Royston Drakes Production

Opposition Member of Parliament Amanza Walton-Desir through the Speaker of the National Assembly is requesting the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Hugh Todd to provide answers to several questions in light of the impending visit of United States of America, Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo.

Walton-Desir asked for Todd to identify the key interests and non-negotiable policies as they relate to Venezuela and for the administration to guarantee the Guyanese people that their national interest will not be compromised.

For the Government to reaffirm the National Assembly that Guyana is committed to the non-intervention in the internal affairs of Venezuela and that the government will not be a party, directly or indirectly to any aggression against Venezuela.

The Foreign Affairs Minister is asked to say what agreements were reached or expected to be reached and what support has the Government of Guyana committed to the United States of America leading up to the vision of US Secretary of State.

Finally, the Minister is asked to map the scenario analysis of the likely consequences of any action taken by Guyana for our case before the International Court of Justice in the Guyana/Venezuela territorial controversy.

The US Secretary of State is expected to be in Guyana for a two-day visit on September 17^th and 18^th. Already, an advance team is in Guyana ahead of the visit.

During Guyana’s election impasse Pompeo was very vocal with his threats to sanctions Government Officials under the former APNU/AFC administration who undermined democracy in Guyana.

Meanwhile, the Guyana Human Rights Association in a release last Saturday on Pompeo’s visit called on Government to make public, well in advance of the visit, what non-negotiable elements with respect to Venezuela.

The body said the United States decision to include Guyana among a list of countries calling for democratic change poses serious problems. Aligning Guyana with those seeking regime change not only threatens Guyana’s legal negotiations over the border, but it would also be politically absurd, since the current US candidate to replace the incumbent President of Venezuela is among the leaders of those supporting the illegal claim on Guyana’s territory.

A foreign national was killed in a plane crash in Issano in region 7 on Sunday, while three others survived and are in police custody.

A Beechraft and a Cessna aircraft reportedly crash-landed at 9 miles, Issano, in region 7 on Sunday.  Police investigators first found the Cessna aircraft and three occupants, a 38yr old Brazilian pilot, a 29yr old Venezuelan pilot, and a 35yr old internet technician from Manaus, Brazil. The men were grilled by the police and a further search of the area on Monday found the 2nd aircraft about 500 yards away from where the first plane was found. The Beechraft was completely damaged and the remains of a male foreign national were found onboard.

It was onboard the Beechraft that police and CANU investigators found  the 859.803 pounds of cocaine.

Below is the full statement from the Guyana Police Force on the murders.

The Guyana Police Force wishes to update the general public that the probe into the murder of Joel and Isaiah Henry is ongoing and offers assurances that the investigators assigned to this probe are committed to discovering the truth about the circumstances surrounding this gruesome murder.

Initially, the investigators were confronted with some challenges, particularly as it relates to accessing the crime scene with the roads being blocked. Once the ranks on the ground ensured safe passage for the investigators and crime scene ranks, preliminary findings showed that the bodies of the Henry boys were discovered at a secondary crime scene.  Meaning that the heinous murders were not committed where the bodies were found. Person(s) moved the bodies after the murder and placed them at the locations where they were subsequently discovered.

Further, after the crime scene ranks classified the location where the bodies were discovered as a secondary crime scene, forensic evidence was discovered at the said area.

This forensic evidence was identified, collected preserved and submitted to the Guyana Forensic Laboratory for DNA analysis to be conducted. DNA samples were also collected from the suspects who were in custody and sent for a comparative analysis to be conducted against the forensic evidence collected from the secondary crime scene.  Results are expected within three weeks.

At this time, the investigators are actively in search of the primary crime scene which would greatly assist in the probe as the primary crime scene will have an abundance of evidence linking the perpetrators to the crime. The investigators are all actively following up every lead and information received from members of the public who have come forward to assist investigators.

Also, as of today, all the suspects arrested were placed on bail and are required to make scheduled visits at the Blairmont Police Station.  Further, Police are actively pursuing two additional suspects.

Finally, the GPF wishes to assure the public that the aforementioned challenges, will not deter our continued efforts to bring the perpetrators to justice.

There are reports that the 32 year-old  victim is from region 4.