Guyanas Minister of Agriculture (acting), Fisheries, Other Crops and Livestock, Satayadeo Sawh, along with his brother Rajpat Rai and sister Phulmattie Persaud, and his security guard, was brutally murdered on Saturday April 22, at the Ministers residence on the East Coast Demerara in Guyana. Another brother of the Minister was also shot and is receiving medical attention along with two security guards at the Georgetown Public Hospital. Another person in his family is in critical condition.
Upon his return to Guyana in 1992 when the ruling Peoples Progressive Party regained governing control under President Cheddi Jagan, Mr. Sawh was appointed as Guyana's ambassador to Venezuela, Colombia and Ecuador. For his diplomatic services, he was awarded the Order of Francesco Miranda of Venezuela and received several community awards in both Venezuela and Colombia. In 1996 he was made Minister for Fisheries, Crops and Livestock. In 2003, he was also given the additional responsibility of Minister of Agriculture, a post he held at the time of his assassination.
Reports indicate that six masked gunmen raided the Sawh's residence and shot the occupants and the guards. The Guyana Police Force is conducting investigations into this heinous attack which has been promptly condemned by Guyanas President Bharrat Jagdeo.
