President of ExxonMobil Guyana Alistair Routledge yesterday broke his silence on last year’s shooting incident involving Cyril’s Transportation Service owner Muishankar ‘Sunil’ Persaud, expressing shock over what he believes was disregard for safety.
“Safety is first and paramount for all of us and so I’m shocked that anybody would think that it’s a good idea to release a weapon in the street. So that is unacceptable,” Routledge yesterday told a press conference held at the Duke Street office of his company.
He announced that transportation services were being sought, but that he will not comment on the process or contracts. “We have a tender ongoing and, again, I can’t comment on a tender process,” Routledge said.
Meanwhile, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) has remained mum on the matter.
Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum had told Stabroek News that investigations were ongoing into the incident involving Persaud. who allegedly opened fire on one of his vehicles designated to transport an ExxonMobil executive. The police had initially kept details of the December 2 incident under wraps until enquiries from Stabroek News prompted a public statement.
When they did, they said in a release that they were, “investigating an ‘alleged discharging of a loaded firearm with intent’, committed on Kordel Assanah, a 41-year-old driver employed with ExxonMobil, which occurred at about 16:30 hours on December 2, in the vicinity of Drury Lane and Lamaha Street, Georgetown,” by Persaud, 54. Investigations revealed that Assanah and the businessman are known to each other.
“The businessman is also a licensed firearm holder of one 9mm Glock pistol. According to the businessman, two of his Toyota Prado SUVs (one bearing registration # PAB 3494) were stolen from him earlier this year. The businessman said he was at his office at David Street, Kitty, when he received a phone call from someone stating that they saw one of the stolen vehicles on Kitty Railway Embankment. As a result, he proceeded to the said location where he later saw a [Toyota] Prado SUV fitting the description of one stolen from him. The vehicle was heading south on Lamaha Street. The businessman said he exited his vehicle, and while walking towards the Prado he discharged one round from his licensed firearm towards the vehicle, hitting the right back wheel which caused the vehicle to stop,” the release said.
Police added that as Persaud approached the driver, “he recognised him and then realised the vehicle was not one that was stolen from him.”
Routledge was not in the vehicle at the time of the shooting; contracted ExxonMobil driver Assanah was taking it to a Vlissengen Road petrol station for a fill-up. Four shots were fired at the vehicle, hitting one of the wheels, sources told Stabroek News.
