Fisherman Envil Pollard, who was shot dead by a security guard at Pritipaul Singh Investments (PSI) wharf at Mc Doom, East Bank Demerara on Thursday had been paying the guard to allow him to fish under the wharf because the owner never allowed it, Pollard’s wife Ashmoon Khan said yesterday.
Reports had suggested on Thursday that it was greed that led to the man’s murder, as the security guard had wanted more money and this caused a rift between the two men.
Pollard, 45, called ‘Elvis’ died of multiple gunshot wounds, a post-mortem examination revealed yesterday. And the man’s family and friends called for justice as they spoke to this newspaper at the Stabroek Market. Khan said telling her children that their father had been shot and killed was painful. “Meh children asking meh all de time, why dey had to shoot dey father,” a distressed Khan said.
She said the security guard was still in custody at the Ruimveldt Police station and she was invited to make visits at the station if she has any questions.
Pollard’s nephew, who witnessed the shooting, said his uncle was under the wharf, when the security guard just took out his gun and shot him. The nephew said there was no confrontation that led to the shooting. However, a police press release said there was a confrontation which resulted in Pollard being shot. The nephew, who works at the PSI wharf, said further that when he approached the security chief at PSI and indicated that Pollard was his uncle, the man demanded his ID badge and then put him out of the compound.
PSI has declined to make a comment on the shooting.
Relatives and friends of Pollard said they are afraid that witnesses will be too intimidated to come forward.
A relative of the dead man said the security guard had complained to Pollard that other persons were paying him more than what he was giving to him and he would have to pay more.
Khan alleged that the security guard had wanted $5,000 in payment from Pollard. She added that when he said that amount of money was out of his reach—because he had seven children to take care of—the security guard had threatened him.
