Four armed men invaded a mining camp at Konawaruk, Region 8 yesterday afternoon shooting fuel tanks and terrorizing workers and leaving an excavator operator of the Figueira Mining Company injured.
The incident reportedly stems from an ongoing land dispute. The injured man Ray Murray, 44, of Central Amelia’s Ward, Linden told Stabroek News that at around 1pm yesterday, he was working along with his other workmates when a group of armed men invaded the camp.
He related that the men arrived in a land cruiser and were all armed with guns and also had cutlasses, knives and a haversack full of rounds in the vehicle which they later used to damage the camp.
He said that the men were directed by one individual and losses amounted to millions of dollars. “These men just came and start shooting up, didn’t ask for nobody or anything,” Murray recalled. He said that the leader directed what moves to make and what actions to take.
As this was going on, Murray said, he tried to pick up his belonging in order to escape but he was shot with pellets to the back of his head.
The injured man said that the “war” lasted for about half an hour and he is fortunate to still be alive. As a result of the extensive damage, the work site and the camp are now useless since tanks containing fuel were damaged along with engines.
Alisha Figueira, the managing director of the company told Stabroek News that the incident is believed to have stemmed from a land dispute with another company.
She said that the matter is currently before the court and an injunction was applied for.
The woman estimated losses to be in the millions of dollars but was thankful that Murray is alive.
After the incident, the attackers took Murray to their camp where arrangements were made to have him air-dashed to Georgetown.
He was told that when he arrived in the city, he would be met by someone but it was his employer who showed up.
He was taken to the GPH where he was treated and sent away.
