A LIEUTENANT in the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) was stabbed to death at a village shop on the Corenyne Coast early on Monday morning, the military has confirmed.
Dead is Mark Bagot 26, of Lot 26 Philippi Village, Corentyne, Berbice.

In a statement the GDF said that Bagot was stabbed at around 01:20 hours on Monday during an alleged altercation with a male individual at a shop at Philippi Village, Corentyne, Berbice. He was initially rushed to the Port Mourant Hospital but was subsequently transferred to the New Amsterdam Hospital, where he succumbed to his injury. Reports indicate that the alleged perpetrator is still to be apprehended.

“The Chief of Staff and the Officers and Ranks of the Guyana Defence Force, express our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the late Lieutenant Mark Bagot,” the GDF statement read.

The police, meanwhile, are currently hunting for a suspect identified as “Son” of Black Bush Polder, for the fatal stabbing of the GDF officer. Bagot reportedly was sharing a drink with a friend at Chunku’s Grocery and Beer Garden, in his hometown, when the incident occurred.

According to the proprietor Daneshwar Gabbar, at around 21:00 hrs Bagot and a friend identified as “Sherman” were hanging out when “Son”, a friend of Sherman, joined them and he was asked to purchase three Guinness. Gabbar added that Bagot left to go by a neighbour for a few minutes, and upon his return ordered another three Guinness which he indicated he will pay for.

“Son say he ain’t want, that he gonna pay for his own drink, so that’s when they started to argue and it got bad cause like ‘Son’ tell he something he didn’t like…After words start exchanging them start fuh scramble, but Sherman went between and told Son to back off, that the man is an army officer and he should have some respect, but them continue to argue and Sherman tried to hold down soldier boy.”

Continuing, he said that Bagot eventually managed to break free from Sherman and approached ‘Son’ who by that time was brandishing a knife, and each time they clashed Sherman pushed them away. “After Sherman keep backing them away, soldier boy walk out the shop and then pick up a stool to come back in the shop, then when he walking in he start to sway, then I see blood and he too then realise he get stab.”

Bagot who lives a few houses away from the beer garden was rushed to the Port Mourant Hospital and was later transferred to New Amsterdam Hospital where he succumbed several hours later to his injuries. The assailant fled the scene immediately after realising that Bagot was injured.

Meanwhile as news of the demise spread many flocked to the Bagot’s home to offer their condolences and confirm whether what they had heard was true, as his death came as a shock to the closely-knit community. Speaking to the media, Mark Bagot Snr, said they were at a wake in a neighbouring village when they heard that his son was involved in an incident and was taken to the hospital. At the hospital he joined the ambulance as his son was being transferred to New Amsterdam, and recalled his son’s inability to speak and that he was slipping in and out of consciousness.

“When we reach New Amsterdam them doctors told me he was bleeding a lot and lost a lot of blood and that his lungs was punctured from the stab…a little while later them came out and said he passed away” the senior Bagot tearfully related. The elder Bagot said his son came home sometime last week, for the holidays, and was due to return to duty later on Monday. He said that his son had made him and his family proud of his achievements over the years.

The young Bagot had enrolled at the University of Guyana but got a scholarship to attend the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA) and graduated with a diploma. He, subsequently, joined the GDF Cadet course which he successfully completed. The young GDF officer leaves to mourn his sister and parents and an entire community whose residents described him as a role model for the youths.

Meanwhile, the Police are continuing the hunt for the suspect who is said to be a frequent visitor of the community.