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Massy Stores CEO Derek Winford says security at their Super Centre at Gulf View, La Romaine, has been beefed up in the wake of last week’s daring robbery by bandits.
Staff involved in the incident, who were tied up and robbed before the thieves also stole $250,000, have also been provided with counselling.
Ultimately, Windford says the company’s primary concern was the safety and security of their workers.
“We want to make sure that they come to work safely and more importantly that they get home safely to their families, and operating in an environment like we do in T&T, with the crime that affects all of us, just makes that a little more difficult for all of us,” he said.
He added that they are also fully co-operating with the police and have given them a lot of material to assist them in apprehending the perpetrators.
According to reports, around 5.55 am, bakery staff had just entered the store to prepare pastries and bread for the day when the bandits struck.
A security guard who had just picked up a stack of newspapers from outside the door was accosted by three gunmen, who took him inside the store and proceeded to tie up the guard and employees in the bakery area. The staff was robbed of cell phones, cash and other items. The bandits then went into the office where they gained access to a small vault where they grabbed Money Gram and Sure Pay documents and the cash for Tuesday night sales.
The bandits then escaped in a white Nissan AD Wagon.
San Fernando police are continuing investigations.
Windford gave the information at the company’s reusable bag distribution at the Super Centre on Friday, where he again urged customers to utilise the bags.
The company began its distribution drive on World Environment Day at its Maraval branch, but there was a brief hiatus as the bags only arrived last week and they were finally able to resume the distribution process.
Winford said, “We are here to continue our initiative on reducing the amount of plastic usage in T&T and to do that, we are telling our customers, listen we give away 34 million plastic bags, that is what is used by Massy Stores in one year and it really has to stop.”
In previous years, Winford said the company had given away 10,000 reusable bags and their aim this time around is to distribute up 80,000 bags.
“We think that is a good base at which to start and we are saying to you stop using the plastic bags, here is a reusable bag that we are giving to you for free. Use this bag when you shop and help us reduce the plastic usage and the plastic consumption in T&T,” said Winford.
He said this was one the first steps in their quest to reduce the amount of plastics they use that is damaging the environment.
Said Winford: “Here we are today to take the message public by giving away these bags and making sure our actions follow our words.”
The company intends to continue its distribution drive at their other branches throughout the country.
Starting from July 3, however, the company will begin selling plastic bags for 50 cents, but Winford’s advice to the customers is, “Don’t pay 50 cents for the bags, use the reusable bags over and over.”
After the distribution process, he said a reusable bag will be sold for $10 but they intend to have promotions like “buy one and get one free” in the month of July.