Berbice Commander visits Chesney residents

May 20, 2009 News

Commander of Division ‘B’ of the Guyana Police Force, Assistant Commission George Alexander Vyphuis met with residents of Chesney Village, in Albion, yesterday.
This visit came in the wake of Saturday night’s robbery that left one villager, Ganesh Ramkellawan, dead.
Three suspects were arrested late yesterday. Two of them are from Belvedere, a neighbouring community and the third from Sharples Street, Rose Hall Town.
The Commander spoke with members of two of the three families that the gunmen targeted as well with other residents. At that time the remains of Ganesh Ramkellawan had just arrived at his home for the funeral service.
Mr. Vyphuis vowed to leave no stone unturned in ensuring a safer Chesney and Berbice as a whole. A number of strategies were put in place, “…We are going to do all we can to bring the perpetrators to justice.”
On Monday, some of the residents condemned the slothful attitude of ranks at the Albion Police Station claiming if ranks had responded immediately the robbers could have been apprehended.
The bandits attacked three homes, each supporting a shop. Two of these homes are side by side and the third is separated by a street.
The incident started about 19:00 hours on Saturday just as 53-year old businessman Amarnauth Jaggernauth of Back Street, Chesney was about to close his premises for the night.
Four masked men who carried a shotgun, hand gun, and cutlasses approached him and fired a round from the shotgun at him. He was shot in the abdomen and thighs. The robbers then took him to his home and held his wife hostage.
The men allegedly made off with his licensed revolver, ammunition, $500,000 jewellery and phone cards.
The next stop the bandits made was at his next door neighbour – Maniram Doodnauth. That family had already fled their home after hearing the gunshots. The gunmen rummaged through the home and took two mobile phones, and jewellery. As the gunmen were leaving the Doodnauth’s residence they fired a cartridge from the shotgun and in the process, 34 year old labourer, Ganesh Ramkellawan, who was by his gate, was struck on the chest.
The victim was pronounced dead on arrival at the New Amsterdam Hospital.
After the incident police in Berbice recovered five spent and one live 12 gauge cartridges from the scene.
The residents had also voiced their concern over what they called the lack of police presence in the area and the need for an outpost there, as well as street lights.
Commander Vyphuis said that the Division is looking into the complaints made by the residents. In the wake of the robbery patrols would be increased in the community. He explained that patrols do visit the area but the same team visits other areas as well.
The allegations of late arrival by the team are being investigated. Initially there was some setback with the directions given by the first caller and this affected the arrival time of police ranks, he said.
The earliest report was made at 19:10 hours and the first team responded at 19:25 hours. A second patrol arrived on the scene at 19:30 hours.
But residents had claimed that it took police ranks some 30 minutes to arrive on the scene although the Albion Police Station is just about 15 minutes away. The rapid response, effective tactics, and the ability of the Division were put to the test during that robbery.
Another complaint was that ranks did not search the area for the bandits.
But according to police records, two teams were on the location – one squad went in pursuit of the bandits while the other processed the crime scene.(Melissa Johnson)

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Berbice Commander visits Chesney residents

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