A taxi driver attached to the Top Notch Taxi Service located at Vreed-en-Hoop, West Coast Demerara, is bemoaning his decision to take a hire from two “decent looking” men for South Ruimveldt as instead of receiving the $1500 for the drop he was gun-butted twice and forced to flee his car leaving cash and phone cards.

The man, who did not want to be named, told Stabroek News that his HB 26665 is his only means of survival and he had only recently sprayed it over and put in a new music system complete with a DVD player. Now he is frantically looking for the vehicle which his two would-be customers drove off with in Greenheart Street, South Ruimveldt even as he ran for his life.

The man said that at around 9:30 pm he made a drop-off at a fish shop on New Road, Vreed-en-Hoop not very far from his taxi service’s location when he was approached by the two men who asked him the fare to South Ruimveldt. He said he took a good look at the men and felt he was safe with them. After making a decision he told them the drop would cost $1500. According to the taxi driver, on the way the men carried on their own conversation talking about their place of employment among other topics and he was put at ease. He was told to turn into Greenheart Street and drove right down to the end. He was told to stop at a house where the men told him they had to collect a key. He said the man in the back seat got out and went into the yard while the one in the front seat struck up a conversation with him.

“At the same time base call me and asked me what is me location and I tell him that I go drop off in another two minutes,” the man said. He said he noticed the man in the yard moving a barrel at the front of the yard and he bent and picked up something but he thought nothing of it. The man then returned to the car and spoke to his accomplice just before striking the taxi driver in the face.

Realising that he was in danger the taxi driver said he made an attempt to retrieve his .32 Taurus pistol but the man next to him then struck him in the face with a gun and he started to bleed. He was again hit in the head by the first hijacker who was then told by the other to “shoot he s…t” and it was at this point the taxi driver said he jumped out of the car and ran for his life leaving everything behind. The hijacker who was outside of the car then took over the wheel and they sped off.