chetwynd Learning Centre at his former residence.
The new centre, located at Lot 5 Thorn Drive, D’Urban Backlands, accommodates three other institutes also established in Burnham’s name; these include the Burnham Educational Scholarship Trust, the Forbes Burnham Research Institute and the Burnham Book Trust.
Chetwynd was the idea of Granger who had “reiterated the call of Burnham to make education a central plan.”
At the opening he had said that he is breathing life into the ideas of the former leader, who believed that education should be provided to everyone.
Granger reiterated that education is not an option but should be an entitlement for all.
He had also expressed the hope that similar centres like Chetwynd, would be built in each town, in the near future.
The then President had emphasised that the centre is being opened for the public good and not for political purposes.
Chetwynd is equipped with educational tools such as books and computers.
Photos depicting various points in Guyana’s history decorate the walls of the centre.