Shooting In Barbados No Hate Crime Against Guyanese, Report Was Speculative Nonsense – Consul

There have been some press reports which have been targeted at BU that have appeared in several fora in the last 24 hours. We will respond in time to many of the inaccuracies which appeared in those reports. We agree that if our message is not to become distorted, our blog has a responsibility to ensure that we don’t contribute to fueling hysteria around this matter. We take this opportunity to reiterate that we strongly believe in a managed immigration policy. We also believe that the impact of multi-ethnic groups on a Black host population should be studied as part of a managed immigration policy. The BU family is aware that we are reluctant to censor, however we want solution oriented discussion. The reports over the last 24 hours should have shown how extreme comments posted on BU can be used by some to extrapolate to positions which we don’t subscribe. Please be guided accordingly.

The following is a Press Release (unedited) issued by the Guyana Consul in Barbados:

The Guyana Consulate in Barbados has dismissed a Kaiteur News news story in Guyana which intimated that last Saturday night’s shooting death of a Guyanese national and the wounding of another in an apparent bungled robbery at a Barbados bar was a premeditated anti-Guyanese attack. “The Consulate has no evidence of this. I read the item in the Guyana press and it was speculative nonsense. It had persons, typically unnamed, claiming that the entertainment establishment was targeted because it was regularly frequented by Guyanese nationals. Aside from the sensationalist speculation , the gist of the report was also factually wrong. Among he errors: there were no six gunmen-only one was apparently involved. From all the available evidence at this juncture including from senior investigative officers of the Barbados police, this was an apparent case of a robbery gone wrong. There are no indications this was a hate crime against Guyanese. Indeed, Barbadians have sympathised with me about this tragedy which could happen in any country.” said Consul Norman Faria.

“As I said at the screening of the commendable movie ON THE MAP about migrant workers in Barbados , progressive and democratic forces including the left have to really get worried and decisively act when anti-foreigner sentiment and xenophobia becomes part of mainstream Barbados politics. While it cannot get directly involved in Barbadian politics, the Consulate monitors the situation and is of the view that, in the main and at this conjuncture, Barbadian political parties, grassroots institutions such as trade unions, credit unions and the churches are still made up of decent, tolerant and democratic minded Barbadians who welcome people from overseas. We sympathise with those who were offended, or earnestly feel that it led to actual racist incidents, by the anti-Guyanese inflammatory rhetoric on talk radio for example. We cannot however translate wild talk from a handful of xenophobes, encouraged by misguided certain talk show hosts themselves, into generalised anti-Guyanese sentiment,” he continued.

The Guyanese Consul went on: “The Guyana Consulate takes very seriously any reports of anti-Guyanese incidents. We have to monitor any attempts to stir up hatred and speak out when necessary. The Consulate has its responsibility and has on many occasions written radio station managements which encourage misinformed or wilful inflammatory views which can only serve to create divisions and racial hatred among working people and which undubtedly embarrasses the majority of decent, tolerant Barbadian people. Following a Consulate communication to the Barbadian police (and copied to a radio station managemnt), there have been some improvements at the stations including call screeners being more awake and responsible. It has nothing to do with freedom of speech. Those who wish to stir up racist feelings and divide people should have no freedom of speech.”

“Consul Faria at the film screening also referred to the MONITORING AND CONTROL-he never used the word CENSOR-of blogs in Barbados. This type of reference is in keeping with progressive trends overseas including in countries like Finland, Turkey and Greece. We can start with forcing those who operate the blogs to have their names and addresses publicly displayed on them. We must respect the traditional freedom of the serious and excellent media in Barbados and commend the rights of Barbadians to express their views. We must respect the Barbados government’s regulatory powers but note that private sector initiatives, perhaps from web server firms, could be a way to start. We must be sensitive and understanding towards well reasoned arguments from Barbadians about migrant workers. The bottom line is that blogs should not serve as a platform for racist and inflammatory wild talk, especially against the backdrop of the region moving towards a meaningful CSME.”

Dead in the Bay Street incident is 27 year old Christopher Anthony Griffith while proprieteress of the Hippo Bar and Caribbean Restuarant, Silochani Samuels, is now a patient at the island’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Faria said he has been briefed by the police on the matter, including that the post mortem should be completed on Griffith by Wednesday. Faria said he visited with Samuels at the hospital on Tuesday after the weekend shooting to give her encouragement and offer any assistance from the Consulate on behalf of the Guyana government. “Apparently, the bullet is lodged close to her heart and doctors are keeping her under observation until they make a decsion on the matter,” he said.

Asked if Barbadian police had any leads into the murder, Faria said the police told him they “has some suspects in mind” but that investigations are continuing.