Alicia Foster’s death… Killers parked car and calmly walked away in different directions – eyewitness victim may have been executed – Crime Chief

Oct 14, 2008 News

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Police disclosed yesterday that they are treating the murder of Senior Environmental Officer Alicia Foster as an execution-style killing, after receiving reports that she was threatened some two months ago during an investigation of a city business.
There are reports that the head of a business entity had warned Foster, 26, that she would “see who was more powerful”, while she was investigating an alleged environmental violation, which eventually ended up in the courts.
Questioned about these reports, Crime Chief Seelall Persaud told Kaieteur News that detectives are making background checks as it relates to all of Foster’s relationships, as well as her work.
“We got information that it (the murder) has to do with her work. And we are taking into consideration that it may have been an execution.”
Foster, a former Bishop’s High School student and university graduate, was gunned down at around 21:50 hrs on Sunday night in the driveway of her Lot 78 David Street, Kitty home.
The gunmen escaped with her car, after hauling the young woman out and dumping her on the driveway.
Foster’s car, PHH 2263, with all its parts intact, was recovered, at around 09:00 hrs yesterday, near the Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Well Road, North Ruimveldt.
According to an eyewitness, the car came from an easterly direction at around 22:30 hrs on Sunday night and stopped opposite the church. Two men then emerged from the vehicle.
According to the source, the driver was brown in complexion, about five feet- five inches tall, and was wearing a white jersey and three-quarter trousers.
His companion, the source said, was shorter, darker in complexion and was also wearing three-quarter trousers.
Kaieteur News was told that the taller man then walked in a westerly direction and then turned north into Well Road.
However, the eyewitness said that he has not spoken to the police because he fears for his safety.
James Foster, the slain woman’s father, turned up at the Brickdam Police Station after his daughter’s car was taken there, but the distraught man could hardly bear to look at the vehicle.
Foster also expressed the view that his daughter had been executed, and confirmed that he had received reports that she was threatened while conducting her duties as an environmental officer.
The tearful father repeatedly sought to make sense of his daughter’s brutal end.
“She was just about five feet tall…they could have easily pulled her out of the car,” he said.  
Foster said that his family, especially his wife and the 17-year-old daughter who witnessed Alicia’s murder, were particularly traumatized.
Alicia, accompanied by a 17-year-old sister, Marissa, had attended a wake in Bent Street, and had just arrived home when the brutal attack occurred.

Some reports state that the killers had trailed the sisters in a vehicle, while other reports state that the gunmen were on foot.
One report stated that the younger sister was about to open the gate when the men emerged from their vehicle, came over to the sisters, and ordered Alicia to exit the car.
A source said that when Alicia refused to comply, the men tried to drag her from the vehicle. When she protested, one of the men shot her in the face.
The gunmen then dragged the mortally injured woman out of her vehicle and drove away.
At the slain woman’s workplace, a black flag fluttered from the building housing the EPA, where Foster had been employed for close to three years.
Foster’s colleagues also wore black ribbons, while photographs of their slain colleague were displayed on a wall.
“To us, she is still here, but on a vacation, a workshop, or a seminar…not in office today,” one poster read.
“She was our friend, she will be remembered.”
And a statement released by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) described Alicia Foster as “a model employee, colleague, and friend,” and “a highly disciplined, dedicated, committed and personable individual.”
The release stated that Foster was the Agency’s representative on the Board of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission and the National Water Council.
She had also successfully coordinated activities on the monitoring and closure of Omai Gold Mines Limited, and had also done a considerable amount of work in the forestry and mining sectors.
The release stated that Foster joined the EPA as an environmental officer on April 11, 2005.
“Ms. Foster was assigned to the Environmental Management Division (EMD) in the mining, forestry and tourism unit, where her commendable performance earned her a promotion in July 2007 to Environmental Officer II.
“In April this year she was again promoted, this time to the position of Senior Environmental Officer (acting), and assigned to the Complaints and Response Unit of the Environmental Management Division.”
It added that Ms. Foster had a particular interest in environmental issues, particularly in the areas of waste management, national resources management, pollution prevention, and ecosystem and environmental assessment.

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