UWI student robbed at gunpoint

Studies now in jeopardy

Apart-time student who works to pay his university tuition, while caring for four young daughters, is pondering his next move following the theft of his motorcycle and cellular phone last Tuesday.

After leaving classes that day, final-year University of the West Indies student André Smith stopped along Half-Way Tree Road at about 9 p.m. to answer a call.

Little did he know that his Yamaha 125, valued at $130,000, would be stolen by two men, who at first glance, appeared to be decent citizens.

Smith told THE STAR: “Two men were walking along the road and when mi look they started walking towards me. One had his hand in his pocket. When dem reach close to me, one pull out a chrome revolver and say mi fi give him the phone and come off the bike.”

Smith said he did not resist, but was shocked to be robbed along the busy roadway.

He, however, lamented that his final year of study is in jeopardy as he depends heavily on his bike and smartphone.

COST EFFECTIVE

Smith said: “My phone helps me through school well. It’s a Samgsung S6 Edge. The memory is very good and it has a lot of PDF files and other stuff that I download to help me study and prepare for school. The bike helps me to be efficient. Mi affi go pay bus fare fi get around and the bike was helping me to meet obligations of both work and school. Even to buy gas, it’s cost effective. I don’t know how I will manage.”

Smith said that he is a trying father, and noted his oldest daughter is in high school.

“This is really a setback. I am in my final year. I major in production operations management and minor in financial banking,” Smith said.

Smith told THE STAR that he was keen to share his bad experience so that others may be vigilant and mindful that situations like these do happen.

“I just stop to answer my phone and out of nowhere, two man ... rob me. I work too hard, 144 hours per fortnight and go to school in between and a man just hold me up at gunpoint. It’s so hard to deal with; these youths don’t want to work,” he said.

The matter was reported to the St Andrew Central police. Investigations are ongoing. If you would like to assist Andre’ Smith, you can contact him via email andredamionsmith80@yahoo.com.