‘Hire guards, beef up security’

Apr 18, 2025 News

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—Chinese Embassy urges supermarkets owners amid wave of robberies

Kaieteur News- In the wake of a rising number of violent robberies targeting Chinese-owned supermarkets across Guyana, China’s Deputy Chief of Mission, Huang Rui, is encouraging his countrymen to beef up their security with the employment of guards.

During a press conference held Wednesday at the Chinese Embassy in Georgetown, Rui stressed the importance of security for Chinese businesses operating in Guyana. He noted that Chinese supermarkets are well-received by Guyanese for their affordable prices and customer-friendly services. However, he noted that he is not in the position to say how many Chinese owned supermarkets are in Guyana. “To ensure that these supermarkets are not targeted, it is important they take safety seriously. Employing local security guards is not only a practical safety measure, but it also helps foster better ties with the Guyanese community,” Rui stated.

The embassy official acknowledged that not all Chinese stores are large enough to afford private security, but said the embassy has been working with the Ministry of Home Affairs and local police officials to address safety concerns. “We have met with the Deputy Commissioner of Police to encourage collaboration on crime prevention, and we have urged our businesses to adopt measures such as installing protective barriers and ensuring CCTV systems are active and effective,” he said.

Rui’s comments come in the aftermath of a foiled armed robbery at Jai Jai Supermarket on Hadfield Street, Georgetown, during which two bandits were shot dead by an on-duty armed security guard. The suspects, identified as 15-year-old Tyrese Adams and 22-year-old Orwin Garraway, were killed after attempting to rob the store. Police reported that the duo, along with two other accomplices, were armed with handguns and stormed the supermarket. However, the security guard, armed with a 9mm pistol, responded and fatally shooting the two robbers.

Reports issued by the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and reported by Kaieteur News revealed that between October 2024 and March 2025, seven armed robberies took place at Chinese-owned businesses across Guyana, resulting in the theft of millions.

These incidents, which have primarily occurred in Georgetown and East Bank Demerara (EBD), indicate a rising trend of violent crime targeting the Chinese businesses, although most of the supermarkets are outfitted with CCTV cameras and armed security guards.  The robberies have mostly been concentrated in areas like South Ruimveldt, Cummings Lodge, Soesdyke, and Great Diamond. The first major robbery in this series took place on October 21, 2024, at Chao Hui Supermarket in Providence, EBD where a Chinese businesswoman was robbed of $200,000. Two masked men, arriving on a motorcycle, held a security guard at gunpoint before demanding the cash from the businesswoman. They escaped from the scene. On October 25, 2024, An Sheng Supermarket on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway was targeted by armed robbers who stole $500,000, $150,000 in phone cards, and three bottles of Hennessy. One suspect, Jason Howard, was arrested, but two accomplices remain at large.

In South Ruimveldt, a robbery occurred on December 1, 2024, at Kang Chinese Supermarket. Two gunmen disarmed the security guard and stole an undisclosed amount of cash. They fled the scene on a motorcycle, and the investigation is ongoing. Soesdyke, another area that has seen repeated robberies, was the site of an armed heist on December 18, 2024, at C&H Supermarket. Two gunmen threatened staff and customers, stealing cash and valuables. Orlando Scott, one of the suspects, confessed after his arrest, but the second accomplice is still at large.

On December 31, 2024, a Chinese-owned restaurant in Sophia was targeted, resulting in a 21-year-old bandit being shot dead by a security guard. One accomplice was captured, and a third suspect escaped. The trend continued into the new year, with a robbery on February 10, 2025, at Titan Supermarket in Cummings Lodge, where two armed robbers stole $30,000 in cash, during which Robert Massiah, a security guard, was shot.

There was also a robbery on March 29, 2025, at Great Diamond, EBD, where two armed robbers targeted Qing Yi Cue and Xian Cheng Xie, Chinese nationals running a supermarket. The suspects made off with over $1.1 million, including $200,000 in phone cards and an iPhone 12 Pro Max. The robbers forced the security guard to the ground before stealing the valuables and fleeing on foot. Investigations into this incident are ongoing, and CCTV footage is being reviewed. The total amount stolen across the seven incidents exceeds $2 million, and while some suspects have been arrested, investigations are still ongoing in all cases. Police are working to identify and apprehend the remaining suspects.

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