East
Coast terror continues
--
Buxton youths rampage through Annandale
TERROR
TARGET: Gale Street, Annandale where several residents
were attacked by the armed gang.
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RESIDENTS
in another East Coast Demerara village were terrorised Friday
afternoon when a band of more than 40 armed
youths from neighbouring Buxton swarmed Annandale and
went on a rampage, attacking, beating, robbing and molesting
dozens of villagers.
The
traumatised residents yesterday told the Chronicle that between
16:30 hrs and 17:00 hrs the band of youths, between 14 to 18
years old, and many of them brandishing guns, choppers and
knives, invaded the village and dispersed into pockets of about
four each.
ATTACKED:
Ramnarace, called `Shook', was wounded on his forehead
during the terror attack.
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They
immediately proceeded to barge into homes, attacking and robbing
occupants. Persons, including children who were on the streets,
were also molested and robbed of as little as $200, residents
said.
The
reign of terror, which lasted about 30 minutes, ended when a
businessman in the village switched on his alarm and a group of
residents, a licenced firearm holder among them, banded together
to confront the marauding gang.
The
firearm holder discharged several rounds in the air.
The
gang was apparently surprised by the sound of gunfire coming
from the residents and proceeded to leave, villagers said.
Police
arrived about 45 minutes after the mob left the village,
residents said.
Police,
in a release yesterday, said they were investigating a report
that a group of about 30-40 persons went to Annandale Sand Reef
Area from Buxton at about 17:30 hrs Friday and robbed a number
of residents. One victim confirmed the report, the Police said.
THE
home where Carol lived. She was another victim of the
attack.
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The
attack took place during the funeral in Buxton of Andrew
Douglas, one of the five February 23 prison escapees linked to
the crime wave that surged after that jailbreak.
Police
said there were several violent incidents during the funeral,
including stoning of vehicles and a reported robbery.
At
one point Police said they had to use teargas to disperse a
crowd stoning vehicles passing through the area.
Police
said they also fired shotgun pellets to disperse a crowd that
was pelting vehicles at Friendship junction, near Buxton.
Ramnarace,
popularly known as `Shook', a mechanic who lives in Gale Street,
Annandale, was one of the victims of the Friday rampage.
He
told the Chronicle that he was downstairs when a group of about
11 of the young attackers approached his house.
He
said one of them pointed a gun in his direction, and then pushed
open the closed gate.
Four
of them, all armed with guns, went immediately upstairs and
began ransacking the house, while three others, two armed with
guns and one with a chopper, approached him demanding money and
jewellery, he added.
The
truck driven by Shaheed Ahmad which was attacked on the
Strathspey public road.
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Ramnarace
said he was then hit several blows with the chopper on his
forehead and taken upstairs and told to hand over the money and
jewellery.
He
said he told the bandits he had none and that he did not live
there. They took a CD player, an amplifier, and a VCR.
He
said the ordeal lasted for about three minutes and luckily his
wife who had hidden herself in another part of the house, was
not discovered by the attackers.
The
mob then proceeded to a neighbour, snatched a gold chain, and
fired several shots, one passing about two inches from his head.
They
took away a television set and hurled a `channa' (bottle) bomb
through the kitchen door. Fortunately, the bomb did not ignite,
the man said.
Another
victim, 35-year-old Carol, who lives obliquely opposite
Ramnarace, was robbed of cash and jewellery.
She
was so traumatised after the attack that she has since left the
village and is living with relatives, residents said.
Villagers
said Carol is a quiet resident and is well liked. She recently
sold a car and it was this money which the gang of robbers took,
they said.
In
another attack in another street a 14-year-old girl was
molested, terrorised and robbed of a gold chain, a finger ring,
a silver bracelet and a pair of earrings.
The
child's mother said that at around 17:30 hrs, about 20 members
of the marauding gang scaled the fence of her yard and pounced
on her daughter who was in a hammock.
They
ripped off her earrings and attempted to bite off her finger
ring. However, she begged them not to do that, as she would take
it off.
ONE
of the houses that was attacked by the gang. After
robbing the victim a `channa' bomb was hurled into the
house but it did not ignite.
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They
then proceeded to molest the girl and wanted to rape her, but
were persuaded from doing so, the mother said.
The
mother said they then robbed her of $25,000 which she and her
husband had kept home to pay child support for a child her
husband has from a previous marriage.
She
also related that she had removed her daughter from the Bladen
Hall Multilateral School because of the criminal attacks on the
East Coast Demerara and had sent her to live with her maternal
grandmother in another part of the country.
The
child went to Annandale only a few days ago to spend some time
with her before the reopening of school, the mother sadly
related.
Villagers
said a cane cutter who was returning from work with his pay
packet was mercilessly pounced upon by a section of the mob and
chopped and robbed. The wounded man was taken to hospital.
An
atmosphere of fear yesterday enveloped the village, as residents
tried to come to grips with the horrific experience.
Many
parents said they have decided to send their daughters to live
with relatives in other villages for fear of them being harmed
by criminals roaming and rampaging on the East Coast Demerara.
Several
villagers also indicated that because of the current crime wave
they planned to migrate.
Some
residents also felt that President Bharrat Jagdeo should not
have left the country at this time.
President
Jagdeo departed Friday for Johannesburg, South Africa, to
participate in the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD)
where he will chair one of the four sessions.
The
President, however, expressed some reservations at having to
leave Guyana at this time.
"I
did not want to go on this trip because of the problems that we
are experiencing now, especially my concerns over the crime
situation here. But I (left) specific instructions and I will
keep in touch on a daily basis with Guyana on this matter,"
the President told Editors-in-Chief and Editors before his
departure.
But
he pointed out that the summit is important for many countries,
especially the countries of the Caribbean and in particular
Guyana.
"We
are all aware that a substantial part of our country is below
sea level and any rise in the sea through global warming would
have a devastating impact on Guyana (since) we can lose all of
our fertile land...we have already seen signs of this happening
around the world and I think it is very important that we have a
presence to make sure that this trend is reversed and if it is
not then it would be to the great detriment of Guyana," the
President said.
According
to Mr. Jagdeo, it was only confirmed on Thursday night that he
would be chairing one of the summit's four sessions.
"This
is a big honour for Guyana and the Caribbean to be able to chair
one of these sessions with so many countries involved; but also
as Chairman of CARICOM (Caribbean Community) at this point in
time I have to represent the Caribbean. Had it not been for
this, then maybe I wouldn't have gone," he said.
"...so
I am leaving basically with a heavy heart but I will keep in
touch on a daily basis," he assured.
Meanwhile,
in a separate incident Friday on the Strathspey public road, a
group of 12 young men, aged 14-26, stopped and attacked truck
driver, Shaheed Ahmad.
In
the attack, he was wounded on his hands and face and the
windscreen of the truck was smashed by a Guinness bottle hurled
by a member of the mob.
Ahmad
said that as he was attending to his injuries, the group pounced
on the truck and stole equipment valued at about $80,000,
including a sanding machine and several tools.
The
truck with registration number GDD 5508 is owned by Hans Metzer,
a German national who owns and operates a machining shop at
Coldingen Industrial Estate, East Coast Demerara.
The
Friday afternoon attack on Annandale followed the early
Wednesday morning rampage by a gang of bandits at Non Pariel,
also on the East Coast.
The
gang terrorised and robbed several families, fleeing with
jewellery, cash and household appliances. Residents said the men
escaped in the direction of the Railway Embankment road where a
car was waiting for them.
They
said the attackers were about 10 unmasked, heavily armed men who
reportedly sexually assaulted two young women and set alight a
bereaved man who was being consoled by relatives and friends at
a wake as he waited to bury his wife Wednesday.
According
to residents of Section `B', Non Pariel, the bandits struck for
about 20 minutes from 03:00 hrs.
The
neighbourhood was awakened by heavy banging sounds on
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