Two gun-toting bandits escaped with $6M cash intended for old age and National Insurance Scheme pensioners from the Rose Hall Post Office on the Corentyne at around 2:30 pm yesterday.
Reports are that the money had just been collected and was supposed to be paid to the pensioners on Monday. The bandits who were engaged in a scuffle with the Post Mistress (PM) fired two shots in the air while escaping.
They also ordered a security guard from the nearby Mayor & Town Council, to lie on the road.
The guard was on his way to investigate after hearing the gunshots and screams coming from the post office when the bandits asked him “where you going…”
Reports are that one of the bandits entered the post office and pretended to be interested in the purchase of stamps. As the PM, Chandrawattie Sookdeo turned to get the stamps she heard the sound of the “bolt” on the door opening.
She turned around and saw the bandit entering and he ordered her not to make any noise. He then demanded that she hand over the money but she refused and the two scuffled.
A junior staff who saw what was happening attempted to go to her assistance when the other bandit appeared and pointed a gun at him.
At that stage the first bandit managed to overpower the PM and grabbed a bag containing the cash and escaped. Police sources said that the bandits escaped north; in the direction of the sea, and then east into a street.
The police were contacted and they conducted investigations but they were unable to make any arrests. Up to press time last night the lawmen were still scouring the area for the bandits.
