Entire station removed as residents protest spate of robberies

Jan 28, 2014 News

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…Commissioner to visit today    

Commissioner of Police Leroy Brumell, is set to visit East Berbice today to address residents’ concerns in light of the latest upheavals in the Corentyne area.

This visit was prompted by protest actions by hundreds of residents in the Corentyne area who took  to the roads what they termed police inaction over a spate of robberies in the area and even blaming ranks of the force stationed at the No51 Police Station.
The force moved with haste and has transferred with immediate effect all the ranks that were previously stationed at that Station.  This was also to satisfy a recommendation by Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee.
The latest upheaval occurred on Sunday when four masked bandits invaded the grocery shop of elderly couple Lalman Ramdeen, 66, and his wife Vimlawattie Ramdeen, 62, at No. 48 village and proceed to beat and rob them of a quantity of cash, jewelry and phone cards.
During the robbery a number of rounds were discharged by the perpetrators who then made good their escape.
The police in a release had stated that ranks of a mobile police anti-crime patrol in a white police motor car with flashing lights which can be clearly identified as a police vehicle, responded to the report received. As the ranks arrived at the scene, residents began to claim that the police were involved in the robbery as they had seen a white car earlier travelling in a suspicious manner.
Following the robbery and the subsequent confrontation with the cops hundreds of residents of the No48 and 49 villages took to the road and proceeded to block the public road.  They were adamant in their claims that the police were the mastermind and were even committing the regular sequence of robberies in the area.
The residents proceeded to block the road using trucks and other vehicles then surrounded the police car, demanding action.
Reinforcement was summoned and a number of senior ranks arrived on the scene including ‘B’ Division Commander Assistant Commissioner Brian Joseph who quickly took charge of the situation. The crowd after some persuasion eventually dispersed.
However, reportedly they did not leave before hurling an explosive device at the police vehicle thought to be involved in the criminal activities.

Already residents in the area have been forced to form a vigilante group to protect their communities and Sunday evening’s incident only served to infuriate them more.
It is also alleged that the same car was noticed several times at the scenes of other robberies. In addition, they are alleging that the number plate of the vehicle is deliberately disguised to avoid identification.
According to the elderly victim of Sunday night’s robbery, she was about to close up the shop when four armed and masked bandits, dressed in black suddenly appeared. They jumped over the counter and accosted her and her elderly husband.  She said that they pointed guns at them. She was shoved to the ground. The men started to use expletives while firing shots continually.
They then proceeded to beat the two elderly persons while taking an undisclosed sum of money, phone cards and jewelry. The bandit then cut the phone wires and started to ransack the house.
They demanded more and continued firing shots before fleeing the scene. According to the elderly woman the entire ordeal lasted for about six minutes.
The woman who was still reeling from the ordeal on Monday afternoon stated that she begged for her life and that of her husband.
Another Corentyne resident is blaming the police for the spate of robberies.
The woman Anita Dhanrajie Seenauth, a vendor of No 47 Village Corentyne, Berbice, stated that so far she has been robbed four times.
The woman stated that she was first robbed about two years ago at the Bourda Market and nothing came out of that ordeal. Over the past month she has been robbed thrice and is upset at the attention and treatment she is getting from the police force.
She said that her latest set of ordeals began on Christmas Eve day. She left her premises and went out for a few hours. When she returned she realized her place was broken into and a lot of expensive equipment removed. The woman stated that she reported the matter to the No 51 Police station but was met by some hostile police response.
She was again robbed last Thursday. She said that she had just returned home when bandits stuck up her husband in the downstairs of their home and demanded that she throw down the money and gold which she had upstairs.
They proceeded to beat her husband while making their demands. She complied and threw over $400,000 through the verandah, but the bandits demanded more and continued to beat the man, firing several shot all the while.
She also blamed the police stating that like other residents she had compelling evidence of their involvements. The woman stated that there are many persons who saw the suspects’ changing their clothes.
There was an emergency meeting held at the location involving Commander Brian Joseph,  Regional Chairman David Armagon and was attended by  other  senior ranks of the division , Member of Parliament Dr. Vishawarnauth  Mahadeo and Vice Chairman Bhopaul Jagroop.
According to Commander Joseph most of the residents were satisfied with the outcome of the meeting. The residents were given the assurance that everything is being done to address their concerns.

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