LETHEM POLICE STATION REBUILT

SHORT HISTORY RUPUNUNI UPRISING

On January 2, 1969, the police station at Lethem, the administrative
center of the Rupununi District, was attacked by ranchers, mainly from the
Hart, Junor and Melville families, who were armed with bazookas, pistols and automatic weapons.

The Lethem Police Station was completely destroyed by bazooka shells and
policemen were riddled by bullets as they ran out of the collapsing building. Five policemen and one civilian were killed, the government dispenser (pharmacist) at Lethem Hospital Mr. Batson was shot and wounded, and a number of people, including the assistant District Commissioner Steve Sagar, the District Commissioner Motilall Persaud and his wife, were herded into the abbattoir and held hostage. The five policemen killed during the attempted secession are: Inspector #4412 Whittington Braithwaite; Sergeant #4590 James Anderson; Constables #5611, James McKenzie; 5691 William Norton and # 7178 Michael Kendall.

The Annai and Good Hope stations were also seized and the personnel held captive along with Government officials and civilians in the abbattoir at Lethem.

News about the insurrection reached Georgetown by noon that day and
policemen and soldiers were flown in to Manari Ranch (owned by Maggie Orella and her son) by Guyana Airways. When the government forces moved on Lethem the rebels fled, eventually going across the border to Brazil and Venezuela. The mastermind of the attempted secession of the Rupununi, Valerie Hart, fled to Venezuela, was never brought to justice for the execution of the five police officers and reports are that she still lives in Venezuela. These people are terrorists because they executed government officials and declared that the Rupununi District had seceded from Guyana and that they would set up a Government of the "Republic of the Rupununi". They are being sheltered in several countries whose leaders condemn terrorism.