Judicial Manager of CLICO (Guyana), Maria van Beek, was wounded early yesterday morning on Lombard Street by a lone gunman in what police later described as an attempt on her life.
Van Beek was on her way to work and was stuck in a line of traffic at the corner of Lombard and Leopold streets during a heavy downpour around 8.15 am when the gunman walked up to her car and fired a single shot through the driver’s side window, before running off along the flooded street.
He got on a motorcycle that was parked on Leopold Street, which another man was riding, and they rode off into Leopold Street.
Van Beek, who is also the Commissioner of Insurance, was rushed to a city hospital by an employee of a nearby business place where she sought assistance and is said to be in a stable condition with a gunshot wound to the left side of her chest.
Relatives, friends, colleagues and government officials, including Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh and former CEO of CLICO (Guyana) Gita Singh-Knight, rushed to the hospital on hearing the news. Hospitals officials told Stabroek News that van Beek was in a stable condition and that she had spoken to the police. The area where she was being housed at the hospital was closed off to visitors.
The shooting of the insurance commissioner, who had presented a report to the court on Tuesday on the state of CLICO (Guyana), has sent shockwaves throughout the country.
The police in a release said van Beek was on her way to work driving along Lombard Street and had slowed down owing to traffic.
“An armed man approached the vehicle on foot and discharged a round at her through the right front window, hitting her to the chest, after which he escaped on a waiting CG motorcycle driven by an accomplice,” the release said.
“The police were alerted and patrols dispatched to the scene. Roadblocks were also laid out and several searches carried out as the police continue their efforts to locate the two suspects.”
Crime Chief Seelall Persaud yesterday told Stabroek News that the police were treating the shooting as an attempted murder, as no attempt was made to rob van Beek. He said the man walked up to van Beek’s car and fired the single shot before escaping.
Dastardly attempt
The Government of Guyana and three political parties have since issued statements condemning the shooting of van Beek. The government in its statement described the shooting as a “dastardly attempt” on the woman’s life adding that it finds it “incomprehensible that any sane mind would stoop to such an act that would seem to have an intention of frustrating the work she is doing as the Commissioner of Insurance.”
The statement said that the police have commenced investigations and Commissioner of Police Henry Greene has since indicated that no stone will be left unturned.
“The administration condemns this act in the severest manner possible…,” the statement said while adding that regarding the work van Beek has been doing as Judicial Manager of CLICO (Guyana) the government continues to stand firmly by its commitment to protect the interest of policyholders of the company.
‘Hollering for help’
When Stabroek News visited the scene many persons were unaware that a shooting had occurred owing to the heavy rainfall. Several policemen were on the scene talking to witnesses.
This newspaper caught up with a truck driver, who wished to remain anonymous, but who said that van Beek’s car had rammed into the back of his truck after she was shot.
The man said the traffic was moving at a snail’s pace when he saw two men cut across in front of his truck and head south on Lombard Street. Shortly after, he said, he heard what sounded like a gunshot.
“I hear the thing and I say it couldn’t be a tyre blowout and when I look in my rearview mirror I see this woman clutching her chest and then I feel an impact and she car run into me truck back,” the man said.
He said the woman was heard “hollering for help”, but she somehow managed to move her car and park it in front of Mohamed’s Enterprises, where she sought assistance.
One of the establishment’s drivers assisted her back to the car and drove her to the hospital.
Persons at the scene said the incident could not have been a robbery as the man’s only intent, from what they observed, was to shoot the woman.
Speaking to reporters at the hospital yesterday, van Beek’s sister, Dionne Fries, said no one expected this to happen. “You live in Guyana, you get up go to work as normal. You don’t expect someone to shoot you,” Fries said.
She said while no security arrangements were made for her sister following her appointment as Judicial Manager of CLICO, yesterday’s incident would warrant such a move.
Asked whether van Beek’s role in CLICO might have triggered the attack, Fries said while her sister was dealing with the CLICO matter she was not responsible for what happened. She said van Beek is only “acting on behalf of the government trying to sort this out.” She said her sister is not responsible for the collapse of the insurance company. “So if anyone took a hit on her it is stupid; it has nothing to do with her she is just trying to do her job on behalf of everyone.”
‘Blatant attempt’
Meanwhile, the PPP/C said in a statement that it is shocked at and condemns the “blatant attempt on the life of Mrs van Beek.” The release said while the party does not know the motive of the attack there is sure to be speculation that it could “be related to her sterling work as Commissioner of Insurance and as the Judicial Manager of CLICO.” The party said it hopes the perpetrators of the crime are brought to justice speedily.
The PNCR also expressed shock at the news of the shooting and also called for the perpetrators to be brought to justice.
“Whether it was an attempted robbery or for other reasons, the party unreservedly condemns this criminal act and would urge the Commissioner of Police and the Jagdeo administration to act with dispatch to ensure that the perpetrator(s) are caught and placed before the courts.”
The Alliance For Change (AFC) expressed deep regret at the shooting and said it condemns without “reservation this violent attack on an innocent citizen and hopes that the perpetrators are brought to justice.”
