The president of the Lusig-nan Golf Club Aleem Hussain and one of the promoters of a private event that was held on the premises are denying knowledge of a patron indiscriminately discharging rounds on Easter Sunday.
Reports of a shooting at the lawns of the club surfaced on social media on Wednesday. According to the information shared, a patron, who was heavily intoxicated, discharged several rounds in the presence of other persons.
Rights activist Mark Benschop, in a Facebook post, related that the incident was brought to his attention by prisoners from the Lusignan Prison.
A source told Stabroek News that the shooting occurred on Sunday evening between 6.30 pm and 7 pm. At the time, the accused shooter was drinking with his cousin.
When contacted, Hussain related to this newspaper that he learnt of the shooting after seeing reports of it on social media. Hussain said the golf course was rented out to two private promoters, Robin Tiwari and Romel Bhagwandin.
“I wasn’t there but I heard of the incident and saw it floating around on social media. In the absence of the correct information, I will not make a statement. I was not present at the club and I asked the promoters to give me a report,” Hussain said.
He added that should the management of the club discover there was a shooting incident, they will “act on it… if something did happen, we will take appropriate action.”
Bhagwandin told this publication that he was not aware of the firing of gunshots by a patron and like Hussain he too learned of it via social media.
He related that while he was a co-promoter for the events held at the club between Easter Sunday and Tuesday, we was not present at all times. The man said that he was in and out of the club, ensuring that patrons were being provided an efficient service.
He stated that while he was there, no one fired a gun.
Asked if any information on the shooting was related to him by his partner, he responded in the negative.
A source related that Bhagwandin was the bartender for the event.
Calls to Tiwari’s phone went unanswered.
Stabroek News was told that the promoters were allowed to use the compound and in return would pay a percentage to the management of the club. “Romel and Robin are fully responsible for the activities during these days and we ask that you afford them the courtesy and support to help make it a success,” Hussain had told club members in a correspondence.
Meanwhile, Crime Chief Lyndon Alves, when contacted last night, said he was not aware of any report of a person discharging rounds at the ground and indicated that he will begin inquiries into the matter.
