And the government may soon need some of that hard currency to buy a new grader for the Ministry of Works. We’ve reported car jackings but yesterday armed bandits hijacked a grader belonging to the Ministry of Works at gunpoint in Cayo. The operator Dwayne Arthurs was grading the Young Gyal Road in Teakettle Village between 12 and 1 pm yesterday when he was surrounded by three armed Hispanic bandits who forced him out of the driver’s seat. The bandits covered his eyes and tied him to a tree in the bushes – leaving him wearing only boxers. The men fled with Arthurs’ jewellery and wallet along with the $350,000 grader belonging to the Ministry of Works. Arthurs says he was ordered not to move for three hours and so he wasn’t found until 4 pm. Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Works Cadet Henderson says they believe the grader was taken across the border.
Cadet Henderson, CEO – Ministry of Works
“The operator was unharmed, we found him with socks only, no shoes and he is okay but up to now we still are not definitive on where the grader is. We feel very strongly that it is in the Guatemala area. Many eyewitnesses
have indicated that the grader had two Hispanic male persons on the grader while there was like an escort pickup, silverish gray in colour, that had four men that were armed to the rear. We believe they may have came out of that road, Young Gyal Road, and went towards Iguana Creek Bridge, Spanish Lookout area and then passed Billy White going towards Bullet Tree. The most recent update we heard was that witnesses have indicated that a white cab low buoy was used to transport the grader after it crossed the border.”
Keith Swift,
“Do you believe they came over here specifically for the grader?”
Cadet Henderson,
“I would think so. Seemingly this is a well orchestrated event. A grader is not like a car, it is not something you put in automatic and you drive it. We feel convinced that it was bandits who targeted specifically that grader.”
Keith Swift,
“What’s the value of the grader?”
Cadet Henderson,
“This grader is valued at, its replacement cost is at least $350,000 and it was recently refurbished by the Ministry and the loss of this grader means it cuts our grading and our road maintenance capability in the Cayo District in hal_f.”
It is a Caterpillar brand grader – similar to the one you saw in the story. Again it is valued at $350,000 which is why the government is sparing no expense to recover it. Henderson says they have searched on the ground and by the air. Anyone with information can call Crime Stoppers at 0-800-922-TIPS. And if you are wondering how bandits drove out of the country without being noticed – it is suspected that the men fled on back roads. There are reports that a grader was seen being escorted by a pickup truck with armed men. In addition – a grader can travel as fast as 40 miles an hour.
