WAS THERE REALLY A $20M HEIST AT THIS HOTEL?

Dear Editor, Recent reports carried in some sections of the press on a multi-million dollar heist in the parking lot of a popular hotel on the East Bank of Demerara vary and this in itself is cause for concern in these times of escalating crime. Initial reports suggested that an elderly man was robbed of a whopping $20m in cash by a gang of men who escaped. There were no reports of shots fired or injuries to anyone. Here is where the matter gets complicated. Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum advised that no such incident was reported to the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and further that a check with the hotel management confirmed that no such robbery occurred. Interestingly, sources at the very hotel said that there indeed was a robbery there and that the amount stolen was $10m and that the entire episode was recorded on the hotel’s surveillance cameras. With this critical information, it is expected that the GPF will secure this footage for examination towards a possible apprehension of the perpetrators. There is every likelihood that the alleged victim may not have wanted to file an official report or to be interviewed by the press as he may be asked by the authorities to account for having that large sum (whether $20m or $10m) in his possession. The hotel management, for its part, may have decided to keep the incident under wraps because of the expected adverse publicity for the hotel. Surely the GPF has to get to the alleged victim as well as the known character who reportedly handed over that large sum of money. It is extraordinary how some persons, having had earlier and very serious brushes with the law and the courts, cannot seem to keep out of trouble. Now, are these large and mind-boggling sums of monies a part of the landscape of casinos? How are such sums acquired and how could they be spent so flippantly—at casinos? I know this much, that anyone who earns his money the good, old-fashioned way of hard work and paying taxes would not flit it away at the addictive gambling tables. It has long been established that casinos are used for a variety of questionable activities. More importantly, do we need casinos in Guyana? Maybe, it is time for a rethink? G. Somar