In a pre-dawn attack, gunmen yesterday stormed into the Trans Guyana Airways operations at Ogle Airport, where they killed a security guard before escaping with guns, ammunition and several bulletproof vests.
The slaying of Solomon Burke, called ‘Ronald,’ 55, of Lot 27 Vigilance South, left staff at the East Coast Demerara location reeling in shock, while the coordination of the attack fuelled suspicion that the robbers had inside information. Police said the attack occurred around 3:45 am; four gunmen broke into the offices of the Correia’s Mining Company, which operates Trans Guyana Airways. According to the information reaching Stabroek News, the men confronted Burke, who was sleeping in a minibus owned by the Correia’s Security Services, to which he was attached. Burke, a former soldier, may have attempted to escape the men and he was shot in the chest at close range in the process. Reports are that the bullet exited through Burke’s back and he died on the spot.
Shortly after, the gunmen cut off the electricity supply to the building before storming into the security office and torching a safe. Police said they took two Remington 12-gauge shotguns and 37 cartridges, two .32 Taurus pistols and a number of rounds, and four bullet-proof vests. The men also took away $100,000 and an electronic scale for weighing minerals.
A senior police official later said that one of the bullet-proof vests was recovered in the vicinity of the airport.
Stabroek News understands that a female security guard, who was not at her post when the gunmen arrived, is being questioned by investigators. She was supposed to be in a security hut at the entrance to the hangar, but when the men struck she was reportedly taking a walk.
It is unclear if the police are treating her as a suspect in the case.
According to the airport’s spokesman Kit Nascimento, “Some time this morning [yesterday] there was a break-in at Trans Guyana Airways, through the security area, from which some weapons were stolen.” He added that it was during the course of the break-in that the security guard was killed.
Speaking with Stabroek News outside Trans Guyana Airways, Nascimento disclosed that “other things” besides the weapons were stolen but he did not have a detailed list of the items. He further stated that Burke was not the only security guard on the premises at the time of the incident. “There are many others,” he said, while adding that he did not know the precise location in the compound where the man was shot. He said he was found “in his vehicle.”
Nascimento was unwilling to divulge further information about the security arrangements at hangar.
Meanwhile, workers arriving for the 5 am shift yesterday were confronted by a group of policemen standing at the barricade that leads to the entrance of the hangar. Police ranks were at the scene for several hours gathering information and investigators also used a tracker dog. It is unclear if the animal managed to find anything useful. Up to press time last evening, police had not released a statement on the incident.
‘He lef home good, good’
At Burke’s home, his wife Donna Harris said that July would have made it five years since he had been working at the security service. Burke, she said, retired from the army at the rank of corporal. He had left home around 5:30 pm on Sunday for work. “He bathe and thing and then he said ‘Everybody, ah goin,’” she recalled. Fighting back tears, she added that he was supposed to start a one-week suspension yesterday, after he and a female corporal had a problem. The female corporal received a two-week suspension. “He suspension was to start today,” Harris said.
Just before 7 am, her brother-in-law informed her that someone had called and instructed that they should go to the Ogle location immediately. “I thought it was joke because he lef home good, good.
He lef healthy,” she said. Shortly after, a friend enquired if she knew that Burke had been shot dead. Harris fainted.
Later, she and relatives went to the Lyken’s Funeral Home, where their worst fears were confirmed. She said when she viewed the body, she saw a single gunshot wound under his left side breast.
An upset relative expressed disappointment that an official from the security service had not delivered the news personally. “Nobody from the work place ain’t even come yet to say nothing! You can’t keep getting word-of-mouth, you need authentic information. They shoulda reach hey already to deliver the news,” she stressed, before adding that “they only value your service but not your life.”
Burke hailed from Zeskendren, Mahaicony and had nine siblings. He was remembered as a friendly, quiet and industrious person, who loved his job.
Meanwhile, the attack left passengers who had booked flights to Port Kaituma and Mabaruma, North West District temporarily grounded. By early afternoon, operations had resumed.
Yesterday morning, passengers, including some with suitcases and boxes, were standing in the open near the barricade.
Some said that they were clueless as to what they should do and were just sticking around for word on when flights would resume.
One woman, who was scheduled to leave for Port Kaituma on a 7 am flight, said they had been “shut out and nobody nah saying nothing.” The visibly tired woman, who was sitting on a carton in the shade of a guard hut, said that no one from management had said anything.
According to her, she arrived in time for her 6 am check-in and met a small crowd, including policemen. She said she was told that she could not enter and later she heard that a man had been killed.
The woman said if she left and the flight took off later in the day, she would have to pay for another ticket. She added too that if she left, she had to find transportation from Ogle.
She expressed disappointment that the Trans Guyana management had opted not to inform them of what was happening or to offer temporary accommodations until operations resumed.
Another passenger, also bound for Port Kaituma, said that he was told that flights would be resuming later in the morning and he was waiting to see what was going to happen. Just before 11 am, staff were allowed into the premises and later passengers.
