Contractor robbed of licensed gun, $30,000

After a contractor was robbed of his licensed firearm and approximately $30,000 in broad daylight last Friday, Deputy Commissioner of Police Lenroy Brewster is calling on contractors and other businessmen to make some crucial changes to their modus operandi.{{more}}

“We always advise people not to carry around large sums of money without the appropriate security escort,” said Brewster, as he expressed his concern about what transpired.

Sibert Liverpool of Sibli Construction was robbed while at Villa on the road leading to the mental health centre. According to police reports, shortly after 4 p.m., Liverpool was ambushed and struck in his face with a firearm by his attacker.

Liverpool was about to take the cash to a construction site to pay his workers.

Police sources say that they are pursuing leads in the case. SEARCHLIGHT also learnt that while one person attacked Liverpool, another person was in the vicinity when the robbery was committed.

Deputy Commissioner Brewster told SEARCHLIGHT that it was important for contractors to be careful about their routines especially when going to worksites with large payrolls.

He said that while he understood that construction workers prefer to be paid in cash, it would be safer to pay using cheques instead.

However one major contractor who wished to remain anonymous told SEARCHLIGHT that paying by cheque is easier said than done.

He said that because of the nature of construction work, it would be difficult for workers to leave the sites to go to the bank to change cheques.

“It is better to just let the guys work and when they are finished they collect their money,” the experienced contractor said.

He however noted that his fellow contractors should be more careful and put the necessary security in place.

He said that he himself uses different people to carry the salaries and the person is never alone.

While he admitted that such caution doesn’t guarantee safety, he said that every precaution should be taken. He admitted that the time will come when despite the hassle, workers will have to be paid by cheque or by direct deposit.