Dear Editor,
On February 14, 2014, I was treated like a thief by a security guard of Bounty Supermarket on Water Street. As a housewife it’s the norm for me to travel to Georgetown once or twice per week to purchase household necessities. On Friday I left home for the city around 1pm and arrived in town at around 2.30pm. I first went to the Mattai’s Supermarket on Water Street where I purchased a few items. Then on my way to the Stabroek Market to purchase vegetables and other perishables, I stopped at the Bounty Supermarket where I am a regular customer, and purchased additional groceries to the value of $4665.
But it seems that making cash purchases at this supermarket does not prevent suspicion of being a thief from falling on you. While leaving the checkout counter with my cash purchases a female security guard whom I had noticed earlier at the back of the supermarket came and stood in front of the store’s exit door blocking my path and telling me in a loud and commanding voice, “Leh meh see wah yo gat in dah bag!” The bag she was referring to was my shoulder bag and I responded by saying, “Why you want to see in my bag?” Her reply was, “I want to see in you bag, furthermore leh we go in dah room.” I asked what room and what for. This was when it dawned on me that I was being accused of stealing from the store. Knowing that I had nothing to hide and with the embarrassment of having the attention of the entire store now on me, I was forced to empty my handbag on the floor right in front of the exit door. My bag contained a 24 oz bottle of Sprite drink valued $174 dollars purchased at Mattai’s an hour earlier, and vitamins that had been purchased from Medicare Pharmacy.
For a moment the security guard thought she had found what she wanted to find or what she was told to look for when she saw the Sprite bottle. But that moment was rendered void when I went into my purse and took out a receipt that showed among other things the purchase of the said drink from Mattai’s approximately one hour earlier.
Editor, in my forty plus years, I have never felt more humiliated and undignified as a woman. As such Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2014 will be remembered by me with sadness and regret for years to come.
Accusing a person of stealing, without reasonable suspicion is illegal, moreso, doing it publicly to a woman who has a husband and three children who are all working is an absurdity.
I felt embarrassed over the entire situation and will no longer be a supporter of Bounty Supermarket on Water Street.
Yours faithfully,
Abena George
We are sending a copy of this letter to Bounty Supermarket for any comment they might wish to make.
