Two armed bandits escaped with more than $6 million in cash and jewellery following a brazen daylight robbery in Port

Rhada Gobin

Mourant, Corentyne.
According to reports, the two men went into Gobin’s Grocery Store at Port Mourant pretending to be customers but subsequently whipped out handguns and held the owners of the business hostage along with five staff members and 11 customers.
Co-owner of the store, Rhada Gobin told this publication that she was doing some administrative work when the bandits struck.
She said a popular beverage company truck had just arrived at the store for routine delivery and she was in the process of paying $1.1 million to the sales representative.
“Two boys walk in, well-dressed up, neat and ask ‘Aunty Rhada you have Heineken?,’ and Ah say no. So they turn to leave and them turn around and ask me if I have Guinness. They give me a $1000 and say they want three Guinness. Then they pull out a gun and put it on a lady head at the counter and say ‘nobody don’t move.’ Then tell every we to lie down pun the ground,”
She said one of the bandits discharged a shot in the shop and demanded that she hand over cash and jewellery. One of the bandits also threw a bag at her and ordered her to pack the money and jewellery into the bag.
“He tell me open all the draw and take out all the money. So I open all the draw and take out all the money and full up in the bag. Then he start to cuss nasty, saying ‘go and bring all the so-and-so millions what you get’ and Ah tell he that everything deh right here and he take the gun and hit me in the head and me fall own,” the traumatised woman related.”
The customers who were in the shop at the time were also robbed of their valuables including cash, jewellery and cellular phones.
Gobin said the men carried away about $500,000 in jewellery from her collection, in addition to the cash.
According to her, the robbers used an overseas-based Guyanese who was in the shop at the time, as a human shield as they made their escape.
“They put the gun at the lady neck and back to back to the road and jump on a motorbike and ride away.”
She said the men destroyed the surveillance footage from her CCTV cameras before leaving.
Shortly after, villagers went in search of the robbers but came up empty-handed.
The Police were called and have since taken one person into custody for questioning.

A Berbician mother faced off with a gunman who entered her home with his accomplice on Tuesday morning in an

Miriam Hoosain

attempt to prevent them from hurting her two children.
The woman, identified as Miriam Hoosain of Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice, was brutalised by the perpetrators who invaded her house around 06:00h on the day in question.
The victim’s husband had just left for work around 05:30h, while their 11-year-old son and six-year-old daughter were upstairs in the house when the incident took place.
Reports are that Hoosain was in her hammock meditating when the two men arrived at her gate asking if her husband was at home.
She related to Guyana Times that she replied in the affirmative, stating that her husband was upstairs.
However, instead of walking away from her gate, the duo quickly rushed into her yard; one remained with her and the other signalled his intent to go into the upper flat of her house.
“They did it so fast. By the time I realised they were bandits, the one took out a gun and I started to scream. He lashed me and the next thing I knew was that he had me in the kitchen,” she said.

According to Hoosain, she had “blacked out” briefly, but as soon as she regained consciousness, she began to shout for help. It was then that the gun-toting bandit who was standing guard over her smashed the weapon into her face while telling her to remain quiet.
“He threatened to shoot me…I heard the one upstairs opening drawers and asking the children where their mother’s bedroom is…So I get up after I catch myself again and I hold on to him and fight him and overpowered him,” the distraught mother told this publication.
She explained that the gun-toting bandit was caught off-guard and thus, having the upper hand, she held onto the intruder with a firm grip, forcing him to call his partner for help
Guyana Times  was told that it was at this moment Hoosain made the most out of the small timeframe she had to escape and ran out of her kitchen straight into her neighbour’s yard, while alerting them about the situation with shouts and screams.
This caused the two perpetrators to abort their mission and flee the woman’s house before they could be detained by anyone who might rush to her aid.
When asked why she made the daring move to wrestle with and fight off an armed man, she explained that while the blood was pouring down her face after being hit with the gun, all she could think of was her two children alone in the upper flat of the house with an armed bandit.
When this newspaper visited Hoosain on Tuesday, the woman could barely open her eyes. She had already sought medical attention and received two stitches on her face.
According to the injured woman, the bandits did not succeed in executing their daring attempt of a robbery, since they left empty handed.
Meanwhile, her husband, Feroze Hoosain told Guyana Times  that he was not allowed to leave his job and go home when he received information about his wife’s injuries and the attempted robbery at his house.
He stated that he received the information about what had occurred in his absence around 08:30h, but could not leave his work site until 14:00h.
It must be noted that he is employed as a security guard at the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo).
Guyana Times  further understands that Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) Chairman Vickchand Ramphal visited the traumatised family and expressed his concerns over the recent upsurge of criminal activity in the community.

– had been robbed, chopped in Feb

BY INDRAWATTIE NATRAM

Thieves on Wednesday morning pounced on an Essequibo businessman and carted away a large amount of groceries from the man’s bond.
Reports are that businessman Asif Khan Haniff of Zorg Village, Essequibo Coast who operates a wholesale facility, heard a strange sound in his yard and his dogs began barking at about 00:30h on Wednesday morning. This prompted the businessman to look through his window, and as he did, he saw several masked men in his yard. This is the second time for the year Haniff has being robbed.
The businessman told Guyana Times that when he peered through his window, one of the men saw him and pointed a gun at him and shouted “shut up”.
According to the businessman, he feared for his life and that of his family and so he moved from the window and called the Police. He said when he called the Police, he was told that the patrol squad was at Charity and that he was to remain vigil.
The businessman told this newspaper that as he waited for the Police, the men loaded a large number of items from his storage bond, including bags of potatoes, bales of toilet paper, boxes of butter among other items.
“We screamed till we get hoarse for help, the vision of our last robbery was coming back to us vividly, we wanted help,” the businessman related.
He told Guyana Times that an hour later, the Police still did not arrive and the men had left by then. He said that after the men left, he went to the Suddie Police Station and reported the incident.
According to the businessman, the thieves left a blue bicycle behind. He related that the Police visited the scene and launched an investigation. One person was arrested and is assisting Police with their investigation.
Haniff told this publication that several years ago, he applied for a firearm licence but that application is still pending. He said that his family continues to live in fear as this is the second time this year they have lived through this horrid ordeal.
On February 10, Haniff along with his wife Bibi Shaneeza Khan were brutalised by four masked bandits. The men brazenly entered their home and beat them. During that incident, the businessman was chopped. On that instance, the bandits managed to carted away $250,000 cash, phone cards, jewellery and groceries before escaping.
Only recently, on October 24, Bhesham Seepersaud, of Zorg Public Road, a Sale Agent attached to Edward B Beharry Group of Companies, was robbed by bandits.

… all city streets to get cameras – Minister Ramjattan

Close to 99 per cent of over 3100 traffic violators facing prosecution by the Guyana Police Force’s Traffic Department

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan addressing the launch of road safety month at the ACICC

are violations caught on closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras. This is according to Public Security Minister and Third Vice President, Khemraj Ramjattan.
Addressing the launch of road safety month at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre at Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown, on Wednesday, Minister Ramjattan assured that the Ministry has been doing its best to ensure there is a reduction of these violations.
In this light, he revealed that the Ministry early this year commenced a new development, whereby the CCTV cameras around the city are being used to catch those committing traffic crimes.
According to Minister Ramjattan, to date, these cameras have captured over 3100 offences. He said that almost 99 per cent of these violators have pleaded guilty and are before the courts. “They are pleading guilty because they cannot get away from the fact that it is them on the cameras,” he said.
Road fatalities, however, remain high, the Minister noted, pointing out that this is because the CCTVs are only located in some streets in Georgetown. He noted that in light of this, the Ministry, as part of its long-term effort, will install CCTV cameras in all city streets.

Road safety is everyone’s responsibility
During his short speech, the Minister also lauded the effort of the National Road Safety Council (NRSC) for pushing the agenda of road safety in Guyana. He noted that while the NRSC will do its parts with support from central government, road safety is everyone’s responsibility. He pointed out that to a large extent, the damage and the destruction that is caused by road accidents are as a result of that deficiency in individual responsibility.
“We are the sole cause of the road accidents around us and we have to be the cure of that disease,” he said.
The Public Security Minister noted that this responsibility has to be cultivated from a young age, and that the Education Ministry has a prime role to play in this regard.

It was a war zone in Enterprise, East Coast Demerara on Wednesday evening after three armed men and a shopkeeper traded bullets as they attempted to rob his businessplace. The incident occurred at about 20:00h.

According to information, Rosita Balram was in the shop attending customers when the men entered and presented a list of items they wanted to purchase.

Reports state that as the woman gathered the items on the list, her husband who is a licensed firearm holder realised something was amiss.

This newspaper understands that after observing the manner in which the men were behaving, the businessman concealed himself so that the men could not observe him.

The newspaper was told the businessman’s wife tallied the cost of the items and informed the men. At that point one of the men pretended that he was taking out the money from his pocket but rather pulled out a handgun and discharged a round in the direction of the woman. Reports are that upon seeing the gun the woman and her son ran for cover.

The businessman upon hearing the first shot retaliated and discharged several rounds in the direction of the men who retreated and escaped in the nearby cane fields.

The police have since retrieved several .9mm spent shells from the scene.

When contacted Thursday, Roso, commonly called, of Ferdinand Street, Enterprise, stated that while putting together the items for the men, she noticed one of them walking in and out of the shop. From all indications she stated, he was monitoring the area.

“When I done get up the things, I tell them it was $3400,”she told this newspaper, adding that the bandit appeared as if he was taking the money out of his pocket. She said in the meantime she was tending to other customers and after they left the shop, the bandit came up to the counter as if he was ready to pay.

As she was about to collect the money, it was then one of the men pulled out a gun and pointed it in her direction.

“The bullet passed by me face and I duck and hide and I tell me son to stay down,” the woman added.

By that time her husband returned fire and the three men, two of whom were armed with handguns, ran out the premises and into the nearby cane fields.

The police were called and an investigation has been launched.

Days after ranks of the Customs Anti Narcotics Unit (CANU) intercepted a 46-year-old man with 4.5 kilograms of cocaine in the false walls of his suitcase, the ranks busted a Guyanese woman as she was trying to smuggle out the illegal substance via the Cheddi Jagan International Airport on Thursday.

According to information received, Odessa Pollard, of East La Penitence, Georgetown, was about to board a Caribbean Airlines flight destined for Trinidad and Tobago when the ranks discovered the cocaine in packets of milk powder.

Based on reports received, the ranks thought something was amiss when they uncovered several packets of the milk powder and decided to carry out tests on its contents.

The substance was tested and it was found to be cocaine and not milk powder. The packets, along with Pollard, were taken to the CANU headquarters. The weight of the cocaine was not immediately available.

The woman is assisting with investigations.

A South Ruimveldt, Georgetown, shopkeeper was on Friday remanded to prison by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in Court Two of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, after he appeared before her slapped with several narcotics trafficking charges.

Forty-year-old Warren Stouffle of 3 Aubrey Barker Road, South Ruimveldt, denied the allegation which read that between September 4 and November 4, at Georgetown, he trafficked narcotics; that is to say, he conspired with Shanda Nicasie Nickels to traffic 4.160 kilograms of cocaine. He also pleaded not guilty to the charge which read that on November 4 at Aubrey Barker Road, he had in his possession six grams of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

Police Prosecutor, Corporal Deniro Jones revealed to the court that these charges coincide with those of Nickels. It was related that Nickels was charged for drug trafficking and was sentenced to three years imprisonment at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court on a related charge. The Prosecutor explained that Nickels gave a statement to the Police incriminating the defendant which indicated her willingness to testify against him. Based on information garnered from Nickels’ statements, the ranks went to the defendant’s home at Lot 3048 Aubrey Barker Road and not Lot 3 as was presented to the court by the defendant. He further related that on November 4, the ranks approached the defendant at the gate of his residence and carried a search on his person, during which the illegal substance was found in his pocket.

The defendant’s Attorney Euclin Gomes made an application for bail, after alleging that the charges were made due to an ongoing feud between the Police and Stouffle. The Prosecutor objected to bail, citing the nature and gravity of the charge, adding that there were no special reasons put forward for bail to be granted. The objections were upheld and bail was denied. The man was remanded to prison and the matter was transferred to Court Five for November 23 where it will appear before Magistrate Fabayo Azore for report and fixture.

A woman was on Friday remanded to prison by Magistrate Judy Latchman in Court Three of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts after she appeared before her charged with trafficking in narcotics.

Vanessa Moore, 43, of Lot 91 Murphy Street, Good Intent, West Coast Demerara, pleaded not guilty to the charge which read that on Tuesday, November 3 at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), East Bank Demerara, she was found in possession of 2.94 kilograms of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

According to the particulars of the charge presented by Police Prosecutor, Corporal Bharrat Mangru, the woman frequently travels to London and when there she resides at 78 McDonald Hills. The Prosecutor related that on the day in question, the defendant who is a Guyanese citizen was an outgoing passenger headed to Port of Spain, Trinidad as an in transit passenger, with a connecting flight destined for London. The Prosecutor revealed that a routine search was carried out on her luggage by ranks of the Police Narcotics Unit. During the said search, two bottles of rum were found, one being 12-year-old rum and the other a 15-year-old Eldorado rum.

Tests to the rum resulted in the discovery of the bottles containing the illicit substance. Under caution, the woman allegedly told the ranks that her boyfriend gave her the rum to take overseas.

Prosecutor Mangru objected to bail on the ground that special reasons must be given to the court in order for bail to be granted, and in this case, this requisite was not met. The Magistrate remanded the woman to prison and the matter was adjourned to November 11.

– OPR, CID launch probe

A mason who was arrested on Saturday morning for threatening behaviour allegedly took his own life while in the Police lockups at the East Ruimveldt Police Outpost. The dead man has been identified as Sham Harrynauth, 38, of Lot 48 East Ruimveldt, Georgetown.
According to information received, Harrynauth was found by Police ranks at about 17:05h hanging in the cell. From all indications, he ripped the jersey he was wearing and turned it into a noose. He was reportedly the only prisoner in the cell at the time. An investigation has been launched into the alleged suicide.  At least five persons have committed suicide while in Police custody. In June last, convicted murder accused Ramseh Muniram was found hanging from a rope in a cell at the New Amsterdam Prison. The 27-year-old was serving a 76-year sentence for the murder of his wife. Reports indicate that on the day of the incident, Muniram was released from his cell at about 15:30h to go the recreational area to have dinner, but was returned to his cell at 15:35h.
However, when prison officials checked at 15:45h, he was discovered hanging from a window to the back of the cell.  Muniram was sentenced by Justice Navindra Singh on October 18, 2013, for the murder of his wife Sunita August

Injured woman, Shondell Hernandez

A woman is now nursing several stab wounds to her neck and wrist after she was attacked by her reputed husband whom she had dumped earlier in the year.

Injured is Shondell Hernandez, 22, of Lot 121 Curbane Park, Annandale, East Coast Demerara.

Reports reaching Guyana Times stated that Hernandez was at home talking to her sister on the phone when she heard an unusual sound. Upon investigating she saw her former lover climbing though her window. Before she could have retreated, the man made his way into the house, whipped out a knifed and dealt her several stabs to her neck and wrist. Following the stabbing he escaped.

The woman’s sister, who heard the commotion over the phone, went over to the house only to find her sister on the floor in a pool of blood. Hernandez is said to be in a serious condition at a city hospital.

This newspaper was told that Hernandez ended the relationship with the man because of his abusive behaviour. The two were together for six years.

Although the relationship had ended, Hernandez had an arrangement with her assailant to visit their 3-year-old child.

However, of recent, the suspect reportedly began following her whenever she left the house. This newspaper was told the suspect would regularly telephone the woman and threaten to harm her if she did not get back with him.

The police have since launched an investigation into the stabbing incident.