Hotel Tower has strengthened its security and procedures governing entrance to the building after gunmen attacked employees on Wednesday night, management said in a press statement yesterday.
According to the press release, “at approximately 10.30 pm three men accosted three employees of Hotel Tower and relieved them of two cellular phones, jewelry and cash”. The Impact Division of the Guyana Police Force was contacted immediately, the hotel said, and no one was injured during the incident.
“…the security procedures of the Hotel prevented the perpetrators from getting past the lobby of the hotel or engaging in any further criminal activities” that night, the press statement said. The hotel said it hoped that the police will investigate the incident “expeditiously”.
When Stabroek News visited the hotel yesterday afternoon it was informed by the receptionist that management was not available for any further comment on the matter.
Stabroek News understands that Hotel Tower’s security system employs Closed-circuit Television (CCTV).
When questioned about this, a hotel employee confirmed that CCTV was indeed used but the hotel but was unable to say if the system was “up and running” and whether the attack on the employees in the lobby Wednesday night would have been recorded.
Crime Chief Seelall Persaud, in an invited comment yesterday afternoon, said he was not in a position to say whether or not Hotel Tower used CCTV or if there was a possibility that the lobby robbery would’ve been recorded. Further, the Crime Chief told Stabroek News that no arrests have been made.
According to a police press release issued Thursday evening, three men all armed with handguns robbed housekeeping manager Gerald Charles, receptionist Malika Lyken and electrician Chris Profitt of $111,000 cash, two cellular phones and a quantity of jewellery.