A boat builder was kidnapped Thursday night by armed gunmen from his mother-in-law’s home at Jacklow, Upper Pomeroon River and the motive is unclear.
Searches by police up to press time last evening failed to locate Fabian Gonsalves, a father of two of Hampton Court, Essequibo Coast.
In a statement police said that they are investigating the kidnapping, which occurred at 10pm on Thursday. The police said investigations revealed that Gonsalves was in a house watching television along with his mother-in-law Carol Adams and another boat-builder, Chris Williams, when two men armed with guns entered the home through an open door. “The men held them at gunpoint and tied up Adams and Williams, after which they handcuffed Fabian Gonsalves and took him away in a boat,” police said.
When Stabroek News visited the home at Jacklow yesterday, only a close relative remained to guard the place. While the man was tight-lipped about the incident, this newspaper was told that the trio was looking at television in the upper flat when the men, who wore masks, entered. The relative said it was three men. He said that the gunmen tied up Adams and Williams and placed them to lie face-down on the floor.
After they grabbed Gonsalves, the gunmen escaped. Adams and Williams managed to untie themselves and raised an alarm. Stabroek News was told that Gonsalves’ wife, Phitmenia, was informed and reported the matter to the Anna Regina Police station that night. The police went to the scene yesterday morning.
Yesterday this newspaper was told that Gonsalves’ wife and children moved to the city for security reasons. The relative could not say what the motive for the kidnapping was and said he was shocked. Neighbours, when approached said they had heard nothing until Adams raised an alarm.
Last evening, the police said that efforts to locate Gonsalves are continuing. Senior police officials told Stabroek News that Gonsalves was related to a father and son, who were murdered last year in an incident that Crime Chief Seelall Persaud had said was drug related.
In March 2009, the decomposing remains of Romeo and Clint De Agrella of Grant Strong Hope, Lower Pomeroon River, were found at Iron Punt, North West District, days after they failed to return home. Post-mortem examinations revealed that the men died from multiple gunshot wounds.
In a statement police had said investigations revealed that the victims had left Venezuela and after not returning to Guyana as expected they were reported missing on March 22. It had also said that the bodies were found with gunshot wounds while the men’s boat bore bullet holes. The boat had been recovered without the outboard engine and had been overturned in the Waini River by the occupants of a passing passenger vessel. It was subsequently pulled ashore. A dredge-owner was charged with procuring their murders while two men were charged with the murders and another was sought. The charge against one of the murder accused, Lloyd Roberts was discharged for want of prosecution.
