President Jagdeo, accompanied by Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon, met relatives at Sandy's Funeral Parlour in Georgetown where the body was laid for viewing before being taken to Helena Number One, Mahaica, for a military funeral.

Daniram leaves to mourn his father and sister. His mother died some years ago.

Minister of Home Affairs, Mr. Ronald Gajraj was expected to attend the funeral at Mahaica.

Daniram, 24, was shot by one of three bandits in his abdomen.

Police said he was in a minibus which had stopped, at about 14:45 hrs (2:45 p.m.), to put off three men at Middle Street, Buxton.

One of the three, who was in the front seat of the bus, pulled out a gun and robbed the driver of his gold chain and gold rings, Police said in a press release. At the same time, the door of the bus was opened for the two who were in the back with other passengers, to leave the vehicle, Police reported.

One of the two snatched Daniram's gold chain as he stood outside the bus for them to disembark.

"A scuffle ensued and the other man shot Constable Daniram in the abdomen after which the three men immediately fled into Buxton", the release said.

The wounded Policeman managed to re-enter the bus and was rushed to hospital where he died shortly after, Police said.

PPP condemns murder of kidnapped schoolboy
THE People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has condemned the heinous murder of 16-year-old Roy Joshua Bell and has extended condolences to his family, relatives and friends.

"This shocking crime of kidnap, torture and murder must be also condemned by all Guyanese without reservation or hesitation", it said in a statement yesterday.

"The torturers and murderers of young Roy live and function beyond the pale of human decency. They have taken Guyana to a new, depraved level of criminality and we hope that the entire Guyanese community will make its revulsion so resounding that these monsters in our midst will find no one to help and no place to hide", it said.

The PPP called on the Government, the law enforcement agencies, the military and all other appropriate agencies to act immediately to eliminate the scourge of kidnapping.

"While it is prevalent, no one is safe, not even our children", the party said.

Bell, a student of the School of the Nations in the city and of 178 Sun Flower Circle, South Ruimveldt Park, Georgetown, was kidnapped in the vicinity of the Stabroek Market area on Saturday afternoon. His body was found on the northern parapet of the Pattenson/Turkeyen Public Road, East Coast Demerara, at around 22:30 hrs Monday.

The Police release stated that after the boy was kidnapped he was taken into the troubled East Coast village of Buxton.

Reports indicate that the teenager was last seen in the company of a female friend at the East Bank Demerara minibus park, prior to his disappearance sometime between 13:30 and 14:30 hrs on Saturday.

A relative told media operatives that the boy's captors had made telephone contact with the family around 19:30 hrs on Saturday requesting $10M ransom, and promising to call again.

On hearing the disturbing news, the relative said, the boy's father, Ferguson Belle who operates a mining operation in the interior, hastily flew to the city arriving at around 17:30 hrs Sunday.

The kidnappers who called again at approximately 20:05 hrs, spoke with the father who immediately began negotiating with them in an effort to secure his son's release, while also trying to secure the sum which was asked, the relative said.

Another contact was made later in the night by the kidnappers who were informed by the father that he had secured a portion of the money, he said.

They instructed that the money be left at an identified place in the city, and according to the relative the father also offered to leave along with the cash, a car with the keys inside.

A relative subsequently took the money and the car to the location and when he returned the boy's family waited anxiously for word from the kidnappers, but none was forthcoming.

He said they waited the entire night but got "no word".

Then on Tuesday morning they learnt that a body was found on the East Coast which was identified as that of the missing teenager.

The Rights of Children (ROC) group yesterday said the teenager was one of its members.

In commemoration of his death, ROC said it will be holding a vigil tomorrow at 10:00 hrs near Pizza Hut on Vlissengen Road where Joshua was last seen alive.

"Joshua joined ROC last year and took part in the Race-Free Chain Campaign and appeared in the television advertisement for that campaign.

"In addition to mourning Joshua's death, the vigil is also intended to draw attention to the fact that Joshua's kidnappers must be found.

"Moreover, the event will also highlight the dangers that young people are exposed to today in Guyana", the group said in a statement.

Friday, April 18, 2003