GUYANA is currently under a countrywide Coronavirus (COVID-19) curfew from 18:00 hours to 06:00 hours, but, since the April 3, 2020, implementation, there have been seven gruesome murders committed between those hours.

On April 3, to combat COVID-19, the Government handed down emergency measures which brought a 12-hour curfew. There were exemptions made for essential service workers.

Bars, nightspots and shops are expected to be closed between those hours. Such action is expected to aid in physical distancing measures and restrictions on the movement of people.

Since the curfew there have been a number of murders which left seven persons dead.

On April 6, 2020, the lifeless body of 68-year-old pensioner and cattle farmer, Sohan Ramdial, known as ‘Nancy’, was found in a shallow grave behind the Canal No. 2 Belle West Pasture, West Bank Demerara, with several stab wounds to the chest area.

The body of Ramdial of Canal No. 2, Claybrick Road, was discovered at around 11:00hrs on the day in question and he was last seen alive by relatives on April 5, 2020.

On April 12, Albert Raghu, called ‘Soldier’, was attacked by his sister-in-law’s husband, during a family dispute.
Raghu, a 40-year-old labourer, lived with his wife at Lot 218 Hope West, Enmore, East Coast Demerara. He died at a city hospital about 05:30 hours, on Monday, April 13, 2020

According to the police, on Sunday, April 12, 2020, about 23:30 hours, the suspect was reportedly imbibing and playing loud music, thus disturbing Raghu’s wife, who was, at the time, alone at home.

Raghu’s wife’s 29-year-old sister and her 40-year-old husband lived in the upper flat of the house.

Shortly after, Raghu arrived home and his wife brought the situation to his attention, and he reportedly armed himself with a cutlass and confronted the suspect who was in the yard.

The suspect was, allegedly, armed with two knives.
An argument ensued, during which Raghu’s sister-in-law’s husband allegedly stabbed him twice in the left side chest and left shoulder.

On April 13, 43 year-old Glenroy Chapman, called ‘G’, was gundown in front of his Half Mile Wismar Linden home.
According to information reaching this newspaper, Chapman was shot, execution-style, at his home by one masked unidentifiable male.

At the time, Chapman was sitting with a friend on a makeshift bench, under a shed in the front of his yard when the lone suspect dressed in a white t-shirt, approached them from the eastern direction and discharged several rounds in the direction of Chapman. Fortunately, the friend was able to flee unarmed.

Chapman was discovered with multiple gunshot wounds to the upper part of his body.

On April 15, Barnwell ‘Barnie’ Thomas was shot and killed by a businessman at Tamakay, Farback Backdam, Middle Mazaruni River.

According to reports, at around 21:00 hours, Thomas was at the suspect’s shop consuming alcohol.

Shortly, a loud explosion was heard and Thomas walked out of the shop and told persons that the shopowner had shot him.

He collapsed minutes later and died.

On April 16, 21-year-old old Vanessa Benjamin, a mother of two, tragically lost her life after she was brutally stabbed by the father of her children.
At approximately 17:30 hours on April 16, Benjamin, who resided with her mother at Ithaca, was at home, when the suspect approached her and an argument ensued, during which she was stabbed multiple times about the body.

On April 22, 40-year-old fisherman, Zahir Ali, of lot 78 Mosquito Hall, Unity, Mahaica, East Coast Demerara, was allegedly killed by his two neighbours.

The incident occurred around 19:20 hours. The man was allegedly beaten by two males, one of whom has since been detained while the other is being sought.

Enquiries disclosed that Ali and the suspects are neighbours but were not on speaking terms.

The suspects reportedly stoned the Ali’s house on Wednesday night and he confronted them on the road where a heated argument ensued.

The two suspects allegedly pulled him into their yard and beat him.

Shortly after, Ali was seen fleeing the premises drenched in blood and was taken to the Mahaicony Cottage Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

On April 24, A Brazilian gold miner and suspected bandit were killed during an alleged robbery at a mining camp at Marudi Mining area, South Rupununi.

The incident occurred around 18:30 hours. The Brazilian national was identified as Zezao.

It is reported that armed bandits stormed Zezao camp with the intent to rob him. The miner opened fire at his attackers, who also returned fire.

One of the alleged bandits was shot dead by the Zezao, who was also shot and killed.