Dear Editor,
It’s a ton of guns. Twenty-three assault rifles and over 500 rounds seized from a vehicle with a Venezuelan driver represent some serious tonnage. The quantity and type of guns (AK-47) make them a frightening proposition. Throw in the 10 AK-47s seized under a month ago, and somebody is readying for a fight. Against whom? The Venezuelan component makes the seizure even more ominous. I am hoping that the intelligence has it right with that across-the-border connection. While that may be so, what to think of one man with 23 assault rifles notorious for their killing power language? He may be superman. He was certainly daring to drive around with that stash that fills up a passenger vehicle. But he alone is not capable of using all those weapons simultaneously. I was right. Two wanted, one surrendered. Who else? How many and where? Meaning, networks and men at the ready.
So far, I have accepted at face value a Venezuelan connection of some sort, going along. But what if it’s really not so? What if there are a few Guyanese hands in the mix? The Regent Street gas station bombing had a Venezuelan as the number one accused. There were, however, a couple of Guyanese in supporting roles. Is the same programme in action here? One wanted man with a Guyanese sounding name and appearance answered the police bulletin. Skimming the surface only, I say. Who else: local and foreign drug masterminds, across-the-border gangsters, or Venezuelan patriots?
Relevant questions, I think. How can they not be, when Guyanese inhabit an environment woven with drugs, overshadowed by a border controversy, and trapped in secrets? And, when so many pieces of information (if any) that come from public institutions are made up of more secrets. And, when Guyanese, having been fed so many deceptions by their own folks, do get the whole truth, they believe what they are getting is only part of the story -a half-truth. By definition, there’s no such animal as a half-truth; it’s really a well-disguised lie.
Time to zero in some more on this probable Caracas connection. I recommend that Guyanese watch out for more suspicious developments. Second, some Venezuelans are struggling to make it here, for different reasons. To be in such a situation makes a man desperate; especially when he has debts here, and a family across the border. A desperate man will grab at any opportunity that offers a quick, sweet, payoff for a couple hours work. Better when it comes with assurances of no loose ends, and everything under control. Recall those instances that became public and involved drug mules recruited to do some transportation for some nice cash. People take that chance, when the odds of getting past watching eyes are high. Third, I have some difficulty believing that Caracas is so unsophisticated, so reckless, as to put 23 assault rifles in one bag and in only one operator’s hands. When something is too good to be true, it usually isn’t. Couple that to a secretive regime, with willing and powerfully-placed supporting players, and my interpretation is that Guyanese are due for some turbulence.
The concern for me is that there are these seizures of assault rifles -10 in Berbice recently and now 23 across the Demerara River -so close to each other. Who are the real people behind these gun busts? And, where is all of this leading, towards what objective(s)? The latest is of two others, one with a familiar name. What does that say? Confirmation of who’s who could still be long in coming. And, when this one fades, Guyanese are still in a deep, dark, and dangerous place.
Sincerely,
GHK Lall
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