Publisher of Kaieteur News Glenn Lall yesterday expressed disappointment with the police probe of Saturday’s incident when a grenade was lobbed outside the newspaper’s offices and said if he is not satisfied with the level and quality of the investigation, he would be seeking international help.
A grenade was on Saturday night lobbed outside the offices of Kaieteur News at Saffon Street, Charlestown, where staff had gathered for a wake for one of its reporters. Lall, last night via phone told Stabroek News that he is looking to seek international help even if it means he has to hire his own investigators in order to find the persons involved in throwing the grenade next to his vehicle.
He called on the government to work faster on drastic policies that would target criminal activities. He said if no strong message is sent on criminal activities, it would dampen the spirit of the nation.
According to Lall, surveillance footage showed that a grey, heavily tinted unlicensed Toyota Spacio rolled up, the grenade was lobbed and the vehicle sped away.
The explosive device landed near one of the front wheels of Lall’s vehicle but did not explode.
Lall said he believes that someone is trying to send a message to his company and condemned the act especially at a time when the company is mourning.
The newspaper is mourning the death of senior reporter Dale Andrews, 47, who died on Saturday morning due to heart complications.
However, Lall said they are not threatened by the actions as they have experienced worse than Saturday night.
Further, Lall expressed disappointment in the manner in which Commander of ‘A’ Division Clifton Hicken acted while he was on the scene. He related that the commander was on the scene for at least two hours but did not enquire from him what had happened.
He added too that he is disappointed in the investigators’ sluggishness in only requesting the surveillance footage long after the incident despite viewing it on Saturday night.
Meantime, the government yesterday voiced alarm at the lobbing of the grenade and expressed solidarity with Kaieteur News.
In a statement, the government condemned the “heinous and dastardly act of cowardice” and said it is thankful that no lives or limbs were lost and there was no damage to property.
“We do not believe that the dropping of a grenade, even if a fake device, alongside a newspaper publisher’s vehicle could be considered a joke or a hoax.
It was grave and an undisputed act of terror designed to intimidate, harm and create fear,” the statement said.
