Mystery tape triggers deep concerns
-- government `deeply disturbed’
THE government yesterday said it was “deeply disturbed” about the surfacing of a taped conversation between Police Commissioner Winston Felix and Mr Basil Williams, a senior member of the main Opposition People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR).

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Police Commissioner Winston Felix

It also announced that the development has implications for national security.

PNCR Member of Parliament, Mr Basil Williams

“The Government of Guyana is deeply disturbed about the circulation and broadcast of a recorded conversation between the Commissioner of Police Mr Winston Felix and PNCR Member of Parliament, Mr Basil Williams,” Home Affairs Minister Gail Teixeira said.

“This development has implications for national security,” she said in a brief statement released by the Government Information Agency (GINA).

Ms Teixeira said the government was studying the content of the recording and at a subsequent time, a more detailed statement will be issued on the matter. 

The privately-owned National Television Network (NTN 18/69) repeatedly played the recording, of about 17 minutes, Monday evening and again yesterday, saying a copy of the tape was sent to the station and that it was allegedly of a conversation between Felix and Williams.

AK-47 rifle

The conversation on the tape covered the 33 AK-47 rifles stolen from a storage bond in the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) headquarters compound in Camp Ayanganna, Georgetown and this evoked laughter between the two men.

The conversation also included a discussion of incidents leading up to the recent Agricola and Eccles, East Bank Demerara massacre of eight persons. On the tape, the purported voice of Felix insists the Police reacted in good time to the deadly shooting spree at Agricola and Eccles.

The voice supposedly that of Felix posits that the current government wants an extension of its time in office and a discussion ensues about the power vacuum and other implications if general elections, constitutionally due by August 4, were not held on time.

The discussion also touched briefly on the execution of Shaka Blair in Buxton, East Coast Demerara and the violence that followed and suggested that the current spate of violence stems from the execution of controversial TV `talk show host’ and PNCR activist Ronald Waddell.

The broadcast of the tape on NTN 18/69 has emerged as a major talking point around the country.

Wednesday, March 22, 2006