GENERAL Secretary of the People’s National Congress/Reform, Mr. Oscar Clarke, yesterday remained warded at the High Dependency Unit of the Georgetown Public Hospital (GHPC) yesterday, after being shot by bandits at his Sophia home on Tuesday night.

His condition is now listed as stable and according to one medical source, “He’s a whole lot better and is beginning to move around.”  However, the bullet which was lodged in his hip has not been removed, and there is no final word, as to when, if at all, it will be removed.  Meantime, doctors at the institution are continuing to monitor his condition closely.
Mr. Clarke was shot when four armed bandits entered his home at Plum Park, Sophia, Greater Georgetown shortly before 21:00 hrs on Tuesday and held them at gun point and demanded money.  During the ordeal he was shot in the abdomen and left leg. He was soon after, rushed to the St. Joseph Mercy Hospital and after being stabilized was referred to the GPHC where he was admitted at 22:00 hrs.
X-rays and other investigations done at the GPHC revealed that one of the bullets was lodged in his left hip.
Mrs. Clarke, who was out in her yard at the time the bandits invaded, was forced by them, into the lower flat of the home, gun butted and placed to lie face down.
Meanwhile, two others moved over to another room where her husband was, and attacked him.  He is said to have put up a struggle against the bandits, during which he was shot.
The elderly couple’s 28-year old son was also attacked by the bandits, but their daughter managed to escape, and hid on the upper floor of the building.
As the ordeal continued, Mrs. Clarke, upon hearing the commotion and gunshot in her husband’s room, feared the worst.  She recalled he repeatedly called for her.
She attempted to run over, but was restrained by one of the men who kept guard in the room where she was.  The men continued their rampage and moments later, fled with cash they’d found.
At this point Mrs. Clarke got up and struggled to her husband’s room where she saw him in a kneeling position, in excruciating pain and blood about the bedroom.
Mr. Oscar Clarke telephoned the PNC/R Secretariat at Sophia and informed them about the incident.  They immediately informed Leader of APNU, Colonel (Ret’d) David Granger and hurried over to get the wounded General Secretary, whom they initially rushed to the St. Joseph Mercy Hospital Mercy Hospital.
Col.  Granger and other party officials went down to the hospital where they visited and spoke with their injured General Secretary. Others who turned up at the St. Joseph’s Mercy Hospital included members of the Central Executive and Parliamentarians of the PNC/R.