| Chairman of the Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC) Bishop Juan Edghill has stated that the entity will do everything in its power to address the breakdown in communication that resulted in the loss of over $5.7M when thieves torched open a safe at the Beterverwagting Post Office on the East Coast of Demerara in what was described as a well planned operation.Addressing the media yesterday, Edghill admitted that enough was not done to safeguard the assets of the state, especially since the GPOC administration was aware that Post Offices have been under threat from well-organised criminals.Last Wednesday’s burglary occurred just three days after thieves, using a welding torch, failed in their attempt to rob the Clonbrook Post Office, also on the East Coast of Demerara.“Especially after the Clonbrook attempt, there is no justifiable reason why that amount of money was left at the Beterverwagting Post Office,Cheap Jerseys Supply,” Edghill said.He pointed out that to have so much money at the BV Post Office was not in keeping with the instructions that had been communicated to the GPOC management with regards to security.While there have been several robberies at post offices in the country,Cheap Jerseys For Sale, last Wednesday’s theft represented the largest single loss experienced by the GPOC.And according to Edghill, there is a definite need to seriously review certain procedural practices in order to prevent and deter similar attacks.“There will be changes!” he stated emphatically.One of the changes, which may directly affect especially senior citizens, has to do with desisting from making payments from as early as 07:00 hours,Chris Chelios Jersey, which makes it necessary for cash to be on hand at Post Offices very early in the mornings,Wholesale China Jerseys, as well as necessitating that cash be kept overnight.“While senior citizens will suffer, this arrangement will have to be implemented e immediately… hours of work will have to be discussed with the union… to facilitate new hours of work,Jerseys NFL Cheap,” the GPOC Chairman told the media.“This is so painful and it is not being treated lightly,” he added.According to Edghill, it is ironic that only last Saturday the GPOC held a retreat, at which security was one of the main topics discussed,Wholesale NFL Jerseys, with the Board of Directors emphasising its importance.Apart from a review of the security arrangements, Edghill also pointed to a review of personnel.“We are not going to cast blame, but something is wrong and must be corrected,” he said.Edghill indicated that none of the GOPC’s staff has been interdicted over last Wednesday’s incident, but he hinted that there could be more than just interdiction following the outcome of an internal investigation that has been launched by the Corporation.One of the major focuses of the investigation is to ascertain why $5.7M was held overnight at a Post Office, since the Corporation’s management should be aware of how much money is needed at a facility on any given day.“This is not a crime of opportunity, this is planning. Skilled people had to be employed to get it done,” said Edghill, adding that the GPOC has been spending more on security than it had budgeted.He said that based on what has been observed so far, it is widely believed that the group that carried out last Wednesday’s operation was also responsible for a previous heist at the Mahaica Post Office, in which half million dollars was stolen.So far no one has been arrested and Edghill issued an impassionate plea for assistance from the community to help solve Wednesday’s crime as well as prevent similar occurrences.“Security is not only with the police and surveillance cameras. BV should be the last time that a post office is attacked,” Edghill said.“You will agree that to cut a post office safe has to do with planning and collaboration. It’s not a wooden box. We have some of the best safes inherited from the British. Persons have to spend several hours and there will be light and noise. All the Post Offices are imbedded in communities,” Edghill explained.According to the GPOC Chairman, the attack on the Clonbrook Post Office is of major concern since the facility is in close proximity to the police outpost there.He said that what is also worrying is the fact that following that attempt, the Post Master General had expressed concerns about the security arrangements at Post Offices,Wholesale Jerseys Free Shipping, only for the lapse to occur at Beterverwagting.Meanwhile, the Beterverwagting Post Office was able to serve members of the public from yesterday, and according to Edghill there will be no disruption of service, even while the investigation intensifies.“I want to appeal to persons not to start lining up at Post Offices too early, since it puts us under pressure and at risk,” the GPOC chairman said. |
