On December 15th last year, around 7.30 am on Carmichael Street, a Nigerian who had been living in this country for several years launched a chilling attack on guards at State House. Dethiel Chimezie, 25, stabbed Telon Perreira five times and then managed to seize a gun from a guard who had attempted to enter the fray. Gun in hand, Mr Chimezie then let loose a fusillade and was engaged in kind by other guards within the precincts of State House. When it was all over Mr Chimezie lay seriously wounded as was Mr Perreira. Both are still hospitalised and said to be recuperating.
Based on all available accounts, Mr Chimezie had turned up that day with the intention of seeing President Ali. Considering that Mr Chimezie had a concealed weapon upon him – a knife – and then proceeded to wield it in a manner that could have caused Mr Perreira’s death and followed this up with the firing of the second guard’s weapon it is clear that the safety of the President and his family was at great risk that day.
In all countries, protection of the lives of the President or Prime Minister or Head of State is accorded the highest priority. What transpired at State House that day was the diametric opposite of the type of security that should have been provided to the President and his family. Yet, the Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn had the audacity to tell this newspaper on December 16th that security at State House for President Ali and his family was ”more than adequate”. In more accountable societies, in the aftermath of such an attack, the resignations of the Head of the Presidential Guard, the Commissioner of Police and Mr Benn would have been expected and accepted.
However, this is Guyana and particularly in government circles there is no acquaintanceship with personal accountability for stark failure. As it relates to the PPP/C and its government, its own historic insecurities about security while in office will dissuade it from a major shake-up. While there must be internal consternation at what occurred and there must have immediately been a strengthening of protocols, the PPP/C would be more concerned about not having to defend the abject state of presidential security more than 28 months after it took office. There is also the not inconsequential matter of its decision to accord headship of the presidential guard to Special Assistant Commissioner Edgar Thomas who had no appropriate experience but who was preferred having been humiliated by the APNU+AFC administration during the shenanigans to rig the 2020 general elections. It is a signal lesson that the PPP/C – and other governments here for that matter have repeatedly failed to understand – promote on merit and not for political reasons or to settle scores.
Three weeks later, it appears that both the government and the police are in a state of paralysis about this attack. They know not what to say about this incident lest it exposes the shocking weaknesses in their security arrangements and lax immigration controls. However, the public is entitled to a full account shorn of any information that could further compromise security and this must be provided. The Stabroek News editorial of December 20 entitled `The State House incident and information’ said the following: “The incident on Thursday now requires far more information from the Head of the Presidential Guard, the Guyana Police Force, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Government on what transpired and what will now be done to ensure no recurrence. The stabbing of a presidential guard, the disarming of another and a shootout – all involving one person – present a dire picture of security at State House.
“The public must also be provided with as much information as possible on the assailant, when he first entered the country, his purpose for being here and the various permits he applied for and which were granted or denied”.
The situation remains unchanged. The public is completely unaware of what the government has found out about Mr Chimezie through its declared approach to Interpol.
-When exactly did Mr Chimezie arrive in this country, what was the reason for his visit, what permit was he granted and were the terms complied with and the permit renewed?
-What have the authorities learnt from their questioning of Mr Chimezie who it appears has been in solitary confinement since his detention?
-Have steps been taken to improve security at State House since the failures of December 15th?
The government and its police force must be accountable.
