Jagdeo’s life in danger – local security expert

A security expert has expressed grave concern that the life of former Guyanese President Bharrat Jadgeo, has now been placed in danger following a series of dangerous reports appearing in the mud- slinging tabloid Kaieteur News, the latest being on 1st January, 2013.

The New Years day article insinuated that the former President has 12 armed guards on a 24- hour basis at his house in Sparendaam, East Coast Demerara.

The article was found to be totally inaccurate and misleading, prompting the security expert to conclude that the story was published with a deliberate intent to expose security details of the former President, thereby compromising his personal safety.

A senior member of the Guyana Police Force said that Jagdeo has never had such an elaborate security detail attached to his person or property since leaving office, adding that the article did not come as a surprise, saying it was clearly the product of a “cheap” piece of journalism and undoubtedly “spiteful” against the former President.
The senior officer stated that, by carrying such a sensational, inaccurate article, Kaieteur News has wilfully and wrongfully exposed Jagdeo and his family to the elements of banditry, criminality and political thuggery.

He agreed that the article severely compromises the former President’s security and endangers his life.
In several recent articles published by the Kaieteur and Stabroek newspapers, photographs of Jagdeo’s house were shown, prompting senior security personnel in Guyana, the business community, and civil society to condemn the vindictiveness of the publications.

The article on New Year’s Day, headlined “12 armed ranks guard Jagdeo round the clock”, is particularly disturbing given that, some time ago, one of Guyana’s most notorious wanted men Rondell “Fine Man” Rawlins had Jagdeo on his hit list, a fact well-known by opposition leaders and the principals of Kaieteur News.
Another recent Kaieteur News article quoted Alliance For Change (AFC) Chairman Nigel Hughes questioning Jagdeo’s acquisition of land, which the former President paid 10 times more than what other citizens pay for houselots.

The New Year’s Day article stated that Kaieteur News “has managed to ascertain that the former president still has his full complement of security personnel, consisting of fulltime members of the Guyana Police Force.”
The senior police officer further stated that no other President or Head of State in the world would ever be subject to such breach of safety and security. “In fact, the resources of the state are usually deployed by law to ensure proper security and protection of former Heads of State,” the police force said.

Several prominent members of Guyana’s civil society and the business community have in the recent past condemned the patent bullyism, sensationalism and personal vendetta as practiced in the media by Kaieteur News. The articles are intent on creating mischief and tainting the image of the former President, who has been recognised internationally even after his tenure in office.

They have also called on the police to break its silence and expose the inaccuracies of the article, as well as to launch an immediate investigation into the circumstances surrounding its publication, including the unlawful intrusion of Jagdeo’s privacy and breach of security.