Gunmen on Friday afternoon attacked and robbed an employee attached to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) outside of the organisation’s Lot 42 Brickdam, Georgetown, headquarters. The incident occurred sometime around 12:50h.
Guyana Times understands that the victim was in front of the UNDP office when two men pulled up in a black car and snatched a bag he was carrying. The employee raised an alarm which caused several persons to run to his assistance. The gunmen then escaped in the car.
When this publication arrived on the scene, the victim, who was unharmed, was in the protection of Police Officers and was said to be in a traumatised state.
According to Police reports, two UNDP employees (a male and female) had just pulled up in front of the organisation and the female proceeded into the compound.
However, as the male employee was exiting the car, a dark coloured vehicle with the two suspects drove up. They existed and accosted the male employee, who resisted and was pushed to the ground. The suspects grabbed a handbag from the employee, entered the vehicle and sped off.
The bag contained $10,000 cash, one iPad, an electronic dictionary and some documents.
“A public spirited citizen, who is a licensed firearm holder, witnessed the robbery and discharged his licensed firearm in the process, in aid of the victim of the robbery,” the Police said in a statement.
They added that investigators have retrieved several spent shells at the scene and are in possession of CCTV footage. Further investigations are currently ongoing.
Additionally, acting Commander of A Division, Marlon Chapman, visited the scene and spoke with the Chief Security Officer along with other officials and the victim.
On the other hand, Jerome Khan, an attorney whose office is a building away from where the incident occurred, said he was in his office when he heard gunshots.
Khan explained that when he went to investigate, he saw the black car fleeing the scene; he said too that several spent shells could be seen lying in front of the UNDP building after the incident.
The attorney took the opportunity to voice his concern over the recent upsurge of such incidents.
“These persons that carryout these acts are unemployed and are hell bent on using robbery as a way of surviving apparently. Something has to be done to create opportunities for employment in order for people not to have to resort to criminal activities as the way of surviving,” Khan stated.
He reminded that these situations are becoming all too common, and he called for better to be done: “Every single day, every single week and every single month this has been happening and it’s not a good sign, from all appearances it can only get worse, and we need to find solutions.”
The attorney declared that many persons are seeking to leave Guyana as a result of the crime situation.
Police have launched a manhunt for the perpetrators and the vehicle used during the robbery.
