- escape with millions and four shotguns

A gang of heavily-armed bandits shot dead two guards from the MMC security services and wounded two others in a brutal robbery near the Sheribana Bridge around midday yesterday.

Security guards, Warren Hutson, 25, of Middlewalk, Buxton and Rodwell Clarke of D Field, South Turkeyen were both killed on the spot, while their colleagues Glenmore Reeves, 47, of Tucville, who was hit in the head and Dalton Walcott, 28, of Soesdyke, who was hit in his left arm, are both being treated at the Georgetown Public Hospital after they were rushed from the scene.

The bandits who were all reportedly clad in black, escaped with an undisclosed amount of cash and the security guards' firearms after taking possession of their vehicle, which was later found abandoned two miles from the scene of the robbery.

According to a police report, about 12:00 hours yesterday the MMC Security vehicle that was escorting cash from Sherima, Essequibo, to Georgetown was attacked and robbed of four shotguns and an undisclosed amount of cash by a gang of eight heavily-armed men at Sheribana Bridge, Essequibo.

Agricola-armoured-attack  Gunmen grab $800,000

The four MMC Security Guards had collected the money in three canisters at Sherima and were traveling to Georgetown in their vehicle when they came under fire from the eight bandits.

A grieving Tamika Alleyne, the fiancée of Warren Hutson, told this newspaper last night that she was shocked to learn of his death since he had only left home around 03:45 hours yesterday.

She said that she was aware that Hutson was heading to the interior since he regularly makes the trip.

According to Alleyne, at about 14:00 hours yesterday, she received a telephone call from a friend, who informed her that bandits had attacked the MMC vehicle, shooting it up badly.

She said that upon receiving the information, she began screaming, although she was not sure of Hutson's fate.

Alleyne said that she called the security company but officials there could not give her details, as they too only had sketchy information.

Alleyne related that she continued to call the company repeatedly until they were able to confirm that Hutson was one of the dead guards.

“He would have been home already,” Alleyne cried.

There were tears in the eyes of Rodwell Clarke's children last night at his D Field, South Turkeyen home.

Rodwell Clarke Jr., said he last saw his father yesterday morning. “He asked me to lock the door after him when he left for work.”

Relatives said that Clarke, 41, was a Lance Corporal with the Guyana Defence Force for some 21 years, until a year ago when he joined MMC.

Clarke was the father of five children and had three grandchildren.

Relatives said that they received the shocking news from MMC officials yesterday afternoon.

His wife Cheryl was not at home when this newspaper visited, since she had left to inform the dead man's brother at Agricola.

Co-worker, Vibert Williams said that MMC workers were traumatized since both men were warm, jovial persons.

A senior MMC official told this newspaper that the men were bringing cash from the company's ferry service that plies the Essequibo River .

At the time he said that details of the attack were sketchy.

This is the second time in two years that guards from the security service were killed by bandits following last year February's massacre at Eccles, in which three guards, Sheldon Smartt, Loris Semple and Cedric Dummett were among eight persons killed by a gang of heavily-armed marauding gunmen.

The MMC official stated that although the killings will have a significant effect on the company's operations, the remaining guards remain committed to the task they have to perform.

“They stood up after the Agricola incident and they performed well on Saturday (during the robbery at King Solomon Enterprises). Our ranks remain committed,” the official said.

Police believe that the men used the waterways to continue in their escape and have dispatched a team of ranks who are combing the area for any clues that may lead to the perpetrators. According to the police roadblocks have been established at strategic locations with a view to intercepting members of the gang.