A credit union courier was killed by bandits in a daring daylight robbery at Shaw Park, Tobago, a killing which has left the island reeling. Sylvert Edwards, 64, of Carnbee, Tobago, was killed by the bandits as he sat in his car in the Thor Credit Union’s carpark around 11.30 am. The credit union shares the compound with the Tobago House of Assembly’s Division of Infrastructure and Public Utilities.
The T&T Guardian understands Edwards was about to deliver cash, the majority of it being a payroll, to the credit union when he was ambushed by two men. Eyewitnesses said the men, who were dressed in red T-shirts, walked up to Edwards while he was still seated in his Hyundai Tucson and opened fire on him. The men then grabbed the money and escaped. Edwards was hit in the right hip but police believe he may have died from a heart attack.
District Medical Officer Dr Mentor Melville visited the scene and ordered the body removed to the Scarborough mortuary where an autopsy is to be performed. Employees attached to the THA said that was the third robbery attempt on the credit union. Anyone with information on the murder and robbery can call 708-9142 or 708-9320.
THA RESPONDS
Secretary of the Division of Infrastructure and Public Utilities Gary Melville extended condolences to the family. He admitted, however, that security within the division would need to be revisited in light of the attack. He added: “I am very concerned as any right-thinking citizen should be.
“I am concerned for my own safety and that of my family because at times like this you hear about so many incidents and then it comes right home to you.
“This is a compound that houses thousands of workers and we have to take a very close look at our security arrangements here because we should be in a situation where in spite of how many persons are here, where people can enter the compound and something like this happens. “I think sometimes we are a bit too lax in Tobago with our concerns about security and sometimes we figure it can’t happen here for whatever reason.”
Edwards’ killing was the eighth on the island for the year. The Tobago Homicide Bureau is continuing investigations.