A Trinidadian engineer, contracted to Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), was kidnapped yesterday morning and taken into Buxton by about fifteen armed men. He was later released after a ransom of $3M was paid.
Kenrick "Pannu" Baboolal of Siparia, South Trinidad, was expected to leave Guyana early this morning for his homeland. He was seized after he had visited some of his staff, including four Buxtonians who were executing works along the Annandale Sideline dam. Apart from abducting Baboolall who is a foreman attached to Universal Earth Movers UEM/General Earth Movers Limited, the gang attacked and robbed several other workers, including five technicians from GT&T who were working with the crew.
UEM/GEM has a local office at Chateau Margot on the East Coast Demerara. According to information the kidnappers had called the office and requested the ransom which was paid some time after midday.
When Stabroek News visited the office at Chateau Margot the workers refused to talk, only confirming that Baboolal had been kidnapped and released. Their colleagues in Trinidad were equally reticent.
A police press release said that the incident happened at around 11:15 am and most of the fifteen men were armed.
An eyewitness told this newspaper that foreign workers from Trinidad along with four Guyanese from Buxton went into the village at around 9:00 am to install a water main and lay a few pipelines.
The foreign firm, according to a release from GWI, was contracted to work with the water company on the La Bonne Intention water improvement project.
Stabroek News understands that the GT&T technicians were there to ensure that none of the phone company's telephone cables were damaged during the excavation exercise.
An eyewitness said he had observed that an army patrol was stationed on the northern side of the embankment. According to the eyewitness, as soon as the GEM workers and the GT&T technicians arrived, the army patrol was advised to move over to the northern side of the road, thus allowing the workers to carry out their work. Stabroek News was told that the soldiers co-operated with the workers and took up another position. However, this was still inconveniencing the workers, hence they were again advised to move further away. The eyewitness pointed out that the GDF ranks moved up the road some 60 metres away and parked their vehicle on the shoulder.
This newspaper was told that upon arrival, three of the Buxtonians left the work site and went into Buxton. "They cross the bridge that the government block and went into Buxton and stay a little while before returning."
While the three men were away, Stabroek News was told that the others began to work. The eyewitness observed that a back hoe was operating at the time, excavating a trench for the laying of the pipelines. The three men returned along with two other men who appeared to be residents of Buxton.
"They come back and joined the rest ah workers while the two men sat on the blocked bridge."
This newspaper was informed that a few minutes after the Buxtonians had returned, about seven other men all sporting dreadlocks arrived on bicycles and joined the other two sitting on the bridge.
From all reports the soldiers were keeping a steady eye on the men, who later began talking with their fellow Buxtonians who were working with the crew.
At about 10:45am, Baboolal arrived in a green 4x4 vehicle. Stabroek News understands that the engineer came out of his vehicle and went across to his workers. The eyewitness said at the same time the Buxton gang started talking with Baboolal and his staff.
"They all surround the people gaffing and everything looked good as if they [Buxtonians] know the men dem."
However, after some minutes, the eyewitness said to his amazement he realised that at least two men were armed with handguns and they had accosted Baboolal and were taking him into Buxton.
At that point Stabroek News was told that the bandits stripped the workers of their possessions.
It is understood that the bandits, some of whom were on foot and the others on bicycles, surrounded the men. While some of them took up positions in the grass with their "machine guns trained on the men," the others robbed them.
Reports indicate that the bandits robbed the GT&T workers of their sunglasses, spectacles, wallets, watches, jewellery and cash. The bandits appeared to be between the ages of fourteen and twenty-five. One of the GT&T technicians was hit on the head with a gun.
From reports the gang had been surveying the workers for some time since they knew how many persons were on site. It is understood that the technicians' boss had also been on site but had left. After the bandits accomplished their mission one of them indicated that a person was missing. It was then it had to be explained that the man had left the work site.
Reports said that this was about the third time the workers had been robbed, but it was the first "big one."
"And after they were finished and was leaving they told the workers to `continue working,'" an eyewitness said.
The man added that the soldiers realised what was happening and quickly reversed their vehicle, but before they got to the scene, the kidnappers had already crossed the bridge and were heading into the "Gulf."
The other foreigners immediately abandoned a quantity of pipes and other equipment and hurried out of the village. One of them drove Baboolal's vehicle out, while the back hoe operator made his way out also.
From all indications the soldiers did not intervene or pursue the kidnappers. An army official when contacted said the allegations were being investigated.
Baboolal, a father of a six-month-old child, came to Guyana about six months ago. When his wife was contacted she said her husband, who celebrated his thirty-ninth birthday on March 18, would usually return home once per month.