Police are yet to determine the contents of the suspected incendiary device which was found underneath the National Cultural Centre stage on Monday night.
Police Crime Chief Seelall Persaud when contacted for comment on the police’s analysis of the device told this newspaper that parts of it have been removed and taken to the police forensic laboratory. However up to late yesterday the analyses had not yet been completed.
Persaud said that the officials at the lab would have to advise on the potency of the substance the cylinders contained. He said so far it seems as though the local lab could handle the examination but he did not rule out a request for assistance once this was necessary.
Last evening, Culture Minister Dr Frank Anthony told Stabroek News that he has no report with regards to preliminary investigations into the fire. He said that he was also awaiting a report on the damage caused by the fire.
When this newspaper visited the cultural centre yesterday morning, staff members were being interviewed by members of the police’s Criminal Investigation Department.
Some workers as well as ranks from the Guyana Fire Service were around the stage area, where the fire damage was most visible. They were seen examining the remainder of the blocks of the high quality backdrop curtains which quickly caught fire sending thick smoke billowing out of the building on Monday night.
Administrative Manager Frederick Christian in an interview with this newspaper yesterday morning said he was still trying to ascertain the extent of the technical damage so that repairs could begin as soon as possible. He said the damage caused by the fire was not extensive but significant.
He did not want to attach a value to the amount of damage but said that a number of electrical and power cables were destroyed. Additionally the speaker system, microphones and front curtains were destroyed. Fortunately, the centre’s lighting was not affected, Christian said.
Security breach
He said that the incident definitely points to a breach in the security arrangements. However he said every effort was being made to ensure that security is beefed up at the location. Asked about events currently billed for the venue, he said a definite pronouncement would be made shortly.
Police in a statement last evening said that investigations have revealed that a public spirited person passing on a motorcycle had noticed the smoke coming from the western side of the building on Monday night and had alerted the security guard on duty.
The statement also said that the fire service was summoned, quickly responded and managed to extinguish the blaze which damaged the curtain and the floor of the stage of the building. It noted that four cylinders strapped together and suspected to contain a flammable substance were recovered at the scene.
Firemen opined that the blaze started on the curtains and as the burnt pieces fell, flames spread to the floor. The firemen were advised that there was padding under the stage and so they began breaking open the flooring.
Minutes after, the four-cylinder device was found and while some reached over to take a glance many headed for the doors
Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee yesterday labelled the attack as a blatant disregard for the Carifesta symbol. In a brief interview with this newspaper Rohee said a political message had been sent to those who have been carrying out these attacks on the symbols of Carifesta. Rohee referred too to the channa bomb attack which occurred at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport on May 16, coincidentally the same date, exactly one month ago.
“They have been running with the message and don’t know what they are running. But if the idea is to scare people from coming to Carifesta, these attacks are having the opposite effect. I can’t see what else could be motivating people to target the symbols of Carifesta, the minister asserted.
He pointed out too that there were attempts to thwart the launching of the event, “now there is the attack on the cultural centre which is one of the main venues,” he said. Rohee also told this newspaper that only one political party had come out in a strident way against Carifesta, adding that only that party had sent a message which people are running with.