A New York-based Guyanese couple, here for a vacation after more than two decades away, had their return spoilt when they where held at gunpoint and relieved of cash and a quantity of gold jewellery, just after arriving from the airport yesterday.
Kadir, 56, and Loreta Mapura, 55, who returned home after 21 years, are also upset at the police’s unprofessionalism and are still to decide if they will ever return home.
They lost US$6,500 during the robbery at their Lusignan, East Coast Demerara residence early yesterday morning.
Police said in a press release yesterday that around 3:40am, the couple was attacked and robbed by two men, one of whom was armed with a handgun. The Mapuras had just arrived at the residence from the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri and were taking their suitcases into their home when they were confronted and held up by the perpetrators, who took away their personal gold jewellery and US currency before escaping.
When Stabroek News spoke to the Mapuras yesterday, they were still shaken but managed to recount their five-minute ordeal.
Kadir said relatives picked them up from the airport and transported them to Lusignan, where they arrived around 3:30am.
They began unloading their luggage from the road side, he said, while recalling that during this time they noticed a man “passing the car back and forth.”
He said that when they had finished off loading, he, his wife and other relatives sat under the house gaffing. The relatives, who transported them from the airport, left about five minutes later and they were left alone with his nephew and his wife, who reside at the house.
Kadir said they proceeded into the house but did not manage to lock the door. “As soon as we entered the home, these two masked men entered before he (the nephew) could have even closed the door or loose the dog.” He noted that just before the men arrived the animal was barking uncontrollably.
He said the man with the gun stood by the door, while his accomplice started ripping off the jewellery that his wife was wearing. According to the man, Loreta was wearing two diamond rings, four regular gold rings, two bands and a chain with four pendants.
The men also took US$3500 that she had in her possession. The shaken woman said after the bandits started gabbing at her jewellery, she calmly told them that she would take them off but asked that they leave her wedding band. The bandits granted her wish.
Kadir recounted that during the incident, the gunman, whose hands were shaking, kept his weapon trained on them.
The robber directed his accomplice to check Kadir’s pockets, which contained his wallet with US$2500 and some change.
Before running off, the men picked up a cell phone and cash belonging to the couple’s nephew, Rajendra Singh. Singh said the men, who had handkerchiefs over their faces and were wearing long sleeved shirts, kept shouting “where is the bag?”
‘No reason to come here’
The couple returned home for a wedding, which is to be held a few doors away from the Lusignan house. It is suspected that the bandits might have picked up information about their arrival from hanging around the area.
Kadir said that everyone was confused after the attack and about five minutes after they managed to compose themselves and contact relatives.
The Chairman of the area’s Community Police Group was contacted but said that he did not have the vehicle. When contact was made with the CPG member who had the vehicle, the man said he could not come to the scene alone, this newspaper was told. An upset Kadir added that the police arrived on the scene about two hours after the matter was reported to them.
One of the relatives, who had transported the couple from the airport, said that after they were informed of the incident, they immediately went to the Beterverwagting Police Station, where they were told that they had to go to the Vigilance Police Station. According to Kadir, when his relatives arrived at Vigilance, they had to transport the rank to the scene.
There was a vehicle at Vigilance, this newspaper was told, but there was no driver for it. At Beterverwagting, only one rank was on duty.
“Its 21 years since I have come to Guyana. Do you think with this, I would want to come back?” an upset Kadir said.
As a citizen of Guyana, he said, his experience has left him feel as if “there was no reason for me to have been born here or even come here.” He said that the possibility exists that they will not come back.
At this point, Loreta interjected saying that she had to convince her husband to stay, since he wanted to leave immediately.
She said that before they travelled to Guyana, they had heard so many stories about persons visiting from overseas being robbed but they never expected that it would ever happen to them. She questioned how overseas-based Guyanese who want to come back and contribute to the development of the country could do so when they are constantly being targeted by bandits. She said that the situation is not encouraging and that is why some persons decide to go to another country to spend their vacation.
Kadir said that a lot of money was spent to travel to Guyana. He noted that he could have gone to Santo Domingo, and spend a “beautiful five days and four nights.
Drink all the water coconuts I wanted and have no fear.”
He said he would have spent far less when compared to the cost to travel to Guyana.
The couple said that they are just sitting and waiting for the days to pass so that they can return to the US.
They said that the crime situation in Guyana is getting worse because it is not being attacked properly.
Earlier this month, musician Rudy Bishop was attacked by armed bandits moments after he arrived at a Meadow Brook Gardens residence from the airport. The New York based steel pan player was relieved of $30,000, a quantity of jewellery and some personal documents by two men armed with handguns. The incident occurred around 2:30am on April 7.
