FOUR persons were on Friday robbed during a prayer meeting at a Kaikan Street, North Ruimveldt church.
In a post on Facebook, one of the victims, Juanita Critchlow, expressed the fact that “thieves getting very desperate.”
“I had a knife plunged at me but it missed. I was robbed of valuable possessions in a church during a prayer meeting,” she stated.
It was also stated that there were four persons in the church at that time when the man, bearing a knife, walked in and robbed all of them.
During a visit to a church which Critchlow is a part of, the EDGE Youth Ministry in Cooper Street, Albouystown, her colleagues who were not present at the Kaikan Street church disclosed that no one was physically harmed.
Persons also said that the matter has been reported to the police.

A Guyanese involuntary returnee who served a conviction in the United States, was arrested by police on Sunday in relation to an armed robbery committed on two Bangladeshi nationals, after police tracked a stolen cell phone to this East La Penitence, Georgetown, home.

According to police reports, about 20:45h on Saturday, the two Bangladeshis were about to enter their Barclay Street, Goed Fortuin, West Bank Demerara, home when two males, both armed with handguns, confronted them.

The gunmen relieved them of their belongings, which included two phones (a Samsung and IPhone) and $185,000 cash. The perpetrators then got into a waiting car, which was parked a short distance away.

During the investigations, the police found that the IPhone had a tracking device, which led investigators to the home of the suspect, where the stolen IPhone was found.

The 55-year-old ‘deportee’ was arrested and taken into custody. His white Toyota Primo car, which investigators suspected was used during the robbery, was also impounded.

The police said that the arrested man had served a lengthy prison term in the US for manslaughter and drug trafficking offences.

Meanwhile, further investigations into the armed robbery are ongoing.

A Venezuelan was in the wee hours of Saturday stabbed to death by his Guyanese drinking buddy during an argument at Eteringbang Landing, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni). The dead man has been identified as Henry Mendonca.
Based on information, the dead man and his Guyanese friend who both reside in Venezuela, crossed the border and were consuming alcohol at a popular drinking spot at Eteringbang Landing when a misunderstanding led to a deathly argument.
It was during the argument that the drunken Guyanese broke a bottle and stabbed Mendonca twice to his abdomen. The injured man was taken to the San Martin Hospital in Venezuela where he was pronounced dead.
The suspect was arrested and is expected to be charged shortly.

AN act of bravery by a female security guard attached to Instant Security Service (ISS)

prevented two gunmen from entering the Hand-in-Hand Trust Corporation Inc branch on Middle Street, Georgetown on Wednesday.

Around 14:30hrs, the guard observed two young men exiting a motorcar, looking as though they were up to no good and confronted them.

A scuffle ensued with the robbers, and recognising that they were in trouble, they abandoned their mission but not before discharging three gunshots which resulted in injury to a passerby.

At the time the suspected bandits visited the company, it was already closed and as such they did not get to rob anyone.

Police say a firearm was found and two men have been arrested and they are looking for the car used in the attempted robbery.

Female security guard shot while foiling robbery at Hand in Hand Trust

Nov 24, 2016 News 0 Comments

A female security guard was shot while fending off two armed men during an attempted robbery yesterday at the Hand-in-Hand Trust Corporation on Middle Street, Georgetown, yesterday.

Injured is 39 year old Natasha Williams, of Lot 14 Sarah Lodge, Stewartville, West Coast Demerara. According to reports, the shooting occurred around 14:00 hrs, when two men approached the building in a suspicious manner.

One of them called out to the other to “pass the thing”. An object which was wrapped in a piece of cloth was given to the requesting suspect.

According to police reports, Williams the guard, approached the suspicious-looking men in the company of a supervisor who was also armed. During this time shots were fired and Williams was shot in her lower left leg. After she was shot, her supervisor returned fire but missed the suspects.

However, the supervisor was able to grab onto one of them and a scuffle followed. That suspect apparently had a snub-nosed revolver with five matching rounds which fell to the ground and was seized by the supervisor.

The men then made their escape and entered a motor car which was waiting some distance away. The car was located in the East La Penitence community late last evening and the driver taken into custody.

When Kaieteur News arrived on the scene yesterday bloodstains on the floor tiles at the entrance of the bottom flat, broken window louvers and a shattered plant pot highlighted the fact that there was indeed a fracas.

Additionally, one of the bullets had hit a motor car parked in front of the building. According to police reports, Williams is at present a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation.

The Hand-in-Hand Trust Corporation is one of Guyana’s leading financial institutions that provides a number of services to its customers. These include the provision of loans and mortgages, a cambio and safety deposit boxes.

After the incident, those customers who were already in the building conducting business were allowed to conclude their transactions but the doors were closed denying anyone further access for the remainder of the afternoon.

A Chinese national was on Thursday evening terrorised by three masked men who invaded her nephew’s store at Number 2 Village, East Canje, Berbice. The incident occurred at about 20:35h.

The injured woman was identified as Lan Hong Zhou, 50. She reportedly suffered laceration to the face after she was struck with a piece of wood. Based on reports, the three bandits stormed the China Town Store armed with a handgun, a cutlass and a piece of wood.

The injured woman, her nephew Zhou Chunmin, 25, and four customers were in the store when the bandits entered.

Chunmin was in the cashier booth and was held at gunpoint by one of the men who demanded cash. Out of fear the businessman handed over an undisclosed sum of cash, from the day’s sale, along with other valuables.

Additionally, the other two bandits grabbed a quantity of phone cards and then escaped. They were seen running along Bristol Street, Number 2 Village, East Canje.

Hong Zhou was taken to the New Amsterdam Hospital where she was treated and sent away.

The Police were summoned and have since launched an investigation. No arrests were made, but several persons have been questioned over the robbery.

In another brazen daytime attack, the driver of a distribution truck attached to the Edward B Beharry and Sons Company was on Friday afternoon robbed in the vicinity of Bourda Market, Georgetown, by a lone gunman.

Reports are at about 14:00h, the driver of the truck was proceeding along Robb Street, Georgetown, when he was ambushed by the lone gunman who relieved him of an undisclosed sum of cash along with other valuables.

Guyana Times was informed that the driver, who was unhurt but traumatised, parked the truck in front of a store and then proceeded to the Alberttown Police Station where he made a report of the robbery. Police have since launched an investigation.

Only recently, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan had announced that heightened security plans have been put in place around the city as the Christmas season approaches.

However, at this latest attack, no law enforcement agents were in proximity.

An East Ruimveldt, Georgetown, businessman was on Thursday nabbed with a quantity of cannabis hidden in a water pump enroute to an interior location.

Eon Brian, 32, was arrested and placed before Magistrate Delon Best at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court where he pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The Police stated that on November 24, 2016, Brian had 369 grams of cannabis in his possession for the purpose of trafficking. Reports are Police acting on information, swooped down on the suspect who was about to depart Bartica in a speed boat.

A search was conducted on his person and belongings during which the illegal substance was found hiding in a section of the water pump.

He was cautioned and arrested. He was later remanded to prison and will make his next court appearance on December 1.

Only a few days ago, a 38-year-old miner of 111 Miles, Mahdia, Potaro River was busted with 227 grams of compressed marijuana hidden in a piece of pipe.

It was reported that Police ranks observed the suspect acting in a suspicious manner; as such the lawmen approached the miner to conduct a search on his person. At the time, he was carrying a six-inch length of pipe.

After the search on his person heeded no success, a search was conducted on the pipe during which a black plastic bag containing the illegal substance was found hidden.

A bakery truck attached to a Cotton Field, West Coast Berbice company, was pounced upon by three bandits in the vicinity of Xenon Academy at Grove, East Bank Demerara on Friday morning.

In surveillance footage seen by Guyana Times, the occupants were relieved of cash and personal items. During the ordeal, four young men were seen scouring the Tank Street, Grove area, prior to the daylight robbery.

An eyewitness confirmed what was shown in the footage seen by Guyana Times. Three young boys – appearing to be teenagers – rode up on two pedal cycles alongside Xenon Academy private school, where one occupant of the bread truck was exiting to make a delivery. Two of the bandits, one of whom carried a handgun, ambushed one of the workers, while a second bandit dragged the driver out of the vehicle and the third rode away from the scene.

The two bandits then proceeded to rob the men, repeatedly hitting the driver and the delivery man before calmly walking away from the scene.

The matter was reported to the Grove Police Station and an investigation has been launched.

This latest criminal attack comes as the Police continue to publish statistics which have purported that serious crimes are down by 17 per cent. However, reports of larceny and armed robberies on businesses and civilians have increased.

A 52-year-old market vendor and his cousin are now in Police custody following the discovery of a semi-automatic pistol at their East La Penitence, Georgetown home on Friday.

According to information, Police ranks acting on a tip-off went to the home of the 52-year-old man at East La Penitence Squatting Area and requested to conduct a search on his premises.

It was during the search that Police unearthed the semi-automatic weapon. The vendor was questioned and allegedly told the ranks that the weapon was given to him by his cousin to keep until a later date. When contacted, the cousin admitted to giving the gun to the man, while urging the Police to release his cousin and take him into custody instead.

Both men were arrested and are assisting Police in their investigations. A ballistics test is expected to be conducted on the weapon to determine if it was used in the commission of a crime.

Three armed men on Saturday morning invaded the home of an East Coast Demerara family and carted off an undisclosed sum of cash and jewellery after severely beating four members of the household.

The robbery occurred at about 05:15h at Lot 52 Richardstown, Mon Repos, ECD. At the time of the robbery Jadunauth Singh along with his wife Maharani Singh and six other family were at home.

Reports are that the eldest son Kishan Singh went to the front of the house to put out his bird and he was confronted by three armed and masked men. They were wearing toques and their faces were covered with pieces of cloth.
Upon seeing the men the young man managed to run to the back of the house and raised an alarm. His father who was attending cattle was held hostage by one of the gunmen, who gun butted him to the head. The cattle farmer was then dragged into the house during which the gunmen demanded money and jewellery.
While in the house the bandits shifted their attention to Singh’s wife, who was preparing breakfast thus it was at this point that Singh senior managed to escape and raised an alarm, alerting neighbours of the robbery.
This caused the bandits to strike his wife several times to the head and dragged her to the upper flat where they continued to make demands. Out of fear the woman handed over a sum of money and a quantity of jewellery. “Meh grandchildren start scream hard hard and I think before them do them anything, leh me give over the money,” the traumatised woman related.
The men rushed out of the house towards a dark-coloured Toyota Carina car and escaped. While running out of the house, one of the men discharged at least two rounds into the air.
When Guyana Times visited the house, detectives were taking statements from the household.
Speaking with this newspaper, Singh related that it was only on Friday he sold a cow and the money was kept at home.
The traumatised man explained that he was kicked to the abdomen after he put up a fight. He noted that the men were wearing “shiny shoes”. He could not recognise any of them since they were all masked. He nevertheless is happy that his family is safe but is upset that the crime situation in Guyana is escalating without more intervention by Government.
Meanwhile, his son related that he was putting out his birds when he saw the men.
“I run to the back and holler “thief, bandits” and one of them grab me and one gun butt to head…another one give me one more to the head and drag me upstairs… they tek away the jewel I did wearing,” he added. He noted that one of the men had long hair wrapped in a ponytail and several of his teeth were ice (red), gold and green.
After the bandits left, Singh who is also a labourer at the La Bonne Intention Sugar Estate, took his injured son and wife to the hospital where they were treated and sent away.
Guyana Times understands that one of the man’s daughters-in-law hid in the washroom after she heard the heavy voices demanding money and jewellery.
The Police have since questioned several persons in the area as they intensify their investigations. (Bhisham Mohamed)

LASHAY Saul went on Monday to the Golden Grove Police Station on the East Bank of Demerara to make a report of domestic abuse against her reputed husband, claiming he was a habitual abuser.

A rank was sent to the couple’s home to arrest the suspect. In resisting arrest, the suspect allegedly held on to the armed constable and grabbed his firearm. A round was discharged and it struck the suspect’s left elbow. He was rushed to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, where he was treated and discharged.

He is presently in police custody, and the police are working to complete their case file on the matter, after which charges would be instituted.

Police ranks are investigating the circumstances under which a 22-year-old farmer of Bee Hive, East Coast Demerara was shot about 23:45h last night at Clonbrook, E.C.D.

According to a police release, Khemraj Gangaram was at a function at Clonbrook, when he ventured across the road to relieve himself in the vicinity of a parked motor vehicle, during which he heard two loud explosions and observed a male pointing a handgun at him. He attempted to flee and felt a burning sensation on his left hand and right thigh and realized he was shot.

He was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation and admitted in a stable condition. No arrest has been made.

Prompt action by ranks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) resulted in the capture of an alleged bandit who along with another individual, allegedly attempted to enter someone’s yard in Aubrey Barker Road, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

According to eye witnesses, at around 15:00h on Thursday, two men, one of whom was armed with a gun, tried entering someone’s yard, but were ambushed by members of the force.

This newspaper understands that there was an exchange of gunfire between the police and suspected bandits, however no one was injured. During the ordeal, the bandits decided to part ways on foot through nearby bushes.

However, moments later the ranks were able to nab one of the alleged bandits who claimed that he was the wrong person.

Meanwhile, the hunt continues for the other individual, whom residents identified as “Dexter,” a vagrant who lives in the area.

THE police are hunting a gunman and his accomplice following an armed robbery at Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara, on Thursday night.

The men relieved a mother and her daughter of their handbags which contained cash and other valuables.

The robbery took place around 20:30hrs when Sawarie Harolall and Canisa Bownauth of Crown Dam, Industry, East Coast Demerara, were visiting a relative.

As they arrived at their location, a silver-coloured 212 Toyota motor car pulled up and a suspect exited brandishing a firearm and proceeded to relieve them of the said articles.

The relative, who witnessed the incident on his close circuit television (CCTV), armed himself with his licensed firearm and fired six shots at the bandits, all of which missed them as they made good their escape in a waiting motor vehicle.

Sleuths are in the process of reviewing the CCTV footage in an effort to identify the suspect. No arrest has been made.

THE police are hunting three bandits who robbed and shot a route 47 (East/West) minibus driver on Thursday night at Liliendaal Public Road, East Coast Demerara.

The driver is a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) and is expected to undergo a surgical operation to remove a bullet lodged in his left upper back.

The man has been identified as Malvin Hooper of Lot 35 Shirley Field-Ridley Square, Georgetown. He refused to exit his bus on Thursday night after he was robbed of $20,000 in cash and his cellphone.

The incident occurred when Hooper was at the Shell Service Station at Ogle, East Coast Demerara, making a purchase of fuel.

He was approached by three men who requested to be taken farther up the East Coast.

The 39-year-old man complied and while in the vicinity of the Ocean View Conference Centre, Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown, the robbers whipped out their guns and demanded that he hand over all his valuables.

Hooper handed over his cellphone and a sum of cash and was instructed to exit his vehicle, but he refused and was shot in the back.

The bandits made good their escape after he drove the bus into a trench.

Hooper was rushed to the GPHC by public-spirited citizens and is reportedly in a stable condition.

The bus has since been removed from the trench.

Relatives of Hooper said he is in hospital and nothing more when this newspaper visited his home on Friday.

A security guard was bound and strapped to a hammock with duct tape by bandits who broke into a storeroom owned by East Coast Berbice (ECB) farmer, Rohan Hanoman.

According to reports reaching Guyana Times, shortly after midnight on Thursday three men confronted the guard, Suresh Narine, 70, also called “Manko” of Guava Bush, Albion, Berbice. The man related that the men attacked him, covering his mouth with their hands before duct taping his mouth.

He recalled that his hands were tied together and then he was put to lie in a hammock, which the men also duct taped.

Narine added that the men then proceeded to break into a storeroom.

He explained that the thieves seemed to have known what they were after since they did not spend more than two minutes inside.

The bandits took six water blowers valued at some $700,000. The water blowers are used by rice farmers to distribute fertiliser and manure manually.

The guard noted that some time after the perpetrators went away, he managed to free himself and rushed to a nearby house to raise an alarm, before returning to the premises and contacting the owner to inform him of what had transpired.

The matter was since reported to the Police and an investigation has been launched. No arrests have been made thus far.-

…bandit drops loaded gun in hasty retreat

AFTER shooting a security guard of the E.C. Vieira Investments Limited of Houston, East Bank Demerara — injuring his leg as he was in a vehicle at Peter’s Hall, East Bank Demerara — an armed bandit was forced to flee on a waiting CG motorcycle, abandoning an attempt to steal the company’s wages from the vehicle the guard was in, and dropping his loaded pistol in the process of beating a hasty retreat on Friday afternoon.

According to a police report, at about 13:50hrs on Friday, EC Vieira Investments personnel were returning to Houston in a company motor car that had gone farther up the East Bank Demerara, and while snarled in slow-moving traffic at Peter’s Hall, the armed bandit approached the front passenger seat where security guard Lionel Nixon was seated and discharged a round at him, shattering the front windscreen and injuring his upper left leg.

Car driver Joseph Ferria, who was armed with a licensed handgun, immediately discharged a round at the bandit, who forthwith dropped his 9mm Beretta pistol with sixteen matching live rounds and fled the scene on a waiting CG motorcycle, escaping in a northerly direction.

Nixon was rushed to, and admitted at, a private hospital. One spent shell was recovered at the scene by investigators. Police are investigating this incident.

Three men accused of an armed robbery at ‘Wild Caught Fresh Fish Depot’ at the Meadow Bank Wharf, Ruimveldt were remanded to prison by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on Tuesday.

Mervin Blackman,25, of Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara; Neizam Benie,40 of Bushy Park, Parika, East Bank Essequibo, both fish vendors along with Jason Brotherson, 20, a miner of Gordon Street, Kitty were jointly charged with the offense.

The charge alleged that the trio on December 02, 2016 at Meadow Bank Wharf, while being armed with guns, robbed Shane Robin of $560,000 cash along with $1.5M worth in fish glue, property of Leonard Jettoo.

The three men pleaded not guilty to the charge. Benie, who was shot to both of his legs, had to be lifted into the court by police; he was represented by Attorney Adrian Thompson who also appeared for Blackman; Brotherson was unrepresented.

According to information received, three men, one armed with a handgun stormed the Wild Caught Fresh Fish Depot at 00:45hrs on December 2 and held the supervisor, Shane Robin at gunpoint. Robin was gun-butted and the men took a camera, DVR, a radio set and other articles.

Public-spirited citizen witnessed the robbery and called the police, who responded and confronted the men as they were leaving. During the confrontation, one of the unarmed suspects was shot to both legs and the other with the firearm, ran in the depot and concealed himself in the ceiling.

Additional Charges
Meanwhile, Blackman and Benie were also charged separately with three counts of armed robbery, which they strongly denied. Particulars of the first charge alleged that on October 1, 2016 while being armed with guns, they robbed Bramanand Chatram of $500,000 cash and a quantity of items over $3M, property of Bibi Shafoor.

The men are also accused of robbing Bramanand Chatram of his cellphone and other items totaling $110,000, while being armed with guns. Lastly on the same day, the duo while being armed with guns robbed Parmanand Chatram of a cellphone and other items totaling $14,000.

Additionally, Blackman was slapped with five other criminal charges, including illegal gun possession and attempted murder.

The first charge alleged that Blackman while being in the company of others and armed with guns on August 15 at Georgetown, robbed Carl Welshman of a cellphone and other items totaling $175,000.

He was also charged with discharging a loaded firearm at Welshman with intent to commit murder, on the said day and location. It is further alleged that on November 24 at Georgetown, Blackman while being in the company of others and armed with guns, robbed Dannie Singh of $40,000 and other items totaling $50,000.

It is also alleged that Blackman on December 2, 2016 at Georgetown had a Glock 17 Simi-automatic pistol in his possession when he is not the holder a firearm licence. He was also caught with 8 live millimeter rounds of ammunition. The fish vendor pleaded not guilty to the charges while his lawyer, Thompson begged the Magistrate to release his client on bail since he is not a flight risk.

Police Prosecutor, Corporal Simone Payne strongly opposed to the men being released on bail based on the seriousness, prevalence, nature and penalty attached to the charges. The prosecutor pointed out that Blackman is currently on bail for a matter of similar nature, which is currently before City Magistrate Fabayo Azore. They were remanded and the matters are adjourned until January 6, 2017.

A 54-year-old poultry farmer of Supenaam village on the Essequibo Coast was on Tuesday remanded to prison for the possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.

Latchman Paul, also called Lachi, made his first appearance before Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Suddie Magistrate’s Court.

According to the facts, at 15:30h on November 3, 2016, Paul was apprehended by Police while in possession of 28 grams of cocaine in a car on the Rivertown Public Road. He was heading to Supenaam from Lorna Scott’s Perseverance home.

Police, acting on information, stopped the car and subsequently made the discovery. The man was told of the offence and was later taken to the Suddie Police Station. The substance was weighed and amounted to 28 grams of cocaine. The driver was also apprehended, but was later released.

Bail was refused, and the matter was postponed to December 24, 2016

One of two robbery victims is presently admitted a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital nursing a gunshot wound to his right thigh. Police said investigation revealed that the victims Gavin Ramlall, 22yrs, a contractor of Chateau Margot, East Coast Demerara and his friend David Mangroo, 64 yrs, of Section ‘B’ Pattensen, Turkeyen ECD were in Georgetown earlier on Thursday purchasing vehicle parts.
About 14:00hrs, Ramlall who was driving a Tundra stopped in front of Mangroo’s residence, parked and secured his vehicle and they went into the yard. Shortly afterwards, they were confronted by two suspects, one armed with a handgun, who demanded their valuables to which they complied and handed over two cell phones and $16,000.00 cash.
They then demanded the keys for the Tundra but Ramlall refused and was shot to the front of his right thigh. At the same time, another suspect arrived in a gold- coloured motor car, shattered the side glasses of the Tundra with a piece of wood, entered and searched same but came out empty-handed, after which they all escaped in the motor car. Ramlall was rushed to the GPH and admitted in a stable condition. Investigators have retrieved a spent shell at the scene. No arrests have been made.

Four masked men on Saturday morning robbed an overseas-based Corentyne, Berbice, pensioner and his domestic worker at his Salton, Corentyne home.
The men gained entry into the two storied house, owned by Veerasammy Narainasami, also called “Fedi”, by placing a bench on two tables to reach the bedroom window on the upper flat.

The 67-year told Guyana Times that he was in his bedroom watching television and at about 12:45h he went to the bathroom and upon returning to his bedroom, he was confronted by the men.
“I spent like about 15 minutes and going back when I open the bedroom door, ah brace up with four men; one with a gun, one with a cutlass and two with nothing. They start to rough me up and asking ‘where is the money, where is the money’. I tell them that all the money I get is in the pants, so one of them go and take out the money and they still asking, ‘where is the rest’, and I tell them that I don’t have more,” the pensioner related.
He said the bandit who was carrying the cutlass started lashing him using the flat side of the blade, demanding that he hand over more money.
The pensioner, who displayed marks on his body including a cut to his head, said all of the men were masked.
He related that the ordeal lasted for about 25 minutes, adding that the men placed a gun to his head and threatened to kill him if he did not give them more money.
The former building maintenance engineer, who arrived in Guyana on December 3, said he tried to explain to the thieves that he is in the habit of borrowing money from friends whenever he is in Guyana and repaying when he returns to New York.
After relieving the pensioner, the bandits then turned their attention to his domestic help, Samantha Williams, who was asleep in another room.
“Dem ask me if I know which side this man does put his money and I tell them that is not my business and I don’t mind his business, then the one with the gun ask me, ‘where is me money’, and ah tell him look on the table and then he look and see the light on the phone under the sheet and the pull it away from me and then he put his hand on my breast and then he go out the room,” the woman related.
She said she was too shaken to get out of bed and locked the bedroom door after they exited her room.
Williams was relieved of a cellular phone worth $4500 and $3000 in cash while Narainasami was relieved of US$300, G$5000, two cellphones and two torch lights.
Police arrived about 30 minutes after the incident and dusted the louvres for fingerprints.
An investigation has been launched. Narainasami, who left Guyana in 1985, has been returning over the last five years to spend the winter period in Guyana. (Andrew Carmichael)