BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – NEWS coming out of Guyana indicates that sleuths from that country’s Police Force are currently investigating an alleged plot to assassinate His Excellency President David Granger.
SKNVibes had contacted a number of media houses and also an Editor-in-Chief of a very popular newspaper in the South American country, all of whom stated that the coalition APNU/AFC Government is taking this security challenge very seriously.
They noted that police sources had informed that there might have been a plot to shoot at the President during one of his recent outreaches and a probe was launched.
According to Demerara Waves, this information was confirmed by Minister of State Joseph Harmon, who, during a Post Cabinet Briefing today (Apr. 20), was asked if the Administration was aware of the alleged and what actions are being taken.
In response, the Minister reportedly stated that the Guyana Police Force had supplied the Administration with the information and that investigations are currently ongoing, adding that as such, “I don’t think we are at liberty to disclose.”
He however pointed out that the investigators are currently seeking the advice of the Police Legal Adviser on the matter.
According to News Source Guyana, when asked about whether the perpetrators of the possible act had been identified, Harmon said: “I am not at liberty to disclose the details of the investigation.”
He also reportedly said it was important to note that while President Granger has good approval ratings, there may be some persons who are misguided.
“It is important that we understand that while we have a popular President, we always have to be careful,” Harmon added.
News Source Guyana also reported that the Minister of State further said the Administration has full confidence in members of all of the security forces to protect the President and all Ministers of the Government.
He echoed sentiments expressed at his last press briefing, when he emphasised the importance that the Government places on security.
“I want to reemphasise that security is not something we play with…and we have professionals in place who understands this and puts certain measures in place.”
The media house stated that information regarding the possible assassination plot was with the police and the Administration for almost two weeks now, and that it is believed that the plot may have prompted the recent heightened security arrangement and restrictions during the last sitting of the National Assembly.
Demerara Waves however was more direct, stating it “understands that information of the plot surfaced sometime last month with a $7M bounty to shoot at President Granger during one of his outreaches, reportedly already being paid.”
Earlier this afternoon (Apr. 20), SKNVibes had launched an investigation to gain more information on the alleged $7M bounty on President Granger’s head and found excerpts of an interview conducted by Travis Chase of HGP Nightly News, which is said would be aired in its entirety this evening.
In the excerpts, Chase asked a young man: “You are telling me today that a businessman approached you with $7M and a high-power weapon to assassinate President Granger?”
In response the young man, who is also a businessman, said: “When I talk to he about this money now, he seh if I could work for this money. So I smile because seriously we do business. So I think this is an opportunity to get this business scotch free gone for me...money, land, business. You understand me! So I seh what is this business? The man seh: ‘Hear wha happen, leh ah tell you the truth. We gat this business for you do all de time, you understand me you getting $7M to do this business not six. You understand me? This President Granger we need to have him assassinated but before he moves from where he is living. Because, of course, if he moves from where he is living his security will be enhanced, you can’t get to him.’”
The young man continued: “So I look at he suspiciously. I seh: ‘Wha you talking about boy?’ The man said: ‘No, seriously, you understand me. For long we want talk to you for doing this here and now is the right time, you need this money now. You understand me? We gon get it done for you. You ain’t got to worry, we got the means, we got the source. You know we and the Commissioner is friends, you know we and de whole judiciary system is friends. You understand me? So we will have you taken care...all you gat to do don’t let go. You done get to know who is we and we don’t want know who you get.’”
Chase asked him if the man had produced a weapon, to which he answered in the affirmative, explaining that they were standing on the businessman’s front verandah.
He explained that the businessman went into his house and returned with a long black gun with a magazine.
“I saw the gun. So I collected the gun from him. He said yes, this is the gun. I gave him back the gun and said why you don’t do this yourself, nobody ain’t gon know you business. This is between you and whoever gon do it. He said: “I don’t want money to borrow, you is the right person, we know you know enough and you can get this done.’
“Then I seh boy stop joking, this is not nothing to joke about, this man is now we President, what you talking about? The man said: ‘No, this thing needs to be done.’ So I then turn me back on the step and seh if it needs to be done then you do it yourself.”
The young man said he departed the businessman’s home but returned the next day and said to him: “Brother, me ain’t deh in dem thing you know. Me ain’t even want you tell me back ‘bout duh.”
When asked why would someone go to him and request that he kill the Present and if he is a “hitman”, the young man answered in the negative and said that he is a businessman.
He was also asked if he had ever killed or attempted to kill anyone, to which he responded: “Why should I? No.”
SKNVibes has learnt that the young man was picked up by police and questioned.
It was claimed that police officers and a businessman linked to the gold industry were said to be involved in the alleged plot and that the young man was threatened with death by the persons who attempted to hire him.
