The proprietor of an internet café and Western Union outlet at Duncan Street, Campbellville was yesterday morning shot once to his left foot when armed bandits invaded his business and carted off an undisclosed amount of cash.
According to reports, the men, one of whom was armed, had entered the outlet pretending to be customers.
The police said in a press release that around 10.20 am yesterday, two men, one of whom was armed with a handgun, entered an internet café and Western Union outlet at Duncan Street, Georgetown, and held up the proprietor Gordon Nestor, 52, and staff member Fernandes Ally, 18, of East Ruimveldt, Georgetown. The men, the release added, took away over $400,000 in cash and escaped in a waiting motor car. Nestor was shot to his left foot.
When Stabroek News visited the scene yesterday the Western Union outlet was closed.
Speaking to this newspaper yesterday afternoon Nestor recalled that between 10.15 and 10.30 am yesterday he heard what appeared to be a commotion outside the Western Union outlet, where a sales representative was present. He said he rushed to see what was transpiring and saw two men in the building, one was standing at the entrance, while the other was at the counter. From all indications, he said, the men appeared to be customers, since they were dressed in normal clothes and were not masked.
However, he said, one of the men pointed a gun at him and demanded money, at which time the sales representative ducked and hid under the counter.
“They demand me to lie on the floor and ask where the money deh but I told them is Saturday and we ain’t got no money today, but they keep asking for the safe and so,” said Nestor.
The man, who is listed on social media as a Senior Geologist at the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, added that after he continuously told the men he had no money, the one with the gun fired a shot which hit him to his left foot and they started to the search the entire place. He said they cleared out everything they found including cash.
After about two to three minutes, he said, they made good their escape and were picked up at a certain point by a motorcar.
Nestor said he is thankful that nothing worse happened to him and also grateful that his worker was not injured while noting that the robbery was a first experience for him.
He was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was treated and sent away.
