A cheese and sausage vendor at Bourda Market was on Wednesday evening shot and killed by three armed men who relieved him of his cash, a quantity of jewellery and other valuables.
Dead is 45-year-old Troy Ramalho, called “Rasta”, of Albouystown, Georgetown and of Lot 11 North Road, Lacytown, Georgetown.
Based on reports, the vendor had already packed up his stall which is located between Alexander and Bourda Streets and was awaiting transportation to take him home.
It was during this time he was confronted by three gun-toting bandits who held him at gunpoint and demanded that he hand over cash and other valuables.
Speaking with Guyana Times, the dead’s man wife, Precious Ramalho, explained
Troy Ramalho, called “Rasta” in happier times
that her husband refused to comply with the bandits’ demands and in retaliation, one of the armed men discharged a round hitting the vendor once to his chest.
As he fell to the ground, she noted that the other two men relieved her husband of three gold chains that were wrapped around his arm.
In addition, the perpetrators took away the man’s cellphone along with three gold rings before making good their escape on foot.
“After they come and ask him to hand over his gold and money he started talking up and he took the table that was in front of him and hit one ah dem with it. After that one of them was going away and the one with the gun turn and tell him boy do what you have to do and he took the gun and put it to his heart and pull the trigger,” the wife stated.
More so, she related that the incident happened right before the eyes of two on-duty City Constables.
“When this thing happened, the market Constable was there but couldn’t do any but to watch the bandits walk out of the market and head towards Camp Street. They couldn’t do anything; they don’t have a gun, all this happen in front of everybody,” the woman recalled.
She noted that the father of two would normally say to her “anybody coming to take my things (jewellery) would have to kill me before they get it, me ain’t giving up my things just suh”.
The vendor was picked up in an unconscious state and rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he died while receiving medical attention.
Closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage was reviewed and the Police are currently hunting the suspects. It was only a month ago, the Mayor and City Council has revealed that Bourda and Stabroek Markets are havens for criminals and warned Guyanese and foreigners to be extremely careful when traversing the areas.
