Brush cutter triggers pistol found near school off Soesdyke Public Road

A .32 pistol was found in some bushes on the shoulder of the road in front of a private school just off the Soesdyke Public Road and the police are investigating the matter.

According to reports, handyman Godfrey Henry had his right index finger severed when the blade of his brush cutter came into contact with the weapon, and he attempted to pick it up.

Yesterday, Phillip Paul, the man’s workmate, told this newspaper that they were hired by the director of the Achievers’ Academy, a private school at Soesdyke, to clear the overgrowth of bushes at the front of the school.
The school is said to be owned by Carol-Ann Munroe, who along with her husband Major Bruce Munroe and former Army Reserve Officer Leonard Wharton were freed of a treason charge in 2012.
However, this newspaper has confirmed that the weapon was found on the shoulder of the road and not on the school premises.
The Guyana Chronicle was informed that just recently, the police and army had a joint operation in the area, and several vehicles passing there were subject to the stop and search exercise.
It has been suggested by persons that due to the joint operation, someone may have tossed the weapon out of a vehicle.
In explaining how his workmate was injured, Paul told the Chronicle that when the blade of the brush cutter came into contact with the firearm, it slashed the trigger guard, and as Henry touched the gun, he triggered the weapon and a round was discharged, severing his right index finger.
There was no one at the school when the weapon was found, since this happened after 17:00 hours on Wednesday. The directors of the school and the teachers were only made aware of the incident yesterday morning when they were informed by the handyman.
Henry, with his injured finger, was first taken to the police, where he and Paul reported the matter before seeking medical attention at a community health facility. The injured man was subsequently taken to the Diamond Regional Hospital for treatment and later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital and he was later discharged after receiving medical attention.
The police are said to be investigating the matter and will be tracing the weapon to see if it had been used in any crime.

(By Leroy Smith)