The Guyana government has condemned “in the strongest possible terms” the murder of an anti-government protestor on Tuesday night.
Courtney Crum-Ewing, 40, a former soldier, who had led a one-man crusade outside of the office of the Attorney General Anil Nandlall for several days, was gunned down as he urged people on a loud hailer to go out and vote on May 11.
The attorney for the family, Nigel Hughes, said he would be demanding that an autopsy be conducted by an international pathologist and that the police investigation be shadowed by a team of international investigators.
In a statement, the Ministry of Home Affairs said it “condemns in the strongest possible terms, the shooting to death of Courtney Crum Ewing by unknown person or persons.
“The Minister of Home Affairs has given orders to the Commissioner of Police to take immediate action with a view to getting to the bottom of this execution-type shooting incident, through the most thorough investigation.”
The statement said that “though it is early yet to draw any specific conclusion or motive in connection with the perpetration of this dastardly act, the Ministry of Home Affairs wishes to alert the general public to be vigilant in respect of any act of violence provoked or unprovoked, that might be possibly initiated by those who may have a political agenda.
“The Ministry notes the deep coincidence between the fatal shooting incident and the earlier swearing in of the new Commissioner of Police,” and “pledges to support the police in their investigations to bring the perpetrator or perpetrators to justice.
“The ministry calls on anyone who may have knowledge about the circumstances /motive surrounding the shooting death of Courtney Crum Ewing to give their full support to the police in their investigati