Arsonists lay siege on GHRA building…smash 13 windows, burn front door

Arsonist Sunday morning lay sieged on the Guyana Human Rights Centre on Hadfield & Austin Place, Georgetown, smashing 13 windows and setting fire to the front door of the building.

In a release the body said thirteen windows were smashed and the front door badly burnt before public-spirited neighbours were able to extinguish the fire. Access to the building was not achieved, but whether this was intended is unclear.

According to GHRA neighbours were awoken by the sound of broken glass. Their shouts were sufficient for the perpetrator(s) to flee. Later, neighbours were again alerted by security guards at nearby buildings that a fire was in progress at the front door. They organized a bucket-brigade to staunch the fire which left the front door badly burnt. A tire had been set alight to burn the front door. All that remained of the tire were the fine metal wires used in its construction.

Police officials visited the scene, took reports and photographed the damage. Officers from Alberttown Fire and Police Stations visited the scene and took photographs. Investigations are on-going. The Guyana Human Rights Centre houses the offices of the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) which commemorated its 40th Anniversary last year. Over the past four years the Centre has provided office space for Policy Forum Guyana. The building was constructed by local fund-raising efforts of the GHRA membership and was opened in 1997.