President announces $25M reward for info on arsonist/s

President Bharrat Jagdeo condemned yesterday’s early morning fire that led to the destruction of the Head Office of the Health Ministry and announced a $25M reward for information leading to the arrest of the arsonist/s

Speaking at a press conference at the Office of the President, Jagdeo disclosed that from information he had received from the Commissioner of Police, Henry Greene and Fire Chief Lawrence David the fire appeared to be a deliberate act, since “they had found a number of incendiary devices in the compound”.  He later disclosed that the incendiary devices were ‘channa bombs’, some of which had gone off while others had not.

Some of the unexploded channa bombs retrieved in the compound of the Ministry of Health. (Police photo)
Some of the unexploded channa bombs retrieved in the compound of the Ministry of Health. (Police photo)

The President said that it was “a sick act on the part of depraved people who will target a public building that provides support for the whole country, particularly in the area of people’s well-being, that is, health care.” He added that it was “extremely sad because this will set back the management of the sector and we will have to start rebuilding from scratch”, even as he acknowledged that taxpayers’ money will have to go towards restoring the building.

He said that the fire had affected thousands of people all across Guyana since a lot of assets were lost.  Jagdeo stated that thousands of records related to the institution’s history, its management, programmes and systems, as well as those related to the well-being of citizens had been lost in the fire.

Jagdeo said that in light of this occurrence, there will be heightened security at government facilities even as he stated that no chances could be taken.

When asked to comment on what may have triggered this act, Jagdeo said that he could not comment on the issue of “culpability” since investigations are ongoing but he emphasised that no angle will be left out in the investigations and said that he had held extensive meetings with security forces.  “We are going to get to the bottom of this, we are going to get the people who did this”, Jagdeo emphasised.

Vehicles in the Ministry of Health compound yesterday which were destroyed by the fire. (Photograph by Brenon Sookram)
Vehicles in the Ministry of Health compound yesterday which were destroyed by the fire. (Photograph by Brenon Sookram)

Meanwhile, Jagdeo said that he spoke to the Ministers of Health to make alternative arrangements to manage the sector.

 What was left of the Ministry of Health yesterday following an early morning fire that gutted the building and an annex in the compound.  (Jules Gibson photo)
What was left of the Ministry of Health yesterday following an early morning fire that gutted the building and an annex in the compound. (Jules Gibson photo)

He said that sometime during the course of next week the ministry will be functional again. He stated that “all the programmes might not be functional immediately” but said that the government needed to ensure that the essential ones are functioning so that there is no prolonged impact on the delivery of health care in the country.