Gunmen make off with NDC payroll

Dec 03, 2008 News

EVERSHAM, CORENTYNE – Two armed bandits invaded the Macedonia/Joppa Neighbourhood Democratic Council’s Office at Eversham on the Corentyne yesterday, at about 13:30 hours, some ten minutes after the overseer had returned from the bank.
Overseer Gillian Burnett had left the office some time during the morning for a commercial bank in New Amsterdam from which she reportedly withdrew some $303,000, representing the payroll for the council workers.
When she returned to her work place, she reportedly placed the money on her desk, left the door ajar and headed to the washroom. While in there, just about ten minutes after her return, the two men appeared, each armed with a gun.
They held two other employees in the place of work at gunpoint and then asked for the senior person in the office. The robbers went to find her (the overseer) and pounded on the washroom door but she remained in the sanitary facility and did not answer.
The armed robbers proceeded to her office and took the money. They also robbed one of the two staff members, Brian Boodhoo, of Number Thirty-eight Kiltairn Village on the Corentyne, of $11,000.
The bandits then took the two employees to the back of the outer office and they fled the building. Entering a car that was said to be waiting outside, they escaped from the scene of the crime.
Eyewitnesses on the outside informed police that the vehicle proceeded west toward New Amsterdam.
Persons gave conflicting reports on the number of the car, but police detained two vehicles bearing the two numbers given. Up to late yesterday evening the two drivers were still in custody at the Number Fifty-One Police Station.
The overseer was also questioned as were the two employees in the office.

(Melissa Johnson)