Community activist Mark Benschop said yesterday that he has been informed that there is a price on his head.
Mark Benschop
Benschop said that a man went to his Robb Street office and informed him that money has been paid to have him killed.
However, he has chosen not to report the matter to the police since he believes that the force cannot be trusted.
Benschop, who has over the years spoken out against the government, was incarcerated for five years on a treason charge, until he was granted a presidential pardon last year. He yesterday stressed that he would not bow to intimidation but would continue to speak out without fear.
Benschop made the threat public on his newspaper’s website – www.guyanaobserver.com shortly after he was informed of it.
In the news article, he said he had been informed by “a reliable source that there is a plot to have me killed.”
Since his release from the Camp Street prison over a year ago, Benschop said, he has been followed; suspicious characters have been hanging around him and there are numerous prank calls to his home. He said he has not reported any of this to the police, but instead confided in close friends and associates. Benschop said he first learnt that there was a price on his head late last month.
He told this newspaper that he first heard of the threat to end his life during Carifesta from several sources in the security forces. He then made a decision to leave the country, but returned several days later.
He said that he heard nothing more of the plot until yesterday.
He recalled that a few months ago, he and another businessman had observed two suspicious men on motorcycles, near the Court Yard Mall, where his office is located. Benschop added that after hearing the men’s description, security contacts said the men were known characters.
He said he was also informed that a motorcyclist was instructed to follow his every move.
“I know there are persons in the political arena and top ranking phantom squad who are not comfortable with me and others who are speaking out about the atrocities affecting citizens”, he said.
He added that several articles appeared in the Guyana Observer, his New York-based newspaper, about certain so-called criminals who are allowed to drive around with guns while the government turns a blind eye.
He issued a call to the citizens of Guyana to stand up and confront those “known political criminals once and for all” stressing that they would continue to create havoc nationwide if they continue to dwell among us.
“No one can make me run from standing up for the people by speaking out about the atrocities committed by the government and people associated with them. The drug lords and the phantom have killed [Ronald] Waddell. What has been done about it?” he added.
wow, another seeking public sympathy, if he has a witness then let go to the SF with a lawyer, the press and make the report.
in my opinion these guys are so isolated they need 24/7 attention.
Freespeech, you seems to be living in a hole. Wasn’t Waddell killed for speaking out and you’re calling the outcries of these individuals as seeking public sympathy? The Police Force need to provide security to these individuals and investigate these threats and determine if they are legitimate or not. It’s a know fact that the Phantom has the backing of some in Government; why don’t the JS hunt them down like they did to “fineman” & “Skinny”?
I agree with you Sean, its very unfortunate that people can’t seem to accept the fact that we’re living in a dictatorship country. If you’re not with the government you can’t say anything negative.
Let’s be real freespeech, is the GPF capable of providing protection to the people of guyana? Keep it real and be objective. You go to the press to highlight and bring these issues to the attention of the Government and hope that they react appropriately; what did the government in this case? NOTHING
You said, “if you need protection you dont go to the press you go to the police.
when you go to the press you need attention”
You make no sense, why must he go to the police when they are for certain people and whomever the govt give the the okay to torture or protect?
You run to your killer’s right hand, then say you want sympathy. THINK BEFORE YOU TALK.
FREESPEECH, I THINK THAT YOU SHOULD GO BACK TO GUYANA AND LIVE OR WEAR ONE’S SHOE THAT THESE PROBLEMS ARE AFFECTING
Here we go again, sometimes i don’t really know what to make out of this news, it seems that every person who speaks out against the govt is targeted for speaking out. Why is it in a democracy is this happening, as i can recall back in the 60,s prominent people like malcom x, martin luther king and many other were assisinated for speaking out, but those are days are gone. Why is it in guyana which is deemed a democracy no one can’t speak their mind without being harrased or targeted, just the other day was oliver hinckson, then we had mr. lewis, now it’s mark, whose next. This should’nt be tolerated in a democracy where freedom of speech is curtailed. Whosoever is doing this needs to be investigated.
i completely agree with you amen-ra, there are gov’t officals who trying to instill fear into the ctiizens of guyana, and you must be there and keep your mouth shut, but they must know that whatever is done in the dark will come to the light.
Because the political and cultural climate in Guyana at the moment is much like that in which Martin Luther king and Malcolm X were operating. The people walking around making threats against Benschop and Lewis might not be wearing white sheets and hoods, but their persuasion and that of their minders is no different from those with antipathy for Malcol and Martin during their activism for freedom and equal rights.
Bloggers i’ve been saying this since the beginning of June, there is another force/gang/squad out there. God Help us
.. …………..amen.. let me say this to you……………….where there is poverty there is crime………………mark is not a fool!!………….he and others whose life people are seeking to neturilize should leave guyana…………………and seek a a life somewhere else…………..why………..????…………..in guyana most of the people would anything to exist…………..nobody want plant………….some want to support change……………….others want to sit back and wait on food for the poor…………and government hand out,…………………….remittance and barrel………and some would work under cover to shoot down good guyanese……………..because they connected…………….so i say to people leave the country and allow the government to eat away from within………………this government understand the importance of poverty and its place in power…………….mark my advise……………..leave………
Amen-ra,,,, Guyana is a dictatorship. Democracy in Guyana is window dressing.
Democracy means freedom,,,freedom of speech, press, vote, radio. Guyana has none. One cannot even start a business without having to pay off government officals for the licensing.
The site http://www.guyanaobserver.com is a no hit however the google alternative hit
http://guyanaobservernews.com seems to be the correct site. It’s an interesting site at first glance
He does not trust the police but then some police officer told him also that they is a price on his head.Hey this man is living in nightmare. Look out for more of his tricks
No joe joe he aint living a nightmare there are members of the force who just don’t like whats going on.
why these things happen in our beutiful country,
this should,nt be tolerated.
it seems to me that guyana is not democrat, at all
in a democracy country, the people is free to speak .
Maybe when the next election comes round, we the ppl will ask our respected party for social equality and not vote on race or fear of our neighbour, and may be then we might know what democracy taste like.
Very soon you will hear that every Harry, Parry and Gildharie will have a ‘ Price’ on their head. Utter rubbish.
it used to be Tom, Dick and Harry now it is Harry,Parry and Gildharie. Nice one. Here is where I come for my daily laughs. The news in news papers in Guyana is like reading Archie comics.
Sometimes I wonder out loud when i hear the garbage spewed like in this case….if you think that everything in Guyana is so honkey dorey, then why do you hide in Canada and not Guyana?
You said it RALS. Soon everyone will have a price on their head even though theirv head is worth nothing
Mark and Lewis have the same agenda, attack the JS and govt. Maybe ‘Fineman’ and ‘Skinny’ jumbie is after them
Boy, coolieman, your man says it all. Its people like you who have their heads in sand, that’s why this country can’t move forward. So what if the man makes these claims, why you got to jump to the conclusion he got an agenda. People who are obviously not of your race are being forced to be quiet and not speak of the atrocities of the current government. Why haven’t you stopped to question why is it people are being targeted for free speech?
Its amazing how Coolieman can reference race in a derogatory manner and not have his comments edited.
Moderator Shame on you.
and the beat goes on,i am sure there is someone in the police force u can trust,i know they all are not corrupt.can a honest cop please help mark,mark u need to make a report,u know what they will say next if u dont,and the beat goes on.y cant we all just get along,god bless guyana and no place else.
He can’t trust the police force, but the info was given to him by members of the security forces. Why not use those same members to make a report or take your report to the international embassies or the UN office.
guyanaspice::::ehehehe God bless Guyana and no place esle????
God bless Kitty and no place else ehehehehehehehehe long live all Kittytonians..
wow i got blog.
guess i cant speak my mind