THE GUYANESE government has sought assistance from Canadian and United States police to investigate the murders of Agriculture Minister Satyadeow Sawh, his brother, sister, and a security guard on Saturday.
Mr. Sawh's dog was also killed during the incident about 12:30 a.m. at his home.
Government spokesman Robert Persaud told Guyana's The Stabroek News on Sunday that the country had requested the assistance and was especially hopeful for Canadian assistance given that Mr. Sawh and his family members were naturalised citizens of that country.
Addressing the nation on Guyanese television on Saturday night, President Bharrat Jagdeo called for unity ahead of general election on August 4. He said he believed an attempt was being made to destabilise the country.
UNIFIED FIGHT
"As a nation, we will face down this threat; we will destroy those who seek to wound us, and the peaceful and democratic will of the Guyanese people will prevail," President Jagdeo said. "Our democracy will survive, and the institutions of our State will continue to function and serve the people of this country."
Mr. Sawh, 50, had reportedly been relaxing in a hammock on the patio of his home, about six miles from the capital of George Town, when seven masked gunmen dressed in black burst in.
After demanding money and valuables, the gunmen shot Mr. Sawh and his siblings who had been visiting from Toronto.
Mr. Sawh's wife, Satty, said she was forced to hide during the attack, while another brother received hospital treatment for gunshot wounds.
Guyana's Honorary Counsel to Jamaica, Indera Persaud, told The Gleaner yesterday that she knew Mr. Sawh from worshipping at the same Hindu Temple back home in Guyana.
Ms. Persaud said she feared the incident, coming after recent increases in crime, would change the image of Guyana and cause visitors and returnees to be fearful.
"I have friends who are government ministers and they are shaken up," she said. "My friend is a government minister and she drives herself, insisting that she doesn't need a bodyguard. I'm sure this is going to change everyone's sense of security."
Mr. Sawh is the second Guyanese minister to be murdered while in his post. Then education minister Vincent Teekah was shot dead in 1979.
