The murder of Sidwell Dexter Collins on Saturday morning could have been the settling of an old debt according to his employer, Lloyd Singh who said that he has launched his own investigation into the matter.
Meanwhile, Crime Chief Seelall Persaud has said that police are not yet sure whether the murder of Collins could be classified as a contract killing but three murders this year have been added to that category.
He declined to comment further on the Collins investigation stating that police had a few leads but were working on gathering evidence.
The murders of Vibert Weekes, Nicholas Hoyte and Rajendra Motilall Sonilall have been listed as contract killings, Persaud said. All three were killed execution-style earlier this year. No one has been charged in any of the cases.
Saltfish exporter Sonilall was executed at Mon Repos in early April. He was reportedly shot twice to the head, once to the throat and another bullet pierced his stomach. Nothing was stolen from him. Weekes and Hoyte were both riddled with bullets by unknown gunmen during January.
Terry Bacchus’ murder, which occurred on Saturday night, also shares similar characteristics with these murders. The West Demerara businessman was shot once by a gunman who then escaped with another accomplice. This happened around 9.30 pm on Saturday at Water Street, Georgetown just outside Bacchus’ store. Persaud further said that it was too early to classify Bacchus’ case.
On Wednesday Collins’ relatives, though they could not say who would want the man dead and why, expressed a belief that the man was murdered by a contracted killer. A relative had stated that they were inclined to believe this since killing has become a buyable service.
The deceased, who Stabroek News learnt was the assistant Chief Security Officer at the International Pharmaceutical Agency (IPA), was making his usual rounds at the organization’s various Georgetown locations. Relatives had pointed out that Collins travelled between locations on foot and was unarmed.
Singh, IPA proprietor, has since responded to these allegations. Singh said he met the deceased while he was going through a difficult period in his life a few years ago. “I met him when he was a criminal…He’s worked with me on and off for me since then,” Singh said.
Singh told Stabroek News that the deceased “was not really his employee”. He was trying to help Collins, he stated, and gave him a phone with credit and motor cycle. It was Collins’s job to check on the various locations and report to him about their status.
A few months ago, Singh said, Collins was involved in accident and the motorcycle was damaged. The bike, according to him, is still in the workshop. After the accident Singh said he attempted to give the deceased a vehicle to drive.
“He couldn’t drive the vehicle,” Singh said, “because he didn’t have a licence.”
Collins, the IPA proprietor further said, was not supposed to be at work that night. According to him, Collins had been speaking with some friends around the Georgetown Public Hospital area and after he left there he ended up at the IPA Camp Street, Georgetown location. Singh insisted that Collins could not have been drinking at a city location since he did not use alcohol.
The shooting occurred a few buildings south of IPA. Collins was discovered in front an empty lot located between MDT (Micro Design Technology) and St. Margaret’s Primary (the lot is opposite Clico’s building).
“I heard this first gunshot,” an eyewitness had told this newspaper, “and I look up and I see two man. One of the man try to run and the other one fire off two more shots and the next thing I see this man fall down lil out on the road and the next one start run.”
The incident, according to the witness, happened in a flash. There was no struggle between the two and there appeared to be no handing over of valuables which would suggest it was a robbery-turned-murder.
Singh has since insisted that he does not believe the man was robbed. Someone, he said, wanted Collins dead but he could not say who it was. Asked whether Collins had told him about having any problems, Singh said no.
“The only confession I ever get from him is that he wanted to change his life…he was doing so well,” Singh stated.
He further said that he’d taken Collins under his wings because he sensed that the man truly wanted to turn his life around. Collins’ death may have been the result of someone settling an old debt, he said.
Meanwhile, Singh said he had no choice but to leave Collins unarmed because the man had a criminal record and would not have qualified for a firearm licence. Singh has since indicated to Collins’ relatives that he will be covering all funeral expenses.
“I have also launched my own small investigation into what happened to him,” Singh said, “after all he did do some work for me.”
