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Black flags
of mourning for slain couple
 MOURNERS beside the coffin of Annandale businessman Ramdeo Persaud before he was buried at the Good Hope cemetery. |
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Hundreds
turned out for the funerals of Ramdeo Persaud, 43, known as David and `Sweetie
Man' and his reputed wife, Mahadai Magoo, 34, also called Sita
Persaud.
They were shot
dead, execution-style, when six bandits stormed their home at 57, Peter Street,
Annandale North, just over an hour after sundown Saturday.
Magoo was
cremated at the Good Hope cremation site, where hundreds turned up to pay their
respects or get a last glimpse of her lifeless body.
Vehicles lined
the way to the cremation site and on the public road, but Police were out in
numbers to ensure order and a free flow of traffic.
There was a
huge crowd around the cremation site where Magoo's body lay and many people
angrily went away without getting to view her body
One relative
pacified some by displaying a laminated copy of a photo of the slain
woman.
Persaud's
eldest son, Rakesh, with head shaved according to Hindu rites, shared in
performing the last rites for Magoo.
In Annandale,
black flags of mourning lined the roadway and were more numerous in several
streets leading to the house where the killing took place.
As Magoo's
funeral pyre was lit, scores started streaming to Annandale for a final view of
`Sweetie Man', whose funeral was scheduled three hours after his
wife's.
By 13:30 hrs,
several persons started lining Peter Street as an orderly viewing of Persaud's
body took place at his home.
Left to mourn
are Persaud's three children, 16-year-old Rakesh, 13-year-old Deoram and
11-year-old Devika, who had become very much attached to their
step-mother.
Magoo was in a
common-law relationship with Persaud for the last four years.
Minister of
Local Government, Mr. Harripersaud Nokta attended the funerals.
Prime Minister
Sam Hinds, as well as Nokta, visited the relatives earlier this
week.
The Upper
Corentyne Chamber of Commerce and the Justices of the Peace Association
yesterday joined the list of those condemning the Annandale
murders.
The Chamber of
Commerce expressed "disgust and disappointment at the present state of criminal
activities, including the loss of innocent lives and property, especially those
of business persons."
"We are
calling on the Government to introduce conscription (compulsory enrollment in
the armed forces) as one of the ways to correct the situation...And to do
everything possible to re-initiate the (political) dialogue", the chamber said
in a statement.
The Justices
of the Peace Association said in a statement that it "condemns most vehemently
the brutal slaying" of the Annandale couple.
The
association said it "recognises that the gruesome murder of David and his wife
(Sita) was more than just banditry. When one looks at the whole scenario one is
certainly convinced that the killing...was probably part of a hate campaign
designed to terrorise peaceful, law abiding and productive
Guyanese".
"The...association call(s) on all concern(ed) Guyanese, organisations and
associations to condemn this barbaric act and demand that the security forces
move swiftly and precisely to apprehend the killers so that such further acts of
barbarism may be prevented", the statement said.
The People's
Progressive Party (PPP) in a statement Sunday said it was deeply saddened by the
"robbing and murdering" of the businessman and his wife who have become "the
latest victims of organised banditry and murder".
"That the
bandits came on foot and left on foot, with much ease, in the direction of the
neighbouring village of Buxton/Friendship, reveals the boldness with which these
acts are now being perpetrated," the party said.
It said, too,
that the targets, frequency and organised nature with which these acts of
robberies and murders have been committed over the past six weeks, seem to
suggest that robbery is not the only motive.
It said it
recognises the tremendous efforts of the law enforcement agencies to fight crime
and respond to acts of domestic terrorism. However, the party urged others in
society to "do their part".
"All Guyanese,
including political groups and the entire media landscape must take a side - the
side of the law and help fight crime; there is no room for ambivalence and
cloaked attacks against the Guyana Police Force or its special anti-crime
unit."
The main
Opposition People's National Congress Reform on Tuesday also issued a statement
condemning the killing of the couple.
Witnesses said
the two were killed by identifiable gunmen.
Few Days later.....another brother was robbed
 SUPPORT: relatives and neighbours at the home of the Persauds after the robbery by armed bandits. |
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Six bandits
early yesterday morning struck at the Mon Repos home of Bhagwat Persaud and his
family and fled in a waiting car with $400,000 and a box containing an
undisclosed sum of money, the family said.
The gang
attacked at about 05:45 hrs as Persaud, 40, was about to leave for
work.
Persaud is the
brother of Ramdeo Persaud, 43, known as David and `Sweetie Man', who along with
his reputed wife, Mahadai Magoo, 34, also called Sita Persaud, was shot dead,
execution-style, when six bandits stormed their home at 57, Peter Street,
Annandale North, two Saturday nights ago.
Persaud told
the Chronicle that he was on the bridge to his yard at around 05:30 hrs
yesterday and went back inside to get a shirt before leaving for
work.
On entering
the house he said he saw someone move and momentarily thought it was a member of
his family who had come from the upper flat of the two-flat
house.
 THE Mon Repos home of Bhagwat Persaud and family who were robbed by armed bandits early yesterday morning. |
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Persaud said
he was then escorted to his room upstairs and to his amazement three other armed
bandits were already there.
He said he
handed over a box with money and his wife Zabeda Ali, who was awake, was hit a
few times by the bandits, but no other force was used.
After he
handed over the money the bandits demanded more, the businessman
related.
He said he
took them downstairs to a storeroom where there was a drawer with about
$400,000, which the bandits took.
They then fled
in a gold/peach car believed to be a Toyota Carina in which two more bandits had
been waiting, he said.
Persaud said
the Police were summoned, arrived on the scene about 10 minutes after and took
statements from members of the family.
A
brother-in-law of the family who resides abroad but came home for the funeral of
Ramdeo Persaud and his wife, told the Chronicle that his suitcase and briefcase
with his passport and other documents which were in the same room the bandits
went into, were untouched.
Persaud, who
is also in the confectionery business his slain brother was in, recalled that
last Friday one of the bandits wearing a `tope' hat and hiding his face, had
passed by and was looking suspiciously in the direction of his
house.
He was wearing
the same hat and hiding his face in a similar manner at the time of the robbery
yesterday, Persaud added.
He also said
it was very noticeable that the bandits did not touch anything with their hands,
but used their guns to move aside anything that was in their way.
This, he
suggested, was to ensure that they did not leave any
fingerprints.
Persaud is
upset about the impression being created by certain media houses and TV `talk
show hosts'.
In particular,
he cited the example of one `talk show host' who had implied that his brother
had been involved in illegal and `underhand business' by rhetorically asking the
question, "If selling two pack of corn curls and sweets can result in amassing
such wealth?"
He also feels
that a newspaper report which said a box containing $8M and jewellery had been
received by him after his brother's death could have contributed to yesterday's
attack.
Meanwhile, residents and relatives who gathered at the home yesterday morning to provide moral support to the family, expressed anger at the spate of crimes and are disappointed that the authorities have not been able to apprehend the criminals at large or curb the attacks on innocent civilians.