Two MMC Security Force guards were killed and two injured after they were ambushed by eight gunmen, who also hijacked their vehicle, at Sheribana Bridge in the Essequibo yesterday.
Dead are Rodwell Clarke, 41, of 154 ‘D’ Field South Turkeyen and Warren Hutson of Buxton. Glenmore Reeves, 48, of 10 Edun Street, Tucville and Dalton Walcott, 28, of Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara were injured during the attack.
The gunmen made off with the guards’ four shotguns and an undisclosed amount of cash during the incident, which occurred around noon.
According to a police statement, Clarke and Hutson were hit about their bodies during the ambush and subsequently died.
The police report stated that Reeves was shot in the head, while Walcott was shot in the right arm. Both men were brought to the Georgetown Public Hospital where they are being treated. One of Reeves’s relatives told Stabroek News last evening that his condition was listed as stable. Reeves has been employed with MMC for some two years, the relative said.
According to reports, around noon yesterday the men were on the MMC Security Force vehicle, escorting cash to the city when they came under attack.
Chief Executive Officer of MMC Carl Morgan told Stabroek News that the four men, all constables employed with the firm, had just uplifted canisters with cash from the company’s ferry location in the interior when the incident occurred.
According to Morgan, just as the men approached the Sheribana area, they were ambushed by eight heavily armed men dressed in allover black outfits.
The gunmen, Stabroek News was told, using the element of surprise, opened fire on the guards and removed the canisters with cash. They then disarmed the bleeding guards and tossed them out of their vehicle.
Reports are that the gunmen made good their escape with the MMC vehicle, which was later found abandoned some two miles away from where the incident occurred.
According to the statement issued by the police, it is believed that the gunmen may have used the waterways to continue their escape bid.
The police said they are combing the area for clues and have set up roadblocks at strategic locations.
Meanwhile Cheryl Clarke, widow of Rodwell Clarke, told Stabroek News that her husband had been working with the security company for just one year. According to Clarke’s widow, prior to him being employed at MMC he served for 21 years in the Guyana Defence Force before retiring.
Mrs Clarke said her husband left their Turkeyen home around 4 am yesterday, telling her that he was heading to the interior.
The grieving woman said that around 10 am yesterday she received a call from her husband.
“He called to say that he was in Tiperu heading back to town and he just reminded me that my father worked at the quarry. And that was the last time I heard from my husband.”
According to the woman, around 16:30 hrs yesterday she was heading out for bible study when two of her husband’s work colleagues went to her and related what had happened.
“Sergeant Murray came in the yard and asked how I was doing. And I told him I am okay.
“And he told me there was an incident in the bush and my husband didn’t make it. So I asked if he was serious that my husband was dead and he said yes,” she recounted tearfully.
Clarke is survived by his wife and three children aged, 15, 13 and eight years old.
