GEORGETOWN — VPAC has called for national unity and decisive action in the wake of the deadly explosion at the Mobil Gas Station in Georgetown that claimed the life of six-year-old Soraya Bourne and injured several others. In a strongly worded statement titled “Now is not the time for finger-pointing or the blame game,” the group said the tragedy must serve as a national wake-up call.
“Our hearts go out to Soraya’s family and to everyone affected by this tragic event. But this is no longer an isolated incident, it’s the third explosion in just six months,” the statement read, referencing earlier blasts at a police outpost and a GPL substation. VPAC warned that Guyana’s safety is at serious risk and that these incidents reveal deeper vulnerabilities in national security.
“Whether they are linked or not, it’s clear that Guyana cannot treat them as one-off events anymore. The threats facing our country are changing, and we must face that reality together.”Citing police reports, VPAC noted that investigators are pursuing leads related to a Spanish-speaking foreign national seen near the blast site.
CCTV footage, forensic samples, and eyewitness reports are all being analysed, while several suspects have been detained for questioning. The statement also placed the tragedy in a wider geopolitical context, pointing out that rising regional tensions, including recent U.S. military activity in the southern Caribbean targeting suspected drug-trafficking vessels, have raised fears of instability involving Venezuela.
“For a small nation like ours, any escalation could have devastating consequences,” VPAC said. The organisation criticised both political sides for turning national crises into partisan battles. “We’ve had enough of the blame game. What Guyana needs now is leadership, not finger-pointing.
The government’s inaction is inexcusable, but this is not a time for attacks. None of us knows which school, hospital, or public space could be next. This is a national emergency that demands a national solution.” VPAC urged regional cooperation with CARICOM states and even Venezuela to ease border tensions and prevent the Caribbean from becoming “a battlefield for global power struggles.”
The group also cautioned against xenophobia, saying migrants should not be blamed without evidence. “Many are escaping hardship, not causing it. This is a time for calm, discipline, and responsible leadership,” the statement said.
“We share your grief. We will not let this tragedy fade into silence. We will keep pushing for truth, justice, and a safer Guyana for everyone.”
