Persons being questioned over murder of miners – Crime Chief

Several persons have been contacted by the police in the Arimu double murder and robbery and they are presently being questioned, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum said on Monday.

Investigations are still ongoing into the double murder of 50-year-old miner, Zaheer Mohammed Sheriff, of Byderabo Road, Bartica, and 26-year-old labourer, Donovan Washington, of Lot 11 Seventh Avenue, Bartica, who were both shot and killed reportedly by two masked men during a robbery at Arimu Backdam, Cuyuni River, Region Seven, on Sunday morning around 10:00 hrs.

Meanwhile, the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) in a statement on Sunday urged all miners to take full security precautions and called on the GPF to take the necessary actions to secure the interior to enable miners to conduct their business safely. GGDMA had since expressed its condolences to the families and friends of the miner and his worker and called for a proper investigation into the incident. The association highlighted a similar incident back in December of 2022 involving another member of the association. “In December 2022, another member of the association, the late Ricky Ambrose who was a sworn land surveyor and ranger, was robbed of a quantity of raw gold and cash and was killed at Arimu Backdam.”

Shaykh Bacchus, an imam and religious advisor at Masjid Al Abidin in New York, on Monday via his Facebook page expressed his profound sadness at the passing of Sheriff, who was the President of the Bartica Islamic Association. “As a young man he played an integral role in the administration of the said organisation and