Ray’s Auto Spares, which is operated by two brothers -- Ray and Kamal Seebarran -- was robbed by armed bandits who carted off an undisclosed sum of money and kidnapped Kamal Seebarran. Kamal Seebarran is also a popular motor racing driver.

A very tense and agitated Ray told the Chronicle that about 08:30 hours yesterday, a burgundy car pulled up in front of the business premises with four men inside, three of them armed with guns.

The men entered the premises and took away the cash that was available. Apparently not satisfied with their loot, they then abducted his brother and sped away along the Railway Embankment Road in the direction of the East Coast Demerara.

Ray said he feels the motive for the kidnapping is money, because they were not satisfied with the amount of cash they found at the store.

He said he is very disgusted at the way the Government is handling the crime situation and expressed his intention of leaving the country.

The businessman stated that when he dialled 911, he could not get through to the Police. They arrived half an hour after the incident.

However, the security forces were trying to keep track of the car that was used in the heist and abduction. Sources told the Chronicle that the kidnappers might have changed the vehicle during their escape.

Up to press time last night, neither the vehicle nor the abductee was located. According to unconfirmed reports, a ransom demand has been made on the family of the kidnapped businessman.

The Guyana Police Force in a statement last night said that the Police, assisted by the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) have launched a massive search for the kidnapped businessman. In the same statement, the Police warned citizens to desist from circulating rumours that several persons have been kidnapped in the City.

“This is totally untrue,” the Police release said, “and only serves to create undue panic in the society.”

Other press reports indicate that the letter was circulated to the Chancellor, the Chief Justice, the U.S. Ambassador and the British and Canadian High Commissioners, the statement said.

"We hardly think that the Chancellor or any other of the above persons who had access to the letter would release it to the press", the PPP/C said.

It said it was therefore reasonable to assume that Ms. Holder-Allen released the letter to Prime News and other sections of the press.

"Ms. Holder-Allen's allegations are false and in the absence of actual evidence, her publication of the letter to Prime News is intended to malign and defame the (PPP/C) and its leadership.

"In the circumstances, the PPP/C condemns Ms. Holder-Allen's publication of the letter, her allegation and her other antics which betray a deep hatred of and bias against the PPP.

"We can only conclude that Ms. Holder-Allen is motivated by malice and call on her to display more objectivity having regard to the nature of the alleged report, that is, that it was alleged by the Police officer to have been a rumour", the statement added.

Commissioner McDonald Thursday confirmed that he had received a letter from Holder-Allen in which she claimed that a Police Sergeant allegedly provided information to her in relation to threats on her life.

"The Sergeant in a written statement claimed that he was by the Stabroek Market when he allegedly heard a conversation carried on by two men who said that they heard that the Government was planning to have the Chief Magistrate assassinated", a Police release stated.

Security has since been provided to Ms. Holder-Allen and investigations into the matter are being carried out, the Police said.

Wednesday, October 02, 2002