The interior of the Wismar Post office, Region 10 (Upper Demerara- Berbice) was torched in the wee hours of Thursday morning following a foiled robbery.
Based on reports received, the bandits forced their way into the post office at about 4:00h and soon after they encountered difficulties in accessing a safe in which the monies to pay pensioners were kept.
After several attempts to torch the safe opened, the men were unsuccessful and in retaliation, they set the building on fire.
Pensioners who turned up to collect their Old Age Pension on Thursday were unable to receive it since the Post Office was closed. Pensioners were however, advised to access the service at the Mackenzie Post office across the river.
Police have since launched an investigation into the incident. ‘E’ Division (Linden-Kwakwani) Commander Anthony Vanderhyden told INews that police ranks and members of the Guyana Fire Service responded to a report that the building was on fire.
“Upon arrival at the scene, the smoke was extinguished by the fire service and my investigators from the Wismar station are in the process of doing the investigative work”, the commander stated.
While the gate to the Post Office compound was locked, this online publication understands that the interior of its bottom flat has been destroyed and all the documents, computers and furniture were completely burnt or water damaged.
Regional Chairman Renis Morian and officials of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) who visited the scene later in the morning indicated however, that emergency works will be facilitated to the building.
“On my way to work this morning I was notified of what seemed to be a break in and attempt to burn down the building… We from the Regional Democratic Council, I just brought over an engineer who will assist the Post office Corporation in terms of preparing a bill of quantity, description of works and we will get it to the Guyana post office Corporation. What we’re looking for is to get this post office and the services it renders to the community up and running in the shortest possible time”, Morian said.
Meanwhile, he noted that the Post Office should implement more stringent security measures in place especially when it draws closer for pensioners to collect their monies.
