The government was given a mandate which includes to protect the
citizens of the country. On this particular issue the government has
remained impotent and has failed to protect the lives of its
citizens. Too many innocent lives has been lost whilst the
perpetrators continue to romp and terrorize others unabated.
The same excuse given for nearly 15 years by the government is
unacceptable.
Either
they do as mandated or
get
out.
A.P
Strathspey
still a 'ghost town' after post-jailbreak robberies
By
Michel Outridge

The
house, which was robbed by, armed bandits with its windows
replaced by zinc sheets after they were stolen.
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During
the spiraling crime wave since the Mash Day 2002 jailbreak residents at
Strathspey Railway Embankment, East Coast Demerara, were forced to
abandon their homes and seek refuge in other villages.
Some
ten families packed up and left the village after they were robbed and
terrorized by bandits.
Three
houses were broken down and taken elsewhere after several incidents of
robberies rocked the neighbourhood. Some residents endure severe
beatings from armed bandits while others lost most of their worldly
possessions.
Recently,
when the Guyana Chronicle visited, all the houses along the Railway
Embankment at Strathspey were locked up while some were missing zinc
sheets, doors and windows.

Three of the seven abandoned houses at Strathspey Railway
Embankment, East Coast Demerara.
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One
resident told this newspaper that his home was robbed last year August
by armed bandits, who tied up his two relatives for some three hours and
carted off with household items, clothing, a water pump, bicycle,
groceries. They even helped themselves to bread and butter as they were
terrorizing the victims.
Most
of his material possessions were stolen.
Soon
after the incident he emptied his house and moved away to ward off any
further attacks.
The
cash crop farmer said that one day he returned only to discover his
crops were poisoned
and zinc sheets on roof of his house, wooden doors and windows missing.
Presently
he is living at a relative's in a nearby village and has to seek other
ways and means to earn a living, since his crops were destroyed and
venturing to his home was dangerous, considering it is only a stone's
throw away from the troubled village of Buxton.
"They
(bandits) took away 15 zinc sheets from my house. It is
empty, yet they broke the locks and entered. Living here was terrifying.
We plan to move back into our home because we have nowhere else to
go," stated the man.
Another
resident related that she comes to check on her house sometimes and even
the fruits are missing.
However,
Strathspey Railway Embankment remains a ghost town.
Friday,
January 09, 2004