Edward Vansluytman, 27, of Lot 27 Ketley & Broad Streets, Charlestown yesterday related the fateful events of January 22, 2003, when heavily armed bandits stormed ‘Steven’s Beer Garden’ and the nearby ‘Pet Boy’s Beer Garden & Pools Bar’ killing three persons and injuring eight others.
The still traumatised man told the Guyana Chronicle that at about 8.25 p.m. he was on duty at Steven’s Beer Garden ordering beers for a customer when he heard rapid gunfire.
“I immediately ran into the washroom and hid myself with about eight others. One bandit came up to the door and ordered us to open the door; we were all trembling with fear and could not move. Another bandit came and was kicking the door. One gunman told the other to ‘Shoot down the door and kill them’. But, luckily, he did not,” Vansluytman recalled yesterday.
Reliving the event was not an easy task for the former employee of Steven’s Beer Garden. His hands were shaking as he spoke.
Vansluytman disclosed that he remains fearful, and very often, he looks around and wonders at the fact that he is alive today.
He recalled that the gunfire lasted for about half an hour, during which time he was praying for his life.
“Me run out the toilet after, and went outside and ran into the rum shop at the street corner ‘till them gone. Then I went back only to see me boss (Leonard Parjohn) get shoot. Me and he wife lift he and put he in a vehicle to take him to the hospital. He died on the spot, but we still carried him to the Georgetown Hospital,” the man recalled.
Yesterday, Steven’s Beer Garden was tightly shut since the co-owner, Ms Nanda Parjohn, has migrated to Canada. She left seven days after the robbery attack.
The business was reportedly put up for sale or rent, but no one came or seemed interested.
Also reliving sad memories yesterday was Mr Mahendra Jagnandan, proprietor of ‘Pet Boy’s Beer Garden & Pools Bar’. That shop was opened for business as usual yesterday, although the owner appeared somewhat sad.
Jagnandan stated that he is very thankful to be alive. He plans to continue operating his business although he was robbed of a substantial amount of money during the attack.
He disclosed that the bandits carted off approximately $470,000 that night. They also shot his brother, Gansham Jagnandan.
He related that during the attack he hid himself under his king size bed.
Carlton Norton of Broad Street, who was on an errand to purchase a loaf of bread at a nearby bakery, died on the spot after being shot, while Sharon Reece, who was also hit by gunfire, succumbed three days later at the Georgetown Hospital.
Reece, who lived at 37 Ketley Street, Charlestown, has left to mourn her husband John Vaughn, and their four children - Simon, 12; Sheldon, 10; Stephon, six; and Stephanie, four.
Yesterday, when this newspaper visited the family, Mr Vaughn came close to tears as he reflected on the fond memories he has of his late wife.
He pointed out that since her death, he has found it very difficult to cope as a single parent. Even more challenging, he said, are the times when his children ask him many questions regarding their mother.
“Stephanie was closer to her mother, and she asks for her all the time. She takes the photo album and looks at the pictures and says, ‘Mommy,’” said Vaughn.
Sharon’s mother, Ms Roxy Jegroo, 52, told the Chronicle yesterday that although the memories of her daughter are still fresh in her mind, her grandchildren are a source of comfort to her.
Among persons injured by gunfire on the night of January 22, 2003 were: Patsy Samaroo, of Howes Street, Charlestown; Tamika Joseph, 15, of Broad Street, Quacy Leecock, of Louisa Row; Ganshan Jagnandan, 39; Monifa Edwards, seven, of Regent Street; and off-duty Policeman Jeffrey Layne.