There have been 23 reported murders during the first 59 days this year with the majority occurring in the Police ‘A’ Division (Conversation Tree to Dora).
During the same period last year there was one more recorded case of murder. The year 2011 started off with shootings and stabbings; there were five cases of each during January. By January 31, there were also five fatal beatings; one murder due to chopping; and one case with unclear circumstances.
In February, there was a decrease by more than 50 per cent in the number of murders recorded. February recorded the lowest number of murders in any month since January 2010. It tallied a low of six murders, which is one less than the number recorded in February 2010.
However, on Saturday police discovered the remains of two humans at 72 Miles, Issano. It is yet to be confirmed whether these persons were murdered. Crime Chief Seelall Persaud told Stabroek News on Tuesday that initial investigations suggested the remains were of two miners who had gone to the interior location and are yet to be located.
Issano falls under the Police E&F Division. In addition to these two suspicious deaths in the E&F Division there have been four cases of reported murder in that division for the year.
The most recent was the murder of miner Andy Whyte, 40, of Port Kaituma. His decomposing remains were discovered at Massawini, North West District and reports have alleged that he was robbed. A post-mortem examination has since confirmed that Whyte was stabbed to death.
Next in line with a higher tally are ‘C’ Division (East Coast Demerara) and ‘D’ Division (West Demerara and East Bank Essequibo). Both divisions recorded 5 cases of murder up to the end of February.
‘A’ Division has recorded eight murders and six of these incidents occurred in Georgetown.
Police ‘B’ Division (Berbice) has recorded one murder so far this year. This division recorded the first murder in 2011. Seon Craig, 28, of Lot 57 Stanleytown, New Amsterdam, Berbice was fatally shot on January 1, after he walked in on a robbery at a service station in Stanleytown, New Amsterdam. There have been no reported murders in police G Division (Essequibo Coast).
Four of the six murder victims in February were females and three died during instances of domestic violence while the fourth, Rhampattie Ramsundar, was found dead in her Enmore, East Coast Demerara home. Natalie Loncke, Ramdharrie Rajpattie and Sonobia James were murdered following disputes with lovers or spouses. Two females were murdered in January and both were cases of domestic violence. On January 3, Salima Mohammed was stabbed to death by her reputed husband Amrit Mohanram. In late January Shaunell Warrick succumbed to wounds allegedly sustained during a severe beating at the hands of her on-and-off partner Rudolph London.
The majority of the murders during January were due to disputes between the deceased and the perpetrators. Eight men were killed following arguments.
There were four cases where victims were murdered during a robbery and three cases where the circumstances were unknown.
In February, in addition to the three domestic violence cases, there were two murders during robberies and the North Ruimveldt shooting of 25-year-old dog breeder Sherwin Fiedtkou in which the circumstances are still not clear.
A man or woman was murdered every 1.8 days during the first 31 days of this year. However, in February there was a murder every 4.7 days.
Overall for the first 59 days of 2011, there has been a murder every 2.6 days (62.4 hours).
