Gunmen murder 12 at Bartica
Large gang came by river, attacked police station, fired wildly, three cops among dead
By Nigel Williams and Miranda La Rose
Monday, February 18th 2008
Gunmen last night slaughtered around a dozen persons in a major assault on Bartica reminiscent of the Lusignan massacre and the dead included at least three policemen, reports this morning said.
The hour-long strafing which saw the criminals overrunning the Bartica Police Station and residents locking up in their homes raises major questions about the aims of the gunmen and the ability of the security forces to respond.
While it was difficult to obtain precise information on the chaos that ensued, Stabroek News has been able to confirm as best as possible the names of some of the dead. They are: Edwin Gilkes of Banks DIH/Citizens Bank's premises on First Avenue; Mervin Ferreira, a guard of CBR Mining and Marcus Gonsalves, a teller of Citizen's Bank whose body was found in his car on First Avenue. The surnames of the dead policemen have been given as Osbourne, Zakir and Fredericks.
Also among the dead are five persons who had slung up their hammocks on the wharf reportedly awaiting transportation to go about their business. They were gunned down in the wild firing that occurred as terror gripped the gateway to the interior. The five are believed to be employees of Budhoo's General Store. Two policemen and several other injured persons were to be transported this morning to the Georgetown Hospital via Baganara.
Commander of E&F Division, Gavin Primo told reporters last night that his information at the time was that sometime around 9:40 pm gunmen stormed the police station located at First Avenue, Bartica. At around 10:45 pm when he was contacted, Primo said that the gunmen had by then moved down several streets and were shooting indiscriminately.
A resident of Second Avenue told Stabroek News via telephone that he and several of his friends were on the road liming when the gunmen attacked. The man said that they fled the scene, some of his friends lodging at his home as fear and panic swept the community. "They moved from the police station to different streets. It was sheer gunshots here," the man who asked not be named said. Another resident of Second Avenue told Stabroek News that it was chaos. "Everybody locked down right now I am not sleeping on my bed tonight," the female resident told Stabroek News around 10:30 pm. She said in the general vicinity of First, Second and Third Avenues there are about 1000 residents.
Budget
The attack forced the government this morning to postpone the reading of the national budget today and Chairman of Region Seven, Holbert Knights said that his constituency is shocked at the scale of the massacre.
A joint services team was rushed into the area late last night and at around midnight they were said to have secured the community but it appeared that the gunmen had long escaped. Sporadic gunshots were heard several hours after the gunmen had completed their attack, but it was unclear as to who was involved. Stabroek News was told that the gunmen arrived in the area around 9:40 pm by boats and they departed in similar fashion. According to reports once the gunmen touched down in Bartica they stormed the police station, shooting to death three policemen. They also escaped with the police's firearms and reportedly freed prisoners who were locked up in the station's lock-ups.
They also took away the vehicle assigned to the police station after which they went on a rampage terrorising the community which is normally quiet on a Sunday evening and more so by a steady downpour while residents were watching the 20/20 match between Guyana and Antigua
Once the men had subdued the police station they proceeded to rampage through the community, letting off a barrage of gunfire at persons on the streets. Knights told Stabroek News this morning that the gunmen moved down the streets of First, Second and Third Avenues and also the housing scheme.
Knights said that eyewitnesses counted around 20 gunmen - similar to the band that stormed Lusignan. Asked about the impact of the carnage on his constituency, Knights said that it was impossible to assess at the moment. "We can't even begin to pick up the pieces, this is most incredible. No one would have thought about this," the Regional Chairman commented.
Meanwhile, the joint services last night rushed troops into the area from Ogle Aerodrome. Stabroek News was told that the ranks were dropped off at Baganara Island and ferried across to Bartica by speed boat. A businessman in the community told Stabroek News last night that it was impossible for any aircraft to land at the Bartica airstrip because of its deplorable state.
Residents, including the PNCR-1G MP Judith David said that since the ordeal started everyone stayed indoors, fearing to go outside. Neighbours telephoned and exchanged bits of information and shared their own experiences.
Through this networking, she said that reports were that 12 persons were shot dead and a number of persons injured.
Reports, too, were that many people had been making their way to the hospital but she said she was unable to contact the medex.
Residents said they also heard when a boat pulled out and everything was quiet thereafter.
At about 11:40 they said that they heard aircraft circling the township.
The hospital was also very busy when this newspaper called shortly after mid-night.
One resident said she was in the Voice of Faith Miracle ministries church at about 9:30 pm when she heard a commotion and thought that Guyana had won the cricket match and people were celebrating. However, someone telephoned telling her that the police station was being shot at. Worshippers hurriedly left for the safety of their homes and wherever they could find refuge.
With everyone warned she said they heard people screaming as shots were fired and smoke and light from the shots were visible coming mainly from the First Avenue area. She said that bullets grazed the roof of her home as well. Neighbours telephoning each other in the aftermath of the shooting said that a number of windows were smashed.
"Look where they come now. It sounded like when they got war. You hear the machine guns rattling off. I never frighten so," she said adding that "when the bullets go off I lie down on the floor." She was alone at home at this time.
A man who lived at Fourth Avenue who was also watching the 20/20 match with his family said that they heard the exchange of gunfire and heard it coming closer to them. They turned off their lights and all hit the floor.
Commissioner of Police, Henry Greene could not be reached for a comment last night or early this morning on the attack.
A statement released by the Government Information Agency this morning said that Prime Minister, Samuel Hinds performing the functions of President, has announced that today's sitting of the National Assembly, at which the Minister of Finance was scheduled to present the national budget for 2008, would be postponed until further notice in light of the tragic events in Bartica last night. The Prime Minister also indicated that the security forces had mounted an immediate response to the situation and that a number of Ministers and Members of Parliament would be travelling to the Bartica shortly to assess the situation. The new date for the reading of the budget speech would be announced later. In a subsequent statement GINA said that the Joint Services have launched an air, sea and land operation in response to the murderous shooting spree at Bartica while noting that a high level team of government officials is preparing to leave Georgetown early today for the community.
The attack on the Bartica community has come amidst supposedly heightened security across the country following the slaughter of 11 people at Lusignan, East Coast Demerara three weeks ago. Just hours before the Lusignan slaughter gunmen in a car had attacked Police Headquarters, Eve Leary where two policemen manning the western gate were shot in their legs. That attack was the most brazen assault on a security base in recent history. Police have blamed wanted man Rondell Rawlins and his followers for the attacks.
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