Three Guyanese slaughtered, two wounded as gunmen storm mining camp in Venezuela

Jul 21, 2017 News

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–  killing reportedly stemmed from claim, dredge dispute 

Gunmen brandishing high-powered weapons shot three sleeping Guyanese dead and wounded two others after storming a mining camp at Imataka Mining Backdam, Venezuela, at around 03:00 hrs on Wednesday.

Police identified the dead as Vernon Eudoxie, 51; Cologne Solomon, 23 – both of Fitzburg, Port Kaituma – and Samuel Moses, 19, of Four Miles Oronoque, Port Kaituma, North West District.

Sources who saw the bodies said that Eudoxie, a father of four, was shot in the stomach and right leg. Solomon’s body bore a bullet wound to the right temple, while Moses was shot in the chest.

The bodies were transported from Imataka, Venezuela – located about three miles from the Guyana border – to the Port Kaituma Hospital at around 06:25 hrs yesterday.

Kaieteur News understands that at least one of the dead was later transported to Georgetown.

The two injured were identified as Joel Paton, 22, Supenaam Creek Head Mission, Essequibo River, and Andre Pilgrim, who was shot in the hand.

Paton who was shot in the groin, right thigh and right leg, was transported from the Port Kaituma Hospital to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he underwent surgery. He is said to be in a serious but stable condition. Pilgrim is being treated at the Port Kaituma Hospital.

The camp that came under attack is operated by a Brazilian, who has given police at ‘F’ Division a statement.

A survivor who spoke to Kaieteur News said that the gunmen reportedly fled without taking anything. He stated that the killing stemmed from a prolonged dispute of the mining claim and ownership of an excavator.

A police release stated that that the miners were part of a team employed by a Brazilian Miner, operating a land dredge at Imataka Mining Backdam, Venezuela, when four armed men “with foreign accents,”  entered the camp and began shooting indiscriminately. The shooting resulted in the death of Eudoxie, Solomon, and Moses, while the injured Joel Paton and several other co-workers fled into the bushes. Kaieteur News was told that ranks from the Guyana Police Force received a report about the incident on Wednesday evening, but were only able to confirm the report yesterday.

 

PREVIOUS ATTACKS ON CAMP 

Speaking to Kaieteur News by phone, Andre Pilgrim, who was shot in the hand, said that he and other miners were asleep when gunmen entered the camp and began shooting.

“They just shoot up and run away,” he said, adding that the invaders appeared to be armed with Berettas.

He alleged that the attack was carried out by individuals who have a dispute with the victims over ownership of an excavator, as well as the claim. Indications are that the victims were working a claim that is owned by the attackers.

Pilgrim said that the excavator was recently transported to Guyana, but that the men, who were armed, invaded the camp a few days prior to the killing.

According to Pilgrim, the gunmen forced the camp’s general manager to hand over a quantity of gold. They then paid the workers and kept the rest of the gold.

Dianne Eudoxie, wife of the slain Vernon Eudoxie, said that her husband had been working for about four months in Venezuela. He had planned to return to Guyana in November.

She said she was informed that the camp had come under two previous attacks, which occurred on April 10, and last June.

“I heard that they were moving out (Tuesday) because of the attacks, and the tractor broke down, and they turned back to rest in the camp, and they came under attack. They were all sleeping and they (the intruders) shot them, and the others fled in to the bush.”

Mrs. Eudoxie said she heard about the attack around 07.00 hrs on Wednesday.

“I did not want to believe that he had died. I did not believe until I saw the photos (of the bodies.)”

Mr. Eudoxie is survived by three sons and one daughter; aged 33, 29, 22 and 21.

Police officials yesterday said that the attack did not appear to be connected to the recent reported attacks on mining camps in Guyana by heavily-armed gangs.

Minister of State Joseph Harmon told journalists yesterday that the Government was aware that there were some gangs that were operating in Venezuela for some time now.

“There were credible reports of these gangs, and there were reports of the Venezuelan military going after these gangs that were operating on that side of the border. What we don’t have is any definitive information that the robberies which were taking place at the mining camps were by Venezuelan gangs.

“If in fact that is so, I can assure you that our police force will take every single step to investigate, and bring to justice those persons who are involved. And whether they be Venezuelans, Guyanese, Brazilians or what, once the crime is committed in any part of this country, our police force will go after the criminals, and they have the full support of the National Security Committee, and the agencies that are connected to the National Security Committee, in efforts to ensure that law and order prevail in this country.

So, the hinterland is no different from the coast, the long arm of the law reaches to every part of this country. And wherever these incidents occur, our police, our law enforcement officers will go…”

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