“We will get to the bottom of this” – Pres. Ali on deadly terror attack

Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Dr. Irfaan Ali, has strongly condemned the recent horrific bombing at a city gas station that claimed the life of a six-year-old girl, labeling it a terrorist attack and promising the nation that the matter will be resolved.

The deadly terror attack occurred on Sunday at a Mobil gas station on Regent and King Streets in Georgetown and resulted in the death of six-year-old Soraya Bourne and injuries to several others.

The Guyanese Head of State was overseas on government business at the time of the bombing, for which nine persons, including the prime suspect, a Venezuelan national, are in police custody.

Speaking publicly for the first time on the incident this morning at a Guyana Defence Force (GDF) event, President Ali declared, “That cowardly act, which claimed the life of an innocent child, was a vile assault on the people, an attempt to create harm and fear… This attack bore all the hallmarks of terrorism. It was an attempt to sow fear and chaos, to destabilize, to create tension. And we will get to the bottom of it.”

The Commander -in-Chief made it clear that Guyana will not be intimidated, nor bow, nor be broken by those attempts to instill fear here.

He commended the swift and coordinated response of the local law enforcement authorities and the joint services. This professionalism and response, Dr. Ali pointed out, remind us that in the face of evil, Guyana stands united and unshaken.

“The investigation will continue. The motives behind this heinous act will come to light. We will pursue justice relentlessly. And we will take every lawful measure to protect our people and deter those who may contemplate similar actions. We are going deep, broad, and hard to the bottom of this.”

President Ali added, “To those who believe they can strike fear into the hearts of Guyanese, I say this: you will fail. You will fail because the spirit of our people cannot be terrorized. You will fail because we are one nation, resolute and indivisible. You will fail because our law enforcement agencies will ensure that peace will prevail. The safety and security of our citizens are paramount. This is non-negotiable.”

But even as investigations continue, President Ali urges Guyanese citizens to exercise wisdom and not discriminate against foreign nationals here who are genuinely seeking a better life. “We must not allow our justifiable outrage to lead us down a path of prejudice or discrimination. Guyana has long been a land where immigrants come seeking refuge from hardship and torment, not to endanger us.”

In the same breath, however, the Head of State assured that they will strengthen local systems of monitoring, screening, and enforcement for every foreign national who enters the country.

“We must ensure that those who enter our country do so in accordance with our laws and with respect for our peace. But let us not succumb to the temptation to paint all immigrants with the same brush. Hatred is not the answer to hatred. Fear must not drive our national policy. Guyana will remain a compassionate nation, but one that is also vigilant, strong, and aggressive in the protection of its citizens and sovereignty.”

Two days after the deadly bombing attack, police arrested the prime suspect, Daniel Alexander Ramirez Peodomo, on Tuesday. Investigations revealed that the alleged terrorist, who is linked to one of Venezuela’s most notorious criminal networks – the R Organization (Organización R) – illegally entered Guyana via a boat on Sunday morning, just hours before he planted the bomb at the Mobil gas station at Regent and King Streets, Georgetown.

Peodomo has since been arrested and has confessed to the crime, but police officials say they are still investigating the motive behind the attack.

A total of nine individuals were arrested in connection with the crime, and investigations so far revealed that Peodomo was assisted by both Venezuelans and Guyanese in the country.

The explosive device, the suspected terrorist told investigators, was brought into the country from Venezuela. Moreover, detectives were successful in retrieving images of the explosive device used in the crime from Peodomo’s mobile phone.