IRVING John, 46, the survivor in last Monday’s fatal shooting at the Cornbread Bar in D’Urban Street, Georgetown, remains warded at the High Dependency Unit of the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH), and is under doctors’ close medical watch. John, whose condition remains critical, sustained two bullet wounds – to his abdomen and to the left upper rib-cage.
Over the weekend, he was taken for another X-ray of the wounded areas, and may likely have to return to theatre for a second surgery, early this week.
His colleague’s death has impacted badly on John. He was medically advised to avoid stress, has been placed on oxygen, and has been restricted from engaging in detailed conversation. He is currently being fed intravenously.
John said plans have not yet been finalized for Xavier’s burial, and the body remains at the GPHC mortuary.
His colleague, Ben Xavier, 32, who hailed from the Pakaraimas, and more recently Haarlem, West Bank Demerara, succumbed at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) last Tuesday, hours after returning from theatre. He was at the time on life support.
Xavier’s gunshot wounds are said to have shattered his abdomen and wounded his shoulder.
The two men, who worked with a Russian mining company in the Matthews Ridge gold mining area, were ‘having a few drinks’ at the Cornbread Bar when, at around 21:00hrs, they were attacked by two armed men who rode up on CG motor cycles and demanded that they hand over their cash. The miners did not cooperate with that request, and a scuffle ensued as the bandits tried to relieve them of a bag and their wallets.
In the process of that scuffle, the intruders discharged several rounds, wounding the miners who were left lying on the ground bleeding profusely whilst the men escaped with the victims’ bag and wallets which, according to John, contained about $600,000.
The wounded miners were picked up by public-spirited persons who rushed them to the GPHC.
Persons at the scene of the shooting said that, earlier in the evening, the miners had been ‘drinking’ at the Corner Kick Bar, a short distance away on Lime Street, but had left and gone over to the Cornbread Bar, where tragedy struck.