Seven people, including four Venezuelans and three Guyanese, have been charged in connection with the October 26 bombing at a Mobil Gas Station in Georgetown that claimed the life of six-year-old Soraya Bourne and injured four others. All seven appeared in court last Wednesday under heavy security and were remanded to prison as investigations continue.

The main accused, 33-year-old Venezuelan national Daniel Alexander Ramirez Poedemo, appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. Prosecutors allege that Poedemo planted and detonated an explosive device near cooking gas cylinders at the fuel station, an act said to have been intended to create terror and threaten Guyana’s sovereignty. The charge carries severe penalties under the country’s anti-terrorism laws.

According to investigators, Poedemo was captured on surveillance footage leaving two bags containing the suspected explosive device after being prevented from placing them near the fuel pumps. The explosion ripped through the area, killing the child and injuring several others, sparking outrage across the nation and calls for tighter border control.

Three of Poedemo’s alleged accomplices, Alexander Bettancourt, 44; Johnny Boodram, 27; and Krystal LaCruz, 33, who holds both Guyanese and Venezuelan citizenship, were charged with aiding and abetting the commission of the terrorist act. They were not required to enter pleas and were remanded until November 12.

Boodram’s attorney, Mikel Puran, told the court that his client is a taxi driver who regularly transports LaCruz, a bar owner in Region Three, and had no knowledge of any plan involving explosives. He described Boodram as “wrongfully accused” and said he was performing his regular work duties at the time of the alleged offence.

Three other defendants, Wayne Correia, 44; Ramesh Pramdeo, 51; and Jennifer Rodriguez, 33, appeared via video link before Magistrate Alisha George at the Leonora Magistrates’ Court. They were also charged with aiding and abetting the attack between October 24 and 29 and were remanded until November 24.

Pramdeo’s lawyer, Bernard Da Silva, argued that his client merely transported two Venezuelan miners from Parika to a hotel in Meten-Meer-Zorg and was not connected to the bombing. Magistrate George described the offence as extremely serious and refused bail, citing public safety concerns.

Security around the Georgetown courthouse was tight, with armed officers stationed at entry points and the accused arriving in police vehicles. Civilians were kept at a distance as relatives of the Venezuelan nationals waited near a nearby church.

The Guyana Police Force later said in a statement that the charges followed a detailed investigation conducted with assistance from international partners and guided by legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions. The Force affirmed that the case was handled with professionalism and adherence to due process.

Authorities have since increased monitoring of foreign nationals, particularly Venezuelans. Police sources have suggested possible links between the suspects and the R Syndicato gang, known for cross-border criminal activity. Home Affairs Minister Oneidge Walrond has stated that the government will seek the death penalty for anyone convicted of terrorism under Guyanese law.

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