37A THIRD STREET, ALBERTTOWN TEL: 223-6385 E-MAIL: giha@futurenetgy.com

 

18th October, 2003

Press Release

For Immediate Release

 

GIHA CALLS ON GOVERNMENT TO ACT SWIFTLY

TO PUT DOWN RESURGENCE OF CRIMINALITY

 

The Guyana Indian Heritage Association is deeply troubled by the re-emergence of the kidnapping of Indian Guyanese in the East Coast communities. GIHA strongly condemns the kidnapping of Vivickanan Nandalall on Thursday last and calls on Government to act swiftly to maintain law and order so that Guyana does not have to live through another 15 months of terror as occurred between February 2002 and May 2003.

 

GIHA hopes that Government will be more receptive to the distress of the citizens of the country and will not again seek to deny or refuse to take seriously the continued bouts of terrorism, including extortion and ethnic terror, that continue to plague Guyana.

 

During a recent visit to Berbice, GIHA learned from residents there that they are beginning to lock up early in order to protect their lives and property from attacks by bandits. Government must give every assurance about the measures it has taken to protect the citizens of Berbice and Corentyne from attack.

 

“We are still not recovered from the last bout of terrorism and this kidnapping does not augur well for the nation’s future unless Government begins to act like a government and makes citizens’ safety and well-being the priority issue,” said GIHA President Ryhaan Shah. “The kidnappers must be apprehended and brought to justice and Nandalall returned to his family safely. Anything less leaves Guyana at the hands of the terrorists.”