The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) says that it will be holding discussions with Community Policing Groups (CPGs) about the level of protection for its workers on assignment in certain areas, following the robbery of one of its employees at gunpoint in McDoom, Greater Georgetown.
The company said in a press release that it was disgusted with the response from the McDoom community when two technicians went into the area last Monday to install new services and were attacked by two men; one with a gun and the other wielding a hammer. While one managed to run away the other was held threateningly by the man with the hammer as the one with the gun went through his pockets and relieved him of his cell phone, a ring and other personal belongings.
The release stated further that during the attack persons were walking about and riding while others who were sitting on their steps went inside and there were no attempts to assist the technicians.
GT&T Deputy General Manager Terry Holder said that “it was not unreasonable to expect that technicians who have gone into a community to provide services in the interest of that community would receive some level of protection. What the incident does is to bring home to us the difficult situation to which our staff are being exposed.”
He said that although the company has a primary responsibility to the public, it would have to “review that commitment against the threats posed to our employees.”
GT&T will in future assess areas where ‘incidents’ have occurred before staff is deployed.
