GOLD miner Cleveland Smithet, 37, of Kuru Kururu, Soesdyke/Linden Highway, who was shot and killed during an armed robbery at Five Star Backdam, North West District, on December 14, was laid to rest yesterday. His burial followed a funeral service, which began at 15:00 hrs and he was interred in the community cemetery after an emotional farewell.
Police reported that, at about 08:00 hrs on Tuesday, December 13, at Five Star Backdam, Cleveland and his brother, Trevor Smithet, 39, were on their way out of the hinterland location, in the company of the owner of a mining operation, when they were held at gunpoint by two men.
The gunmen demanded gold and were given a quantity of the raw mineral but, apparently not satisfied with that, shot Cleveland Smithet. Trevor Smithet and the dredge owner began to run and the robbers discharged rounds hitting Trevor Smithet on his right foot and he fell.
The shooters then pursued him and dealt him several blows about his head and body while the dredge owner escaped.
Trevor Smithet was a patient at Port Kaituma Hospital, also in North West District, before he was flown to Georgetown, where, after receiving further medical attention for his injured leg was discharged and is recovering at home.
Last week, Police Commissioner, Henry Greene, during the Guyana Police Force (GPF) Awards Ceremony, disclosed that the bandit alias ‘Tattoo’, who executed many armed robberies in the interior, was killed this year.
But there is a possibility that a group of men, numbering about three, are operating in the Matthews Ridge area, in North West District, too, where they have robbed several miners and killed two recently.