– police, army probing
The Guyana Defence Force has launched an investigation into the disappearance of a pistol and a quantity of ammunition from one of its vessels and so far several officers and ratings from the Coast Guard Division have been questioned.

According to a press release from the army, an M 35 Browning pistol and 37 rounds of 9 mm ammunition were discovered missing from the small arms magazine aboard the Guyana Defence Force ship (GDFS) Essequibo, which was moored alongside the wharf at the Headquarters of the Coast Guard, Ruimveldt.

Contacted yesterday the GDF Public Relations Officer, Major Earl Daniels, told Stabroek News that they are still trying to ascertain when the weapon went missing.

He explained that the small arms magazine is the name of the compartment where weapons and ammunition are stored.

Asked if anyone had been arrested, he replied in the negative, adding that the first course of action is an investigation to determine a number of things including who is culpable and the period during which the items went missing.

According to the army, the police are assisting with the investigation.