Two United Kingdom-based Guyanese, here on holiday, were robbed on Saturday as they were relaxing at home in Georgetown.
Brothers Desmond Williamson, 75, and Hector Williamson, 70, were having a get-together in the top flat of their Creen Street home when the suspects, one of whom was armed with a handgun, entered and robbed them of cellular phones and jewellery, police said in a press statement. The suspects fled and no arrests have been made. The incident occurred sometime between 7:30 pm and 8 pm.
The brothers were still traumatized when Stabroek News visited the home yesterday. Desmond said that on Saturday evening they were sitting in the living room, having a drink when they heard squibs outside. Five persons were present at the time. About five minutes later, two young men came up the stairs. At first, they thought it was friends of their nephew but when one of the men pulled out a gun, they realized that it was a robbery. The bandits made no attempt to conceal their faces.
Desmond said that the bandit with the gun pointed it to his brother and snatched a chain off his neck. The gunman also attempted to remove a bracelet from Hector’s hand but couldn’t and ordered a young relative to do so for him. The bandits kept asking for money, he recounted, but the brothers said that they did not have any. The bandits then grabbed five cellular phones that were on a table.
Hector said that the items taken from him included his chain, bracelet and a ring, all valued at $750,000. The five cellular phones were worth about $400,000, he said, adding that some money was also taken. “What they were saying (is) if we do not hand over (the items), they will shoot us”, he recalled. “You want to dead”, the bandits also asked repeatedly during the five-minute ordeal.
“I’ve never experienced this sort of thing all my life…I’ve travelled the world”, said Hector, who was awarded the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth 11 in 1999. After grabbing the items, the bandits ordered everyone into the kitchen and fled.
The brothers said that they were shocked and still scared by the incident. The incident was reported to law enforcement officials and statements taken.
Police are continuing investigations.