(A look at some of the stories that made the news ‘back-in-the-day’ with CLIFFORD STANLEY)
Caught in the act!
(Daily Chronicle: March 23, 1977)
FOR several weeks, a Bel Air housewife had been losing her bilimbi from a tree in front of her house; and she only had a suspicion who the culprit or culprits may be.
Yesterday morning, she caught him red-handed. It turned out to be a worker in the Cleansing Department of the City Council. And it was a very embarrassed adult who had to return the fruits he had stolen when he was confronted by the angry woman.
Telling her story to the Chronicle, she said: “For four months I have been losing the souries . I suspected it was some person or persons from the ‘Cleansing’ truck. I never caught them in the act, but it was curious that every time the truck was in the area, the fruits were missing.
“For the last four weeks (every Thursday), whenever the truck came in the area, I discovered that my souries were missing. This morning when I saw the truck in the area, I decided to play detective. I saw the truck stop in front of my yard.
“There were about six persons on the truck, but one of them came out and picked a handful. What got me more angry was that the fruits were small, and it is sheer waste to pick them like that.
“I confronted the thief and demanded my souries back, and he was certainly a very surprised man.”
(2)
Six more die at ‘Dutchman Turn’
(Daily Chronicle: March 29, 1977)
THE infamous ‘Dutchman Turn’ at Letter T, Mahaicony , East Coast Demerara, so named after five Suriname nationals who died there after a two-car smashup in 1969, on Sunday last claimed the lives of six persons, while 26 were hospitalized.
Three policemen were among the dead.
Police Chief, Henry Fraser, and Traffic Chief, Philbert Clement expressed shock at the disaster, which depleted the ranks of the Force by three members, and also snuffed out three other lives.
The accident occurred when a van rammed into the back of a truck full of excursionists while both vehicles were approaching Dutchman’s Turn, travelling west.
At the time, both vehicles were filled with a total of about twenty-five merrymakers who had attended an excursion at Golden Fleece, West Coast Berbice.
One of the vehicles belonged to the Police Force, and the other to the Ministry of Housing.
Police reports stated that the truck was approaching ‘Letter T’ turn when the van ran into it from behind, causing it to overturn on the western parapet. The van ended up on the opposite parapet.
Three of the passengers, including one Constable, died on the spot. Constable 9790 Clyde Walcott and Shirley Walcott (believed to be his wife) were pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Hospital.
Constable 9013 Blackman died in the Police Ward of the Hospital yesterday morning.
The other victims were Constable 9063 Kendall, Robert Walcott (a civilian), relative of Constable Walcott, and an unidentified male.
Those admitted to hospital were: Patrick Collins,19, of Friendship; Odho Persaud, 12, of Annandale; Joy Thomas of Annandale; Carl Nieuenkirk, Cove and John; Bonita Adams, Bernard Newman, Joyce Glasgow, Michael Glasgow, Mahalia Glasgow (58), Mathilda Blackman, 22, and Michael Barrow, all of Plaisance; Krishna Umroo, Annandale; Eula Nieuenkirk, 40, Henry Woolford and Hubert Williamson of Haslington; Imma Carter, 40, and Constable Alves, 30, of Friendship; Lindsley Peters, 24, of Golden Grove; and Bridgelall Ramnarine of Annandale.
Those from Georgetown were: Claudette Ramsay, West Ruimveldt; Michael Barrow, Middleton Street; Rudolph Lewis, Laing Avenue; Errol Cush, Middleton Street; Bhointon Glasgow, William Street, Campbelville; Peggy Clarke and Patricia Johnson of Princess Street, Lodge; and Mario Griffith of D’Urban Street, Lodge.
(Clifford Stanley can be reached to discuss any of the foregoing articles at cliffantony@gmail.com or cell phone # 657 2043)
