As the police investigation into Thursday’s attack at State House continues, Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn on Friday said that security at the official residence of President Irfaan Ali and his family is “more than adequate”.
“I think that the security at State House is adequate, more than adequate,” Benn told Stabroek News on the sidelines of an event when asked if security will be strengthened following the incident.
Hours after the incident, heads of the Joint Services held a meeting.
Asked about the discussions at the meeting, Benn told Stabroek News that while he was not present he knows that the incident was “reviewed” and may result in some “tightening and tweaks here and there”.
“I know that the matter was discussed. Maybe some tightening up and tweaks here and there but I think that the security at State House and [in] respect of the President and his family are strong enough,” Benn said.
Police had said the attack occurred around 7.30 am at State House’s Carmichael Street entrance, during which Nigerian national Dethiel Chimezie, 25, was shot and injured.
Before he was wounded, Chimezie demanded to see the President, stabbed State House guard Telon Perreira five times and seized a gun from another guard.
Both Perreira and Chimezie remained patients at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) up to yesterday afternoon.
Chimezie was shot several times about his body and underwent emergency surgery. Perreira was stabbed five times, including to his neck and shoulder. While Perreira is said to be recovering “slowly”, Chimezie’s condition remains serious.
Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum yesterday told Stabroek News that as of yesterday afternoon, Chimezie was still attached to a ventilator and hasn’t regained consciousness. He is currently a patient of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the GPH under police guard.
Stabroek News was informed that Chimezie showed up at State House and confronted Perreira, who was among the ranks on duty at a guard hut. He reportedly said, “I want the President”.
Chimezie then went into a pouch, which he had in his possession, and whipped out a knife that he used to launch the attack on Perreira.
Information reaching this newspaper revealed that Perreira then held onto Chimezie’s hand and the knife and a female rank who was present tried to assist him.
This caused the Nigerian to turn his attention to the female rank, disarming her of her firearm. Chimezie then used the weapon and started to shoot indiscriminately. Other ranks who were in the area returned fire, injuring him.
Investigators recovered a 9mm pistol and seven matching spent shells at the scene.
The motive for the attack remains unknown and the police are seeking help from Interpol (the International Criminal Police Organization) on Chimezie’s background.
Reports are that Chimezie, who holds a Nigerian passport, arrived in Guyana back in 2020. He was initially employed with a private security firm and last worked as a cleaner attached to a city cleaning establishment.
Determined response
Benn told reporters yesterday afternoon that the Ministry of Home Affairs condemned the attack during which an attempt was made to breach the security at State House.
He warned that the perpetrator/s of such acts will get the “determined response”.
“We condemn all such attacks. We don’t want violence and those who want to perpetrate violence, physical violence and with the use of firearms will get the determined response,” Benn said.
Further, he advised against any person physically attacking any Member of Parliament, including members of the opposition.
A short video that was captured by a driver who was in the area when the shooting unfolded showed Chimezie standing in front of State House pointing what appeared to be a firearm.
Members of the Presidential Guard as well as police officers were then seen advancing towards him, asking him to drop the weapon. The law enforcement officials, who were each armed, eventually surrounded Chimezie, who fell onto the roadway. The gun was knocked away from him.
In separate statements issued on Thursday, the Opposition APNU+AFC, the Indian High Commissioner to Guyana as well as the Private Sector Commission (PSC) condemned the attack.
The PSC also applauded members of the President’s security detail for their “highly effective and controlled” response.
“The PSC congratulates the President’s Security Forces for a highly effective and controlled response, which saw the apprehension of the suspect. The effective and well-coordinated response of the armed forces also saw the situation being de-escalated quite quickly and no further injuries resulting,” the PSC said.
