On Sunday night, February 17, 2008, a number of gunmen attacked the mining community of Bartica, Essequibo, killing twelve residents and injuring several others.
In the immediate aftermath, President Bharrat Jagdeo noted that the attackers targeted law enforcement, while others decried the apparent inability of the government and the security forces to deal with the extended crime wave.
[4] During June 2008, the Joint Services attacked a number of gang members at a camp near Christmas Falls, killing one and recovering weapons and ammunition.
[5] Police officers recovered weapons, ammunition, literature and the personal property of slain Agriculture Minister Satydeow Sawh, they also arrested a teenaged member of the gang.
[7] Another accused, Dennis Williams, has been convicted for possession of a mobile phone and attempting to escape,[8] and was also believed to be responsible for causing a fire that damaged parts of the Camp Street Jail.