Chinese supermarket robberies “We encourage but can’t force them” – Chinese Embassy official on safety measures

In light of the growing attacks on Chinese-owned businesses, particularly supermarkets, Chargé d’Affaires at the Chinese Embassy in Georgetown, Huang Rui, says that as much that they encourage those setting up businesses here to install adequate safety measures to protect themselves, the onus is on these businesses to actually do so.

There has been an increase in robberies at Chinese supermarkets in most communities across Guyana – many without proper security, making them easy targets for criminals. In fact, there has been an increase in the spate of such robberies, with some being fatal.
Speaking with reporters at a press conference on Wednesday, the Deputy Chief of Mission noted that the Chinese Embassy has always encouraged its nationals setting up businesses in Guyana to ensure they abide by local laws and practices, including protecting themselves.
“It is our responsibility to make sure that our citizens here are protected well [and] are safe,” he stated.
To this end, last year, the Chinese Embassy here, facilitated a seminar where a Deputy Commissioner of the Guyana Police Force outlined to a gathering of Chinese entrepreneurs, various safety measures they can adopt to ensure their safety. These include hiring armed security guards and installing bars or cages at the cashier counters.
“Those safety measures are highly recommended by the Guyana Police Force because they know how easily those supermarkets can be robbed… [The Police recommended] that they should install some protective measures or bars or windows to make sure that the cashier is not easily robbed,” the Chinese official noted.
However, he pointed out that there are still some small Chinese enterprises that fail to take the necessary measures to protect themselves.
“It is our suggestion. We encourage them but we cannot force them because they have a full responsibility to open up a business here… So, for those small store owners, I think we will continue to encourage them to do that for their safety and interest. But how they can put that into specific action, is completely their responsibility or their freedom.”
“According to my understanding, some of them are small and cannot afford security guards… It’s good thing to do to ensure their safety,” Huang contended.
The importance of these safety measures such as security guards came to fore just last week when two bandits were shot and killed while attempting to rob Jia Jia Chinese Supermarket, on Hadfield Street in Georgetown.
Orwin Garraway and Tyrese Adams, both of East Ruimveldt, Georgetown, were shot dead by an armed licensed security guard on duty.
While describing that as an “isolated” incident, the Deputy Chief of Mission nevertheless reimposed confidence in the Guyanese law enforcement.
Just earlier this week, two men, including a juvenile, admitted to robbing a Chinese supermarket on the West Coast of Berbice (WCB). They were charged and are awaiting sentencing.
Last month, police had arrested two suspects from an armed robbery at a Chinese supermarket on the East Coast of Demerara and also recovered some of the cash stolen.
Former Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, Guo Haiyan, had sounded calls last year for increased safety precautions, after a Chinese national was killed and his wife injured during a robbery at a supermarket in Eteringbang Landing, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).
Then later that year in October, another Chinese national was shot and injured during a robbery at his restaurant at Reliance on the Essequibo Coast.
This was followed by another armed robbery last December, during which Zhao Peiming was shot to his right leg by a bandit who robbed a Regent Street, Georgetown, store.