No recent arrests but…
POLICE Crime Chief Seelall Persaud has reported that,  according to countrywide statistics, comparing the corresponding periods for this and last year, so far, murders have increased by seven per cent and other serious crimes decreased by 12 per cent. He said 13 per cent less gun robberies were committed and robbery with other weapons declined 27 per cent.
About the latest unlawful killing, that of International Pharmaceutical Agency (IPA) employee Dexter Collins alias ‘Gold Teeth’, early Wednesday morning in Camp street, Georgetown, he said no arrest had been made.
A previous release said the victim was found about 01:00 hrs on the street with gunshot injuries and taken, by public-spirited persons, to Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Collins was shot by a lone gunman and IPA Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Lloyd Singh, admitted he was shocked at the occurrence, for which he could not speculate on a motive.
He said Collins had checked the IPA location in the vicinity of GPH before going to the company’s Camp Street headquarters, where he had just left when he met his demise, execution style.
Singh said he will be taking care of all the expenses for Collins’ wake and funeral.

The gunning down of Collins follows the drive-by fatal shooting of businessman Terry Bacchus on Water Street, also in the city, last Saturday night.
Persaud confirmed that no one has also been arrested in that case but the investigations are continuing.
After he was shot, about 21:15 h, public-spirited persons took Bacchus out of his motor vehicle that had crashed into the concrete base of a street light and conveyed him to the GPH where, he too, was pronounced dead on arrival.
A post mortem examination, performed on his body Monday, confirmed his cause of death as perforation of the heart and lungs by gunshots.
His relatives said he had no known enemies and was not robbed by his shooter.
The funeral of Bacchus, who owned a chain of stores in the city and on East Coast and West Coast Demerara, will take place today.
He was last seen alive after closing his Double Discount Store in Water Street earlier that night.

Adding to the list of recent murders was  that, on April 8, of salt fish exporter Rajendra Motieelall Sonilall, 43, of Lot 73 Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara.
He died in a hail of bullets, fired by a lone gunman, while sitting under a shed opposite his business place at about 19:30 h.
In the fish exporting business for 28 years, relatives suspect that his murder was orchestrated by persons who owe him large sums of money.

Another victim, on January 27, was proprietor of Ezee Runnings Taxi Service, Davendra Bholanauth, 33, of Owen Street, Kitty. He was shot and killed during a robbery at his Sheriff Street business place.
Two bandits had entered the premises and ordered him to hand over a laptop computer before shooting him at close range, around 20:30 h and escaping in a waiting car.

Two more yet unsolved gun murders this year include that of Nicholas Hoyte called ‘Ziah’, 29, who was killed on January 12.
Formerly of Lot 54 Fifth Street, Alberttown, he was on his way from his sister’s home when he was killed by gunfire from a motor car in which the occupants drove away about  20:30 hrs.

Pascal Johnson, 44, of Lot 420 East Ruimveldt, another Georgetown address, was shot by a gunman about 21:00 hrs on January 5, while visiting his girlfriend with whom he had a quarrel.