President of the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) Charles Da Silva was chopped to the head during a robbery on the Liliendaal seawall yesterday morning.
Da Silva was admitted to a private hospital, where he is said to be in stable condition. Reports are that around 6 am yesterday, Da Silva was jogging along the seawall, close to the Ministry of Health’s medical center at Liliendaal, on the East Coast of Demerara, when he was attacked by three men. They demanded jewellery he was wearing at the time.
His wife told Stabroek News yesterday that she would usually accompany her husband every morning to exercise along the seawall but yesterday morning she was unable to go.
She said that she was told that the men attacked her husband soon after he headed out to the seawall and demanded his gold chain. According to the woman, Da Silva retaliated and during a scuffle he was chopped once to the head by one of the men. He was later rescued by public-spirited citizens, who rushed him to the hospital. His wife noted that he was conscious yesterday afternoon while his condition was listed as stable.
Da Silva has been serving as interim president of the GGDMA since December last year, when previous president Fred McWilfred resigned from the post. The association is expected to hold elections within another few weeks to elect a new executive body.
