Third pirate identified
The third pirate, who was killed on Friday morning in a shoot-out with police at Cromarty Corentyne, has been identified by the police as 25-year old Hugh Gillis of Dazzell Housing Scheme, Paradise, East Coast Demerara.
However, when Stabroek News visited the home of the deceased, his stepfather said that his stepson’s name was Cranston Gills, and he was unaware of his son being known by any other name. The dead man was reportedly identified by his sister who lives in the Corentyne.
The stepfather, who asked not to be named, said he had last heard from his son on Wednesday evening when he contacted him to find out if he was coming home. Gills had replied that he would be returning home the following morning.
The man said that Gills used to work in the bush but returned home and began doing construction and upholstery work, and that from time to time he would travel about doing odd jobs.
He added that his son was also friends with Cliff Chichester of Mahaicony (another of the pirates who was killed) and who used to reside in the same community. According to the father, his son wanted to join the army like his friend. The man said that as far as he was aware his stepson had never been involved in any criminal activity and he had been surprised when he heard the news of his death. He leaves to mourn his parents, three siblings and a two-year-old daughter.
Members of the community also expressed surprise at the news, with some residents saying that he never seemed to be the criminal type.
Meanwhile, when Stabroek News visited the home of Chichester’s mother she declined to speak. Neigh-bours, however, told this newspaper that Chichester had stopped living with his mother for some time now.
The third bandit had earlier been identified as ex-soldier, James Gibson.
Detective Constable Travis Oslyn Glasgow, attached to the Whim Police Station was killed when the pirates opened fire on the police. They returned fire killing the three heavily-armed pirates.
Veerasammy Narinesammy
The police had responded to a report that the pirates had been spotted pulling in a boat at the Cromarty foreshore, which they had hijacked from a fisherman, Bisham Moteelall, on Thursday.
The body of Hector Boodhoo, 57, a fisherman of Rose Hall Town, who had been missing since around 4 pm on Thursday, was found tied to a tree among some bushes at Port Mourant with cuts to his ear and the back of his head. A piece of multi-coloured cloth was tied to his head.
After Boodhoo did not go home, relatives launched a search for him on Thursday night but came up empty-handed. They continued the search the following morning and came upon the body among the bushes.
The police recovered two AK-47 rifles and one 12-gauge pump-action shotgun and a quantity of ammunition including seven AK-47 magazines, 178 rounds 7.62 x 39 ammunition, fourteen 12-gauge cartridges and 28 rounds .30 ammunition, 17 round .40 ammunition, 6 rounds .45 ammunition, one round 9mm. ammo and an empty 12-gauge casing.
One of the AK-47 rifles has been identified as being one of those stolen from the Guyana Defence Force. Police also recovered a backpack, which contained the men’s belongings including a quantity of marijuana, clothing, toothbrushes, cell phone chargers, two SIM cards, a few tennis rolls in a packet and a bottle of all purpose oil; presumably used to clean the guns.
Bulletproof vest
Glasgow was struck in his chest by a bullet which passed through his bulletproof vest. When the matter of the quality of the vests which are issued to law enforcement was raised with senior officers, this newspaper was told that those which the police in Berbice were using had been tested and had been proven to be of good quality. They said that the vests had no problem but the bullet had penetrated the one Glasgow had on because “the calibre of the weapon was too heavy.”
Drama at foreshore
Veerasammy Narinesammy, 61, of Rose Hall Town, who was the first person whom the gunmen held hostage on Thursday, said that around 7 am he was about “to cross the channel” to go to Port Mourant when he saw a boat.
He did not see anyone but after he passed the boat a pirate emerged from among the bushes and pointed a gun at his head and asked him how far away Skeldon was.
The pirate allowed him to go on his way but told him he would meet his two pirate-partners further up and that he should tell them to join him. Narinesammy never conveyed the message, because some distance away one of the two bandits suddenly pounced on him and placed a gun to his head while ordering him to call another fisherman or he would “blow me head off.”
He complied and by that time the other gunman as well as the first one he had encountered, made their appearance.
At that stage two other fishermen could be seen approaching and the gunmen ordered Narinesammy to call them as well. The pirates took the three men into the bushes.
Around 9 am, he said, Boodhoo was coming into shore and he noticed that the boat the pirates had used had cut his net and so he “come up to them and tell them don’t do it again.”
The vessel was the MV Mark Counter 2 which had been hijacked with its five crew members in the Mahaicony River on Wednesday.
Narinesammy told him to sit down and then he [Boodhoo] realized that the men were bandits. Boodhoo then gave the gunmen two bananas and a mango he had in a bag and they ate them.
After learning that Boodhoo’s four brothers were still in the water repairing their seines, one of the pirates went with Boodhoo escort them into the bush as well. Boodhoo was never seen alive again, while his brothers did not encounter the pirate.
Afterwards one of the pirates who Narinesammy described as the “good one who treat we good” gave them cigarettes, tennis rolls with cheese as well as nuts.
Shortly after the pirate left with Boodhoo, the Coast Guard vessel arrived with four men. The bandits then took Narinesammy and three other men deeper into the bushes.
They all watched while two men came out of the Coast Guard vessel and went into the fishing boat that was equipped with two engines which they worked on before leaving in it. While this was taking place the pirates had their guns trained on the boats.
After the fishing boat left the pirates got angry and bound the fishermen using straps from the guns as well as other pieces of string from their bags.
The pirate who had taken Boodhoo returned at around 4.30 pm and told his accomplices that he had a boat they could use. The boat they were referring to belonged to a fisherman, Bisham Moteelall, 51, who was at that point coming in with his catch.
The “good” pirate was ordered to kill the fishermen but instead he told them to remain in the bush until he and the other two had left and then free themselves.
Around 5 pm one of the fishermen called ‘Fineman’ was able to set himself free and then assisted the others. After that they ran through the thick bushes at top speed “without looking back.”
Narinesammy joked, “This was not for a prize; this was for we life. I couldn’t even believe that an old man like me coulda run so fast to match up with them young boys.”
They were on their way out when they reached Motilall and his family. He said they checked to see if Boodhoo had reached home, and when they discovered he had not, they returned with his family to search for him.
He said each pirate had a cell phone and they made contact with persons and told them to put credit on their phones. Every time they finished making a call they turned off the phone and removed the SIM card.
Post-traumatic
stress
Moteelall’s wife Chandrawattie Sookdeo told this newspaper yesterday that her husband who had not eaten since the incident was still deeply traumatized and was “talking to himself.” She said she he would have to seek medical attention.
She said she and her daughter Shaleza, 20, were at the shore waiting to assist him when they were attacked. She said her husband was stressed out from the ordeal and kept wondering what would have happened to his wife and daughter if the pirates had killed him.
He was about to tie up his boat when the pirates ordered him to empty it and he complied. They had taken him out to the sea in the boat and he had begged for his life before they threw him out as his wife watched in fear.
Chandrawattie said she prayed daily for protection and felt God was with them that day so the pirates spared their lives.
Shaleza said they tried several times to dial 911 but to no avail and they decided to phone a neighbour who contacted the police who arrived at the scene.
Nowhere to run
Moteelall was aware that there was not much gas left in his tank and knew that it would not be enough to take the pirates very far. He was scouring the area with this in mind when he spotted the men pulling the boat in on Friday.
He immediately contacted his family and they in turn informed the police who responded promptly.
According to an eyewitness, who did not want to be named, “Within minutes dem [the police] don deh hey.” He said the pirates were in a clump of bushes “behind them crudah [courida] trees.” The four policemen saw the pirates, who began running away from them. The police were then taken to “wan short cut and then dem circle dem pirates in the bushes.” Cornered, the pirates began to fire shots at the police who responded.
Police had said in a press release that Gibson was on bail on a charge of possession of a firearm without licence before the court in Berbice. He was reportedly found with a firearm that had been stolen from the Police Outpost at Rose Hall, Corentyne, which had been attacked by armed gunmen.
He was also later jointly charged with Oliver Hinckson, again over the possession of a firearm without a licence, and was also on bail in this matter which is before the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court. He was not attending court in these matters and arrest warrants had been issued for him, according to the release.
The Guyana Police Force is one of the main reasons why the youths are becoming criminals.!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nah! they are also criminals in there, the fast monies, drugs, drug lords, mules, and don’t 4 get that the two scum bags were ex-police and GDF servers.
Police cannot make them become criminals, they were criminals before, only waited for the last fang to protrude.
Snakes are in the barrels in the GPF and the GPF, they have to be thrown out from between the ones who wants to follow the rules of the Country and serve.
Sandhurst, could you elaborate on this a little more, I’m curious and would like to understand.
Sandhurst do you have proof of that, i don’t think no one can force me to be a criminal if i don’t want to, so they wanted to be criminals that’s why they become criminals, the intentions were there already, all they were doing is waiting on the right time to start.
you seem to be saturated in rhetorical propaganda–bring some facts to these pages.
I think you have too much time on your hand.
How can you say that the GPF is the reason y the youth becoming criminals. u seem to be an ex soldier and you should know the law. An ex-soldier was killed in this ordeal what do u say about that, he should know the law of right from wrong more tha tthe average person out there. Let me tell you if you dont see it, some people will sweat and go trough trials to put bread on the table for their family -like those fisher men- but some will sit at home and think how to make money from other people sweat like those Criminals. This is because that think their are smart. there is a famous guyanese saying “MOON A RUN TIL DAY KECH AM” that is what happen to them and the other like fine man, linden london, blackie andrew douglas……. so think before you fly u mouth.
Chichester and Gibson were graduates of President’s College, one of the best High School in Guyana. Care to explain how the police cause these graduates from a top school to become criminals?
You are so right the are picking innocent young men and harassing them the gov need to create jobs for the people of Guyana. Why the gov dont let the 911 calls go through to Gt&t operators then equip them with radio to contact the police??
Why utter such balderdash, what is the basis for your ridiculous comment.
For all you know, you might be right. But you need to test that hypothesis to see whether it can be rejected or not.
even though it’s not the time and place, I sincerely hope u r just trying to be antagonistic…
Thank you Sandhurst!!! As a qualified son of Guyana’s soil, I too have been pushed to the point where I just decided to leave or who knows. I’ve made countless reports to the police complaints authority to no avail. I’ve seen police take money in front of me after a known phantom operative had knocked me over with his starlet, which, thank JAH, was subsequently burnt up in Buxton. I’ve had police try to frame me so that they could justify one of their friends’ girlfriends for trying to exploit my PROFESSIONAL SERVICES. I’ve had police tell me I worked hard enough to give them a “tap up” & that I was stingy. I know of police who go around the corner to a spot where unemployed young black males hang out selling ‘weed’ & these “lawenforcement officers” go for their weekly “dues” if these boys don’t pay they are tormented, kicked up etc. It’s way too dirty. So some of them join the force for revenge or some simply join those gangs which are working contrary to the so called law enforcers. I would like to reiterate that I DO NOT CONDONE CRIMINAL ACTIVITY but I do think there is a need to deal with this issue from the root.
Unequal laws for different “classes” of citizens.,
Lack of opportunity or denial of same for professionals such as myself.
Inequality in the development of infrastructure in areas predominantly made up of non-PPP/C supporters.
Bob Marley sang it, “When you gotta get some food your brother becomes your enemy”.
are we sure chi and james attended pc. i am a pc old student, also, cliff and james are known to me personally..i dont think they went to pc….i know cliff father was the principal of pc in my days….anyhow…i am of the opinion that crime is a social problem and we need social solutions….education is only one aspect of our sociology…we need to consider the issues of ETHNIC EQUALITY and POVERTY…. i know for a fact james and cliff were part of a gang of organise crimials, but, were they born so?? i dont think so…..they were made so by GOV’T policies in guyana….my condolences to the family of james and cliff…to all ex-servicemen….be careful… be very careful sanhourst….i know you personally … REMEMBER..THE PLAN IS TO DIVIDE AND RULE AND CONQUER…..
RASTAFARI LIVE
Sandhurst –you need to get a job . Stop hating the police for killing your friends –they were criminals and got what they deserved . It seems like the GDF is a breeding ground for criminals . Kudos to the police for a job well done .
how come many did not turn criminals?
If the GPF is the main reason why people become criminals then I suggest that criminals ought to take it out on them. How do you justify killing hard working fishermen and others by saying the police made me do it? Did the Police give them the guns and ordered the chaos? Humans unlike other beings have the ability to make choices; criminals make the choice to prey on the sweat of hard working people thus suffering the consequences. ……We all face some difficulties in life, most people including fisherman battle it with hard work. The criminal minded take the easy way out and choose to bully others of their hard earned livelihood…. It’s pathetic when people try to blame the wrong doings of criminals on others.
SandHurst, my bro Guyana need LEADERS, with the Obama vision. Then we will see the changes you are asking for.
Bases on this logic the perhaps you may think that the GPF is also responsible for the Global Financial meltdown and the Sept 11 attacks
HMMMM!! Wait a cotton picking minute!! What is this????
“The third bandit had earlier been identified as ex-soldier, James Gibson.”
“He was also later jointly charged with Oliver Hinckson, again over the possession of a firearm without a licence,”…..
BOY!! THIS GUY, GIBSON, WAS DEFENDED A LOT BY BLOGGERS PREVIOUSLY… HARASSMENT????
I guess we have to keep a sharp lookout… Everyone questioned by the GPF will resort to kicking down doors, or piracy!!
GUYSUCO needs people to separate the sweet from the soil… There is no need to resort to the “easy” life!!
“The Guyana Police force is one of the main reason why the youths are becoming criminals” can you say exactly what you really mean?
I thought , adults have a mind of their own.Perhaps you can do some research to see how many people have been incarcerated and beaten by the police BUT STILL DID NOT BECOME CRIMINALS.
Even in those societies where the police department is more advance murders, kidnapping, robberies, rapes etc are still being committed and I urge our police force to do more to apprehend these perpetrators.
Can you say then, who is responsible for these crimes in the developed societies if it’s there police department too?
Wast the Rose Hall outpost issue the one that occurred during the PPP congress? How come someone was caught with a weapon stolen then and still put on bail?? Isnt that ridiculous?
Please learn to read with understanding.
In guyana with the music ,movies glorifing hustlers or gansters and material things even smart kids feel the peer pressure to be bad but the rich will have that opportunity to move on from this phrase and still get respect into adulthood by flaunting their wealth with all the fancy stuff available.The bandits were young people of this life in guyana where if you are poor you get no respect so you take it by the gun or hustling drugs. So rich people and remigrants please stop showing off and teach your kids to be humble,to avoid the rat race that will lead to more poor people trying to get rich by any means necessary.
Lets face rwality and stop blaiming all his stuff on movies and videos. There is no work in the country and the jobs that are available is only for one set of people, the youths dont have no where go in terms of getting a skill after school so of course they would turn to what ever bring in money for them. the Government need to spend more moey on education and also provide more jobe for all people .
Whether your name is Hugh Gillis or Cranston Gills we do not give a fig.
We hope you burn in hell.
It is clear your group was going to bring terror to Guyana this Christmastime and death was just sideline for you.
So where that man that kill so many innocent Guyanese (who is locked up in the U.S) should burn???
That was absolutely selfish
“Goodguy”………from your comments alone i can tell who you are…….thats why from today and onward……….i will have nothing more to say to you or even look at any of your comments………….Do you know what a hero does??? he saves lives…just like “superman”…………..not kill………like a villin.
Couple week ago, it was lifebelts that couldn’t keep people afloat and it was 4-gal pails that did the job. Now it’s bulletproof vests that aren’t bullet proof. Would police have to now resort to the Clint Eastwood artifice in that movie where he wore a thick iron boiler plate under his poncho?
My friend, the police are not wearing genuwine “bullet proof” vests……its a fragmentation vest used for when u are training in Tacama (throwing grenades so the little pricks wouldn’t hurt you)
What happen to rest of the photos, S.N?
Their protectors already starting to bawl/halla/groan/lament for their pulverisation, police brutality, should be captured alive!! crying, don’t have work for one etnic group and so on..
Come on Fishermen wise up, wise up! don’t let this happen to you all again apply the “eye for eye” rule. Ya’ll knows what to look for.
What a shame, what an ordeal these men, woman and her daughter had to go through, these people are very brave and strong, they definately need help to cope with this sudden ordeal, they went through hell and were still capable to sit and recounted to all, what transpired on that day, which is definately not going to be unprinted from their thoughts, I don’t know what more to state about them, other to say that they were more capable than I would have been, if I was placed in that unanticipated situation.
Very much ashamed of Gibson, someone who served in the Armed Forces, coupled with the ex-police, this is what bloggers always mentioned, that criminals are in the Armed Forces and the Police Department, (noticed my word wasn’t foolice today, when they make the right moves, they become police men,) what made these men turn to a life of crime is nothing less than drugs, (drugs were found with their belongings,) and the need for fast monies
These men parents are not all to be blamed, not all parents have knowledge of their grown adult children’s criminal actions, underground criminal activities with others, some are knowledgeable and condones these criminal activities because of gaining some of the profits.
The parents, son and relatives of Police Officer Glasgow, are going through hell, also Mr Boodhoo’s family, he was left undressed, beaten, killed and left tied to a tree, like an animal, what disrespect for human lives.
How are these parents, families and friends going to go through this holiday season?, sure they were all planning to have a wonderful time, which has turned over night into mourning for all.
Police Officer Glasgow’s son would need extra care and attention, he’s of that age where he’s aware that his dad is no more going to be hugging him, no Christmas gifts from dad, for the rest of his life. his dad was killed in the line of duty, therefore, all must be done for his continued education, and daily needs by the Government.
Police Glascow didn’t give his life for his job, (persons needs to resist these statements,) the Government of Guyana failed to properly protect him with the best bullet proof vest, instead, he was wearing the very one, that cannot prevent those types of weapons criminals carry, the Government and Police Departments needs to return back to the table for better protection for all polices.
WELL SAID CHERYL -THESE MEN WANTS EASY QUIC MONEY AND THEY WILL KILL TO GET IT–ITS A ASHAMED THAT SOME BLOGGERS ARE WRAPPED UP IN PREJUDICE AND HATE THAT THEY CANNOT UNDERSTAND THAT BANDIITS WILL KILL ANYONE WHO GETS IN THEIR WAY REGARDLESS OF RACE. AND THEY THE BANDITS WILL WANT SUPPORT FROM THEIR OWN WHEN BEING CORNERED AND SOME FOOLS FALLL FOR THAT.
its the same reason the US prisons, are fill with them.
Sandhurt First your comment that the GPF are making them criminals is very tasteless. What analysis/ or study that concludes with such a poor findings?
First of all “Mr. Bossman living in the United States of America”, my findings were not poor..if you were in Guyana….an African…..and living in the ghetto……..then you would know what i mean..otherwise i guess you dont have a clue on how to think outside the ballgame.
you ever been picked up and chucked up because you looked like a criminal,cause you were dressed better than the police,or you have the girl the police want,oh yes the classic one you gave back chat to a police,i can go on on,but you are an intelligent man i know you get the drift
This is a man with too much on his hand thats all.
Bossman: I agree with you. A while ago, while visiting G/T, I had a discussion with a woman whose son is always in trouble with the law due to his involvement with crime (he was fourteen years old at the time). I inquired of her “why, why does he insist on behaving this way, out of jail today – back in jail by weekend?” (she bails him out each time) – Her reply was “well, they bring out all these name brand clothes and shoes, and the chilren wan fo look nice, wuh yo expect them fo do?” I responded sharply that he need to work! The woman then snapped back “they aint got no wuk for people in Guyana”, I then reminded her that he can go back to school, cut grass, sell news papers, assist his neighbors to fetch water for a fee, etc..
Now he is a career criminal (twenty two years old), and has been a guest at the big house several times, his mother sits outside camp street bearing hot meals.
To Sandhurst: I’m sorry but my argument is with the parents/guardian, teachers, religious leaders and even persons that they interact with on a daily basis, remember, it takes a village.
Today, prayers are no more; not in the home nor at school. The youths need guidance, but then who is going to guide them when in some instances three generations are in the club on the same dance floor, contesting on whom can whine better?
Parents, grandparents and even neighbors, need to insist that the youth seek out sound morals. Everyone have a blessed day!
The name for Police Officer was spelled “Glascow,” and should have been “Glasgow,” sorry about that.
I am darn angry, the Government is responsible for Police Glasgow’s untimely death, the bullet proof vest was cheap, the criminals has powerful weapons, the police are given cheap vest to wear.
If Police Glasgow was wearing the proper vest for these deadly weapons, he would have been alive, so give me a break. Mr Green, get up from behind your desk, off your phone, call the President and Home Affairs, get these officers better protections, not cheap vest.
These killers weren’t going to use these boats to go fishing, they were going to attack another area for Christmas funds, thanks to all who saw them and called in, many more lives would have been taken.
Again, these police stations are not having enough on duty, Mr. Greene is letting his gloves down again, and needs to be removed at once, he’s not serving his purpose there, sitting at that desk, he needs to visit these parents and families and explain why proper vest are not given.
The police seem to be wearing flak jackets or low grade bullet proof vests. Flak jackets offer protection from shrapnel and are grossly inadequate for a rifle round.
Military bullet proof vests have ceramic, steel or titanium plates and can withstand 7.62 rounds. Lower grades vests may protect users from small arms fire but not rifle round.
Whether the police are wearing flak jackets or lower grade vests is irrelevant. It is quite likely that they need to upgrade the vests because the criminals use AR-15s or AK47s as their standard issue. Both weapons would shread through a regular vest.
Of course, when the criminals upgrade to hallow point (armour penetrating) rounds we’ll have yet another issue at hand. Those rounds are very expensive and difficult to acquire so hopefully, that will keep them out of our criminals’ hands.
Types III and IV body armour which is required is generally used by SWAT, special forces, Mosad, US secret service and private contractors. Each vest can range from US $1000-$4000 and therein lies a potential racket. Only Type III and above will stop rifle rounds (Type IV will stop hallow points).
This is quite a chicken and egg dilema but we must be careful about criticizing without having all the facts. Sandhurst may have been in the army but ballistics is a whole other field which he may not have been exposed to.
These problems need to be solved by collective cognative effort and not criticisim.
Go ahead and find excuses for the making of any ciminal… Criminals are not and should not be allowed free range in any society….and all the lousy excuses for their making are just that…