Dear Editor,
Where there’s smoke, there’s fire, and where there’s fire, conspiracy theories are sure to follow. At least that’s what allegedly may have happened in connection with the fire that destroyed the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) building at Burnham Drive, Wismar, Linden, one year ago. One may have a clear memory of the morning of July 14, 2020, when the Police in Region 10 suspected that arsonists burnt down the Region 10 office of the Guyana Elections Commission.
Investigators at the time said they were told by a security guard, who was at the front of the rented building at First Alley, that at about 1:55 am, she heard an explosion at the back of the building.
She also said two men were seen running up the road into First Alley, even as the building was being engulfed in flames.
Attempts were made to destroy two other public buildings – an unoccupied Army Base of the Second Infantry Battalion, Maria’s Lodge, Essequibo, and the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) office at Anna Regina, Essequibo, during that same period, there were the many social media postings that suggested that arson was committed by the then PPP/C Opposition with leaders of the APNU/AFC requesting their supporters have an eye out on all of these mischief makers. It is astonishing to see how the truth has a way of revealing itself.
Two men who were arrested on July 5, 2021, in connection with the fire that destroyed the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) building at Wismar have reportedly confessed to being paid to execute the arson. The two were arrested exactly one year after committing the act. The arson was committed at the height of political uncertainty when the APNU/AFC coalition refused to give up power although it was clear from a national vote recount that the political party had lost the March 2020 elections.
It is understood that while being questioned by investigating ranks of the Guyana Police Force, the two men admitted their involvement and one of the men reportedly told Police that they were contacted by a third man, who was identified as Bryon Kendall called “Murgie”, on the night of July 13, 2020, and was instructed “to burn the GECOM building” claiming Kendall offered to pay him $150,000 to set the building on fire. According to the law enforcement agency, the arson was politically motivated. “Since one of the suspects told law enforcement that Kendall told him that the reason for burning the building was because GECOM was taking too long to swear in Mr David Granger.
While Police have held Bryon “Murgie” Kendall an APNU/AFC member and a former Region 10 development officer for allegedly providing gasoline and paying $150,000 to the men, Police investigators also pursued a driver attached to the office of the Regional Chairman Region 10, and arrested him also in connection with the investigation surrounding the setting on fire of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Linden office.
Property burning and property destruction are part of a long, proud history of the PNCR members and supporters, the number of these incidents are countless, and most went unrecorded, but the property destruction has always been fair game to the PNC and PNCR supporters who themselves are considered property by their leaders. The reflection in a cherub-held mirror. The arson on July 14, 2020, was an outcry against the People’s Progress party/Civic. Let everyone remember that such an outcry is a hypocrisy so long as the APNU/AFC allow these destructions. There are a number of reasons the destruction of property should be taken seriously rather than treated as an unfortunate externality or the expression of regrettably unchecked passions. To begin with, pathologizing the act is tantamount to pathologizing the actors. With this latest revelation and the many that have followed this week, it is cleared now that APNU/AFC would have damaged their credibility to the extent that future prospects of holding any office will be greatly diminished.
The destructive spate of fires to Government building and public building in Linden and Region 10 must stop and any person who wilfully and maliciously damages the property of another must be charged. It is sad in this day and age our young people will allow politicians to lead them down this path, being charged with arson is a very serious situation. If you’re convicted of an arson crime you can face years in prison and substantial fines, not to mention having a criminal record that will follow you for the rest of your life.
Sincerely,
David Adams
