Mahaicony man arrested after threat at meeting with President

A resident of Mahaicony was arrested yesterday after he threatened to shoot President Bharrat Jagdeo or anyone else who interfered with his land and his house was searched for firearms but it is not clear if any was found.

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The man made the threat at the conclusion of a meeting the president held with farmers at the Mortice Primary School, Mahaicony yesterday.

President Jagdeo ordered Commander of ‘C’ Division, Balram Persaud to arrest the man and revoke his firearm licence if he was the holder of one.

The man who recently bought a plot of land where a shallow well had been dug during the “Burnham administration” fenced the land and prevents persons from using it.

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Some residents told this newspaper that the state’s property is located on the land and the well was dug with “taxpayers’ money” so he cannot prevent persons from accessing it.

During the meeting residents raised the issue of an inadequate supply of water in the area. The president had told them that Minister of Water, Irfaan Ali would visit the area shortly to deal with the situation.

They also informed him that a team of Guyana Water Inc. (GWI) officials had visited the area a few days ago to do some emergency work and when the officials attempted to gain access to the well the man reportedly went after them.

In response the man said he bought the land for $750,000 and that government can either remove the well or pay him for his land.

The president said he was willing to purchase the land but after the man said he was not in possession of the transport the president said government would just take the land.

The issue of the land was raised again at the end of the meeting as the president was leaving and the man reportedly told the president that if he sends anyone onto his land he would shoot them and that if the president goes he would shoot him as well.