Latest update April 25th, 2024 12:59 AM
Dec 09, 2012 News
…dissatisfied with response from authorities
With a heightened fear of break-ins and massive loss of property, jewellery store owners are dissatisfied with the authorities’ response to the security situation in the Stabroek Market. They are calling for urgent reform of the system.
They are even more upset over the constant occurrence of robberies and opined that the relevant authorities seem not to be concerned with the issue.
Following a major break-in at the market on Thursday, owners of jewellery stalls were invited to a special meeting at the Mayor and City Council to discuss the jewellers’ concerns and what measures could be put in place to alleviate the situation.
This meeting, the stallholders said, seemed just to soothe their anger. They said while discussions were on security, they were not offered any proper explanation on how security would be increased or what measure would be put in place to ensure that during the night stalls are protected.
The stallholders said that the meeting was chaired by Town Clerk, Carol Sooba. “She promised us that things will change but she ain’t say how they plan to change things.”
“All she talking about is how it had to be an inside job and investigations ongoing.”
The stallholders said that while they appreciate an investigation into the break-in they want to know how the Council plans to help them and protect their businesses. “She said that the changes will not be overnight but we are paying a rent; they are supposed to make sure we are safe here,” a woman argued.
The stallholders said that there needs to be reform of the market security system. “We leave de meeting and we ain’t get nothing to satisfy we. What we need is a change in the system and they have to think of better ways to protect our businesses.”
“They need to devise a system where they can ensure that our stalls do not get broken into. Some of us have been here for years; this is our life and some of us know nothing else.”
The jewellers also argued that currently gold business is slow. According to them, the present crime rate has hampered persons wearing jewellery.
“Gold ain’t selling,” a jeweller said. “Who want buy jewellery when soon as you reach outside dem snatch it or kill you for it? Then you have this high rent. We jewellers have to pay the most rent in the market plus we pay for extra security. Then you have to come to work and deal with this. No one will give you back anything when you lose all that you have worked for.”
Carol Sooba ensured vendors on Thursday that security would be beefed up in light of the robbery. She said that a thorough investigation was launched into the matter and a full report was expected.
On Friday investigations were still ongoing and the vendors were promised a resolution to their problems.
Apart from the vendors saying that they are not convinced by the Town Clerk’s utterances, they are afraid that there may soon be a repeat of Thursday’s event if something is not done about security in the market.
Proprietor of Sanjaya Jewellery Store lost close to $9M in cash and jewellery after burglars used a torch to cut their way into his jewellery store. After using blow torches to get past grill doors, they cut through a wooden door with an electric saw and unscrewed floor boards. After they robbed the store, they replaced all that was removed and painted over the door in its original colour, red, to avoid suspicion.
Some four months prior to that, burglars robbed the jewellery store adjacent to Sanjaya. They gained access into the store through the roof. Authorities had promised vendors that security would be beefed up and that action would have been taken in ensuring improved security systems.
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