Buxton gunmen waylay minibus
Passengers robbed
Stabroek News
September 30, 2002
Despite promises by the government and the law enforcement agencies of stepped up security in the Buxton area, bandits struck again yesterday robbing mini-bus passengers and attempting to mug a girl on an errand.
Yesterday’s attacks came in the wake of the killings on Friday of two Berbicians as they travelled past the village on the public road. On Saturday, the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and the Guyana Police Force mounted an operation in the village and a few persons were arrested. No arms or fugitives from the law were found.
Yesterday the young gunmen were operating out of neighbouring Annandale but after committing the attacks they ran into Buxton. When Stabroek News visited the village yesterday an army patrol was parked on the northern side of Church Road, Buxton while a few young men were seen sauntering about the public road.
On the embankment a small group converged around the market area and they too were carefully watched by another army patrol.
The incidents started at about 9:20 yesterday morning at Annandale Market Road when a girl who was sent by her parents to purchase ducks in Lusignan had to run for her life after four gunmen attempted to rob her. Relating to this newspaper what transpired, the little girl, who resides North of Annandale, said that she was about to catch a mini-bus to go to Lusignan when she saw the four robbers.
The girl said that she was wearing a pair of earrings and when the four men saw her they walked close to her and stared in her face. She did not suspect something was amiss but carefully watched the men. “But suddenly I hear one ah dem seh to the other three pull off she earring,” the child said. The schoolgirl related that she ran back into her village heading into the market street area where a few residents protected her from the men who did not pursue her further.
The girl said that she was very fearful since the men had drawn guns. Around five minutes after, the four men held up a mini-bus from Enterprise robbing more than 13 churchgoers of all of their possessions including Bibles.
The driver of the mini-bus told Stabroek News that he had just commenced working for the day and had solicited some 13 worshippers who were heading for churches along the East Coast and in the city. The driver said that his mini-bus was almost filled but there was a seat for one more passenger. He said when the mini-bus got into Annandale, standing on the southern side of the road was a well-dressed young man who flagged him down. The driver who had not been picking up Buxtonians since the crime wave enmeshed the village said he stopped the mini-bus for the young man. As soon as the mini-bus stopped, three other men encircled the mini-bus. The driver recounted that the young man who flagged him down later displayed an SLR while his accomplices were operating with handguns.
He said the one with the SLR placed the gun to his head while demanding that he hand over all of his money. The driver said that he told the man that he had just started to work and as such he had no money. He said that the gunman opened his mini-bus door and pulled out the key from ignition. Besides, his cellular phone, a $1,000 bill and some compact discs were taken. The driver said when the man realised that there was nothing else he shouted at him using expletives.
The driver told this newspaper that he came out of the mini-bus and stood on the road but the gunman continued to guard him. He said while he was being guarded, the passengers were ordered to hand over all of their belongings. He said some of the women in the mini-bus gave the bandits their purses containing their Bibles.
He said cellular phones, earrings, wristwatches, small sums of cash and other items were taken by the men.
According to the driver the hold-up lasted for a little over six minutes. During this time other vehicles continued to pass on the road and other residents helplessly watched. When it was over the bandits calmly walked away into Buxton.
He said he quickly went home and collected another key for the mini-bus. When he got back to the scene an army patrol was there. He said that he made a report to the army and to the Vigilance Police Station before returning home. Yesterday the driver had parked his mini-bus early but vowed to continue his business.
Yesterday Stabroek News observed a 30-ft fence which was erected south of Annandale blocking the Buxton sideline dam from Annandale.
It comes following numerous attacks Annandale residents have suffered at the hands of bandits coming from Buxton. Residents continue to bemoan the lack of security in the area.