Archives for April 20, 2016

A Wakenaam, Essequibo Island, businessman was shot and killed on Tuesday, after two bandits attempted to rob him of his bag. The incident occurred sometime around 11:05h on Alexander Street, between Regent and Robb Streets, Georgetown.
Dead is 26-year-old Mahendra Persaud, called “Amar”, of Lot 22 Good Success, Wakenaam. The man, who ran his family-owned supermarket, got married in February.

Investigators at the scene following Tuesday’s shooting

Dead: Businessman Mahendra Persaud

Guyana Times understands that Persaud was on his weekly trip to Georgetown to get goods for the business and was in the front passenger seat in the parked vehicle along with his driver on Alexander Street in front of the Torginol building, when two men road up alongside him on a CG motorcycle.
As he was existing the vehicle, one of the men whom was armed demanded that he hand over the bag which contained a large sum of money; however, Persaud put up resistance. A struggle then ensued between the businessman and the bandit during which Persaud was shot.
The 26-year-old fell to the ground but held on to the bag as the armed man continued his attempt to relieve him of it. At this point, a licensed firearm holder who was in the area pulled out his weapon and went to Persaud’s aid. However, the bandit saw the armed man approaching and let go of the bag, and began running.
Further information revealed that as the bandit was running in the direction of Robb Street, the licensed firearm holder opened fire in his direction. There was an exchange of gunfire between the two men during which the bandit was reportedly hit. Nevertheless, the injured bandit managed to escape as his accomplice was waiting at the corners of Robb and Alexander Streets.
On the other hand, as gunshots ran out, the driver of a car that was approaching the scene reportedly panicked and ran over Persaud, who was lying at the corner of the road. The injured businessman was picked up by his driver and immediately rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival (DoA).
Persaud reportedly sustained three gunshot wounds, one to his neck and two others to his chest.
Meanwhile, at the Georgetown Public Hospital, the young man’s aunt,Dr Koushilyia Persaud, who is a staff at the medical facility, related that she was informed of the shooting by their driver and immediately rushed to Accident and Emergency (A&E) Unit where her worst fears were confirmed.
The woman said that her nephew’s parents separated, so he grew up with her and her parents. “He and his younger brother were brought up by my parents and so we are all very close… I can’t believe that he is gone… he used to come visit me every time he is in town and would bring me lunch,” the grieving woman lamented.
The aunt described the 26-year-old as a friendly, non-confrontational, funny and helpful young man who just began life, having got married just two months ago.
Back home in Wakenaam, the news of Persaud’s death spread, leaving relatives and friends shocked and dumbfounded. Persons began gathering at his home to extend condolences to his family. The man’s friends even blocked off the street in front of his home with motorcycles and vehicles as they mourned his untimely demise.
They described him as a very independent and consoling friend who is always willing to lend a helping hand to whomever is in need. Many persons even took to social media on Persaud’s facebook page, expressing their shock and sympathy over his sudden death.
According to Police reports, the bag that Persaud had in his possession was recovered and handed over to relatives. The Police also revealed in a statement that a man was seen attempting to change the number plate of the vehicle that had run over the Wakenaam businessman. He has since been arrested and told investigators that he is a mechanic who was asked to replace the number plate by the owner. The car has been impounded.
The Police said they are yet to arrest the driver of the car. Nevertheless, Head of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Wendell Blanhum told Guyana Times that they are looking for an individual who is known to the Police.
The Crime Chief disclosed that investigators were able to obtain CCTV footage from the area and were able to identify one of the suspects. Investigations are continuing.

A 38-year-old woman is undergoing psychiatric treatment after attempted to take her own life by jumping off the Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB).

The woman being brought to shore by two passersby

Rehanna Budhan of Lot 42 Austin Street, Campbellville, Georgetown, was rescued by passersby who saw her plunge into the Demerara River around midday on Tuesday.
According to information reaching Guyana Times, the mother of one was walking on the Demerara Harbour Bridge heading west when she suddenly climbed onto the rail and plunged into the water.
One of the rescuers, Parsram Ramchand, related to this newspaper that he was driving over the Bridge from the West Bank when he observed the woman walking in the opposite direction on the right-hand side of the bridge.
“When I reach closer, I see this woman climb up on the rail and jump over. I stop my vehicle and run out,” he said, recalling that he immediately took off his boots and pants, and jumped in the water to save the woman.
“A next guy jump behind me and we rescue her and bring her up on the river bank,” Ramchand stated. The man noted that the woman was unconscious when they brought her out of the water and so they took her to the Police Outpost on the eastern side of the Bridge.
This newspaper was told that the woman, who has a five-year-old child, claimed that she has a spiritual problem hence she wanted to take her life. The woman’s mother was summoned to the outpost and told the officers that this was the first time her adult daughter had done something like that.
In October last year, a man was rescued by passersby after he too jumped off the Bridge in a bid to take his life. The Harbour Bridge has become a hotspot for suicidal jumps, with many of them being successful.
The latest victim was a woman who jumped to her death back in January 2015. Her body was discovered several hours later in the vicinity of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Wharf.

– 1 critical

By Kizzy Coleman and Joseph Allen

One woman has lost her life and a man is in critical condition following a two-vehicle collision at Mandela Avenue and Avocado Street, Georgetown on Tuesday evening.

The car and bike that were involved in the accident

Dead is Shana Rice, of 651 Zenith, East Ruimveldt, Georgetown, while Stephen Fiedtkou, 32, is in critical condition.
According to reports, the two vehicles – a white Allion with registration number PHH 2547 and a Honda CBR – collided when the Allion was attempting to make a right turn into Avocado Street about 20:15h.
Rice and Fiedtkou were on the motorcycle.
After the collision, the motorcyclists were thrown from the bike some distance away. The occupants of the Allion escaped uninjured.
Reports are that Rice sustained head injuries which caused her demise. The impact resulted in Fiedtkou sustaining two broken legs and suffering head trauma. They were both subsequently rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where Rice was pronounced dead on arrival.
An eyewitness stated that the motorcyclists were both without helmets and there were no lights on the bike.
“Both of them had no helmet on and the cycle was also without any lights. The driver of the car did not notice the motorbike coming as the driver was turning in Avocado. So the motorbike that was speeding after realising that they would hit the car started to blow his horn, but they went out of control and crashed into the car,” the eyewitness told this newspaper.
A relative of the dead woman told this publication that the couple was at the time of the accident searching for their missing seven-year-old son.
The man explained that the couple’s son went missing around 17:00h on Tuesday and his parents were vigorously searching for him at the time of the accident.
After the accident, this publication was contacted by that relative who disclosed that the missing boy had been found in the care of a relative who did not notify his parents that he was there. An investigation into the matter has been launched.