Shopkeeper robbed, hits robbers off the bike

Spurred on by the thought of losing hard-earned revenue from his business, a St Thomas shopkeeper chased after two men who robbed him of about $100,000 and hit them from their motorcycle.

"Whole heap a things go through me mind that night, enuh. Di man dem come inna me shop wid gun, tek weh how much money from me, tek weh me phone, and a ask dem one another if dem fi kill me. Me did affi defend myself. The only thing we have inna this life a we name and me affi protect mine," the 28-year-old said boldly. Despite his attempts, the men escaped with the money, but he retrieved his cell phone.

The man, who has been operating his shop for a couple of years, used to walk around communities selling household cleaning agents like soap powder and detergent on Saturdays and Sundays. He was able to buy a wheelbarrow to help him carry his goods. The hard work and profits allowed him to open a mini wholesale and, eventually, purchase a vehicle. But with the implementation of the Southern Coastal Highway Improvement Project, his business is feeling the pinch. He theorises that the deserting of the Bull Bay route has allowed thugs to target small business operators, like he was on August 31.

"Me deh outside a the shop, 'bout after 11 inna the night and a bike pull up with two man. One come a the shop front and order a [cigarette]. So me pull the grille fi go in go serve him, but me never lock back the grille because me a say me a go just serve dem and come back out," he said. "The other man, the pillion, come in the shop after me with a gun and ask, 'Weh the money deh?' and him take 'bout 70 or 80 gran from me. The other man come round and take some other likkle change, like the $100 and $50 [banknotes] dem. Me did have a knife pon the counter and dem take it up and fling it outta door."

He said the one with the gun asked his accomplice if he should kill him, but he replied, "No, make him gwan." The shopkeeper said that after the men took the cash and his cell phone, they instructed him not to leave until they rode off. But he did not listen.

"Me jump inna me car same time and drive dem down. Me nuh know what come over me, but me did a think 'bout nuff things. Just fi know say me work hard fi set up my shop the real way; whole heap a things me go through fi set up the shop. Me hustle a town wid my mother, me walk fi miles and sell soap till me coulda afford fi buy a wheelbarrow fi push and sell me things same way. Me did affi put up a fight, believe me," he said.