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Armed bandit kills Guyanese man in Barbados bar

– grabs cash, wounds Guyanese proprietress

A Guyanese man was shot and killed at a restaurant and bar in Barbados on Saturday night and a woman injured following an attack by a lone gunman who carted off an undisclosed amount of cash.

Dead is Christopher Anthony Griffith of Redman Village, St Thomas. Silochani Samuels, also a Guyanese and of Redman Village, St Thomas, was shot in the arm and is currently in a serious but stable condition in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

A police release provided to this newspaper by Nation News in Barbados said a man with his face covered and armed with a firearm entered the Hippo Bar and Caribbean Restaurant on Lower Bay Street, St Michael some time around 7 pm on Saturday and robbed the cashier of an undisclosed sum of money.

”During the robbery the assailant also discharged a number of shots wounding the proprietress, Guyanese national, Silochani Samuels who resides at Redman Village, St Thomas, in the area of her right arm, and Christopher Anthony Griffith, another Guyanese national who also resided at Redman Village, St Thomas in his head,” the release said.

Griffith was later pronounced dead at the scene while Samuels was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital where she is hospitalized, the release said, adding that Griffith’s death was being treated as “unnatural”. The bar has since been closed.

Police investigations are continuing.

Information reaching the Stabroek News is that the two have been residing and working in Barbados for a number of years.

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36 Responses to “Armed bandit kills Guyanese man in Barbados bar”

Berkeley Van Bowen
on July 22nd, 2008 8:58 am

I am quite sure the so-called armed bandit is a Guyanese national who took his bad habit to the peaceful tourist island paradise. it is no wonder these islands do not want Guyanese in their country.

[Reply to this]
Chemist
In reply to the above comment on July 22nd, 2008 11:13 am:
Berkley Van Bowen if you are a Guyanese which I assume you are, if is unfortunate for you to think of your fellow people that way by speculation. For your information Guyanese still command respect in Barbados, a lot of us do have good jobs for which we are suitably qualified and hold postions of LEADERSHIP in many institutions. NO doubt they are a few rotten apples among us, but I would not expect negative comments like yours to be coming from a GUYANESE.

[Reply to this]
Sanderson Rowe
In reply to the above comment on July 22nd, 2008 12:30 pm:
A Guyanese I am not, but I endorsed every word you said. Guyanese have been living in Barbados for umpteem years and , like Chemist said have commanded the respect of all here. There was a time when sugar was king in Barbados , that almost every one of the sugar factories had a Guyanese Panboiler,who became part of the community.
When the same statement that Berkley made is made by a Bajan following similar incidents, other Bajans are quick to point out that Bajan Criminals learn fast.
Stop putting Guyanese down.

Berkeley Van Bowen
In reply to the above comment on July 22nd, 2008 12:48 pm:
I have a number of friends in Barbados who moved there from Guyana. Therefore, I speak from a position of knowledge. It is widely known that a lot of these migrants create havoc upon their arrival and are the scorn of the island.

La vie est bonne!
In reply to the above comment on July 22nd, 2008 1:05 pm:
Very shameful that VanBowen would make such a comment.
Criminals are not limited to one nationality even in Barbados.
It’s only commonsense and not wild speculation to tell you this.
Before tarring your fellow people with the crime brush take a look
at the crimes being committed in your adopted land.

diehardguyanese
In reply to the above comment on July 22nd, 2008 12:49 pm:
Berkeley Van Bowen.
what planet are you living on? One can sense how ignorant you are about what’s going on around the world for you to write an article like that. You name one country in this world that is free on criminals, unless you are going to tell me The Vatican City. Why can’t the gunman be from some other country other than Guyana? Why can’t he be a Bajan knowing that Guyanese are always the scapegoats of every single crime committed on this planet. You need a reality check, wake up and smell the coffee.

[Reply to this]
optimistic pessimist
In reply to the above comment on July 22nd, 2008 12:57 pm:
This myopic and callously skewered comments presented by Chemist here encapsulates the scant regard and alarming disdain that many evidently non-patriotic Guyanese citizens have for the land of their birth and it’s people.

Bannas, through no fault of our own nor connivance on our part but entirely as a result of providence we were born in Guyana, land of many waters. If you are Guyanese then this is your inescapable reality. Our esteemed motto is “One People One Nation One destiny”

Being privileged to being domiciled in countries other than Guyana, I have come to notice and this with an increasing feeling/sense of disquiet how disloyal many Guyanese nationals are. I have often heard Guyanese say of each other, “Who, Guyanese? Me doan hang out wid dem people dat!”

In a couple of states in the US, Afro Guyanese and Indian Guyanese don’t even associate with each other. Georgia for example, has a very active Guyanese Association (GAOG). Were a non-Guyanese to visit any of the GAOG meetings, they would conclude that Guyana is a 100% black country if they were to take the attendance at these meetings as an indicator. The Indians are totally apart and separate from this supposedly representative Guyanese institution despite overtures from the GAOG to have them included. It is generally believed that the Guyanese Indians have their own association and would only interact with the GAOG if the Jagdeo visits or at the annual fun day event.

I am always pained at how we seem so willing to see the worse in other fellow Guyanese… as if nothing good can come out of Guyana. When you compare Guyanese pride with two Caribbean giants like Jamaica and Trinidad, we pale into dismal insignificance.

[Reply to this]
optimistic pessimist
In reply to the above comment on July 22nd, 2008 12:59 pm:
Correction! The offending comments were made by Berkeley Van Bowen and not Chemist.

billp
In reply to the above comment on July 22nd, 2008 1:55 pm:
Next you will blame all the recent shooting in Toronto on my fellow Guyanese!!! I am vey proud of my Guyanese heritage, my people and our country.You obviously are from another planet where there are no criminals- But Guyanaese!!!

[Reply to this]
mercigar
In reply to the above comment on July 22nd, 2008 2:43 pm:
Here a bandit, there a bandit, everywhere a bandit…not necessarily a GUYANESE though. We have had people from nany countries involved in criminal enterprise here- Trinidadians, Columbians, Venezuelians, Jamaicans, Canadians,, Germans, just name the country. Well, that doesnt mean I condone this vice.

[Reply to this]
Saudia
In reply to the above comment on July 22nd, 2008 3:32 pm:
What on earth? Van Bowen you can’t be serious! Let’s start with my opinion on your comment: I think it’s irresponsible to ‘paint a broad brush’ on anything, person, topic, etc., i.e., UNLIKE YOU, ‘ONE’ could paint a broad brush on say bloggers, stating something to the effect that ALL bloggers are x, y, z…. get the picture? That ‘my friend’ will include YOU in that analysis concluding that NOT ALL BLOGGERS are this way or that. Out of curiousity, I wonder how you’re treated when you arrive in B’Dos? Evidently you’re disgusted by negative incidents no doubt by ‘OUR’ fellow Guyanese & that is your right to criticize, however, describing ALL of US with such negativity whether influenced by YOUR FEW Bajan associates or not is no reason to ‘diagnose’ ALL OF US with one brush… I think some Bajans are backward, but I daresay I most certainly WON’T classify all Bajans in that light.

[Reply to this]
mackydog
In reply to the above comment on July 22nd, 2008 6:56 pm:
Berkley Van Bowen,
You fly a Canadian flag, I pray to God you better be a Canadian by birth, creed, race, culture, everything for if you are not, i would make myself vested with the authority to condemn and cancel your Guyanese (citizenship) heritage and/or anything Guyanese about you. You are so crasse. As we would say, “Your damn eyes pass people”. Why does it have to be a Guyanese comitting this robbery? I lived in Trinidad and most all the crime there was crime done by Trinidadians, Guyanese demanded respect via their ability and knowledge to work. I lived and worked in Barbados and most crimes there was done by Bajans. There again Guyanese demanded respect via their knowledge and ability to work. I worked in St.Lucia, Antigua, and the Cayman Islands and same thing with Guyanese again including myself. I visited every single country in the Caribbean except Cuba (and there too Guyanese are exceptional) and Haiti, and everywhere I went Guyanese conduct themselves lawfully and productively…even in Canada where most of my alma mates are. Most of the big organisations requiring mechanical and/or electrical expertise is foremanned or supervised or managed by Guyanese engineers (and the young ones are aspiring leaders too).
You are totally out-of-place to say what you said.

[Reply to this]
Mr Anaconda
In reply to the above comment on July 23rd, 2008 3:27 am:
Berkeley Van Bowen,
I always read people’s comments and never registered as a user. Now i am, because of your loud mouth. You should never go back to Guyana or if you are Guyanese you should be ashamed of yourself. It’s people like you who try to fit in your adopted land and have to say all this nonsense to make new friends. So what if it’s a Guyanese let the cops do their jobs. I am pretty sure you are not a fortune teller so stick to your day job. I have people from Barbados who work with me and they have lots of respect for the Guyanese population. That’s all i have to say to you. Find some other way to make new friends in your adopted land ok!

[Reply to this]
Dinstinct
on July 22nd, 2008 9:48 am

Its ashame and sad! We all run here, there and everywhere just have a better tommorrow and this happen . When on earth would we ever have a government
that would make people stay and return to our beautiful GUYANA ? Without
corruption and crime GUYANA IS A BLESSED PARADISE !!

[Reply to this]
MS_msprobe
on July 22nd, 2008 12:15 pm

Thats how people think. Quite small minded. There are bandits all over this planet. Not necessarly it had to be a Guyanese. There are criminals in Bdos who don’t like to work for a normal living. It is just sad!

[Reply to this]
Uncle
on July 22nd, 2008 12:20 pm

A lot of Bajans are complaining that Guyanese are going to Barbados and have been engaging in shady activities. On the other hand, there are a lot of respectable Guyanese who go to Barbados and work very hard to make a living, but like the saying goes, ‘one bad apple spoils the bunch’.

I was reading a blog a few days ago and a number of Bajans expressed discontent with the way Guyanese are going to Barbados and taking the jobs away from them. Some Bajans say that Guyanese there are working hard and basically doing the jobs that most people don’t want to do. While others say that the Guyanese are doing the jobs at a much lower cost and forcing them out.

It’s such a shame that Guyana has so much, yet the govt. can’t/won’t provide for the people.

[Reply to this]
Sanderson Rowe
In reply to the above comment on July 22nd, 2008 4:03 pm:
It is the Guyanese who are holding Agriculture in Barbados together. Incidentally some years ago while a crew of Guyanese workers who lived on a farm were out in the fields toiling, thier quarters were broken into and much of their posessions stolen. No prize for guessing who were the culprits.

[Reply to this]
Ivorine
on July 22nd, 2008 12:29 pm

Berkeley van Bowen I know you are a Guyanese and there is no way you should be saying such a terrible thing about your fellow citizens. Also were you there when the incident happened so you know who was under the mask? (JUDGE NOT SO YOU BE NOT JUDGED)There are other big time criminals in Barbados, not just Guyanese.

[Reply to this]
Berkeley Van Bowen
In reply to the above comment on July 22nd, 2008 6:30 pm:
Can we honest?… please.

Listen! The establishment where the attack occurred is Guyanese. The patrons were Guyanese. It is therefore reasonable to deduce that the criminal was familiar with the building, there go either a Guyanese or has close association with this group.

As they say… DUH

[Reply to this]
mackydog
In reply to the above comment on July 22nd, 2008 10:39 pm:
I think the best you can do Mr. Canadian is apologise to us Guyanese for the eye-pass you showed us. Maybe you should refrain from commenting on the site…it’s strictly for locals… (and some other invited guest - you not being one)

Joe Coxall
In reply to the above comment on July 23rd, 2008 5:38 pm:
Berkeley,
Boy you sure touched a raw nerve, these bloggers are mad and tough, thank god that blogging allows us to rattle a few cages from time to time without getting socked in the eye.

In this case I would have no alternative but to follow the crowd, lest I get a whipping also, but I do support your right to free speech.

Joe.
ankoko
on July 22nd, 2008 1:51 pm

Whether Guyanese, Bajan or whomever - it was a criminal act. That person who did this is now a murderer. I hope they will soon be brought to justice.
There are always going to be arguments for both sides of the coin and difference of opinions as is well chronicled here in these blogs which I know we all enjoy. Someday we must all arrange to meet!!!!
My condolences to the Griffith family.

[Reply to this]
van_71
on July 22nd, 2008 3:27 pm

It`s really sad to learn about this incident ,Christopher was from the Essequibo Coast and has been a very cool person.I just can`t imagine why someone did this . Reading from another newspaper circulating ,there are conflicting information surrounding his death.I hope the” real” truth will come to light.

[Reply to this]
gt_don_
on July 22nd, 2008 4:38 pm

Well, well, why the big noise I really don’t know, this guy (Berkley van Bowen) is nothing short of nonsensical …where on earth somebody will come up with a statement like that, beats the human mind…., then again I guess it`s just “TYPICAL” of some of us.

Having lived and work in Barbados for a number of years I can surely remember the young bajan men sitting on the “block” and drinking white rum all day and abusing the weed, working is what Guyanese do (all over the world) the most of us that is, but in saying that I’m not gona rush to say it was a bajan either, fact of the matter is there`s so many Caribbean nationals living in Barbados (NOT JUST GUYANESE)..
It`s a sad day when Guyanese nationals can sit and only condemn their own, when living in another country and sometimes can’t even look @ other people too long or hard, because they are ready to jump on you, I think sometimes if the bloggers would not reply to some like van bowen then they won’t blog anymore.

[Reply to this]
mackydog
In reply to the above comment on July 22nd, 2008 7:19 pm:
I agree, the best thing to do is isolate him and his ignorant comments. I feel sorry for contributing to his/her vie for attention, nevertheless, he is included in the coverage his broad bush has painted.

[Reply to this]
Charriot
In reply to the above comment on July 22nd, 2008 10:39 pm:
We have many Van Bowen’s around the world that keep Guyana and Guyanese from progressing with their silly comments.

[Reply to this]
Berkeley Van Bowen
In reply to the above comment on July 24th, 2008 8:26 am:
Oh yes, I’m the one who’s painting Guyanese in a negative light… perhaps thats why the Bajans created the infamous “Guyanese bench” at their airport.
freetorun
on July 22nd, 2008 6:03 pm

WHY NO ONE BLAME THE BARBADIAN GOVT> for not protecting their citizens or the immigrants that are slaving for them.

REF> to UNCLE why the govt has to hand feed every citizens, if they can go and work elsewhere, they can do the same home.

[Reply to this]
Davo
on July 22nd, 2008 6:35 pm

I blogged before and had some choiced words for “Van Bowen” which the moderator decided were not appropriate, maybe rightly so.
But as you may have realized, from the preceding comments, we don’t take kindly to your inferences.
As a part of the Diaspora, we leave Guyana to improve ourselves, family, and are not involved in these kinds of behavior.
Every Guyanese I have met throughout the Caribbean, UK and in the USA are working, sometimes under perilous conditions, to contribute to the betterment of their family. Note; the level of remittances to our Country.
I hope your are not Guyanese, if you are, then you remind me vividly of (the bible story) of Esau.

[Reply to this]
Berkeley Van Bowen
In reply to the above comment on July 22nd, 2008 11:25 pm:
Sir, your vicious intolerance to opposing views and abhorrence to free speech reminds me of the reason why I and many others left Guyana.

Also, comparing me to the Biblical Esau in an attempt to suggest that that gave up my birth right is flawed. Correct interpretation of the scripture would show that it was Jacob who schemed and manipulated his brother. Jealous of his father’s [Isaac] love for the simplistic Esau, he and his mother plotted to steal the birthright from his brother over a meal. Now I put it to you…would a loving brother exact such a price from a hungry sibling?

[Reply to this]
Davo
In reply to the above comment on July 23rd, 2008 9:54 am:
Thanks for your interpretation, its plausible and original.
But I have achieved my objective of getting you off your “high horse” and at least for a few minutes reminded you of your origin.
Also you now know how it feels when someone (in this case a whole nation) is blamed, without any facts.
My deepest sympathy to the family of Christopher, and I hope Silochani recovers fully from her injuries. And that bandit (wherever he is from) is caught, and given the most severe punishment.
As for my intolerance to free speech, your clairvoyance is getting weak, since I am certain you guessed wrong this time.
Charriot
on July 22nd, 2008 10:35 pm

Bajans should be kissing Guyanese feet where ever they are, because if not for Guyana the island would not exist today. It’s Guyanese sand and soil that keeps them afloat, and our food maintains tourism.

[Reply to this]
Arcadia Terry
on July 22nd, 2008 10:35 pm

So sad to read about this incident, Can someone tell me when the carribbean will be united our fore parents were captured put on ships that brought them to all these shores Fathers sons brothers left on different islands the results is what we inherit today . DIVISON of people who are and should be one.

[Reply to this]
eureka
on July 22nd, 2008 10:43 pm

I am a born and bred Barbadian and first let me say my condolences to the Guyanese family who were bereaved by this ruthless killing. Regardless of who did this crime, I personally want to see this bandit apprehended and made to feel the full weight of the law.

The truth of the matter with regard to the increase in crime in Barbados stemmed from the decision a few years ago by the United States to repatriate Caribbean nationals to their country of origin after serving sentences for crimes committed over there. I think it is fair to say that every Caribbean country has suffered as a result of this selfish action on the part of our friends up north.

It can be argued that prior to leaving the Caribbean, these individuals may not have been criminally inclined or at the very least obssessed with crime but being brought into contact with some of the most ruthless and hardened criminals in the big A, found themselves sucked into the net.

Some people will say that you can’t change your character overnight, and I would hasten to agree but we have to bear in mind that several of these persons emigrated from the Caribbean at tender ages and with the absence of a disciplined family structure would have easily fallen prey to the american jackals.

Whoever is responsible for this heinous crime should be given no comfort or succour whatsoever.

[Reply to this]
Georgina
on July 23rd, 2008 11:41 am

Come on Van Bowen, I honestly believe you didnt think before you typed.

Many history books have shown that the Guyanese have contributed a great deal to Barbados (and vice versa) since - it could be earlier - the19th Century. Van Bowen, ignorance breeds ignorance and it;s about time we embrace everyone regardless of where they come from. It’s becoming tiresome and rather boring.

Anyway,,,,moving on.

I totally agree with Eureka. It’s quite apparent that the Caricom nation is not equipped for these criminals who are being sent back to their places of birth. Until the governments stop accepting pocket money from the UK and US in exchange for these deportees, we can expect to read/witness a few more killings, such as Mr Griffiths.

The murder could’ve been comitted by a Chinese, German, Nigerian etc and the main question should be on everybody’s lips is when will these vagabonds be caught and reprimanded before they do anymore damage? Time to step up the pace

[Reply to this]
bbuckman
on July 27th, 2008 1:54 pm

Sanderson Rowe we dont put people down.we just say what they do!

[Reply to this]