Director gunned down

A 60-year-old father of three and director of Trinidad Ropeworks Limited, was shot dead as he alighted from his car outside his Cascade Road, Cascade home on Monday night. Russel Govia managed to shoot his killers with his revolver, before he slumped to the ground and died. His death has caused widespread mourning in Cascade, Trinidad Ropeworks and Rotoplastics Limited, and the Living Waters Community where his wife Dalia is a founding member. His murder is the 189th for the year, compared with last year’s tally of  172. Police investigators yesterday said they believe that the killers had planned to kidnap Govia but their plans were foiled when he drew his revolver and shot them. Police reports revealed that around 8.30 pm, Govia was driving his car PBK 9760, when he stopped outside his home located at 32 Cascade Road, Cascade.

Govia was about to open the gate to his home, which is located directly opposite the school for the deaf, when he was confronted by two men armed with guns. The gunmen boarded the car, and ordered Govia to hand over the keys for his vehicle. A struggle ensued and Govia was shot several times in the chest at point blank range. He drew his revolver and shot both bandits. The bleeding Govia alighted from the car and walked a short distance away where he slumped to the ground and died. The killers fled the scene in Govia’s car while neighbours of the victim rushed to the scene. They took Govia to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. His revolver was handed over to the police, while the stolen car was discovered abandoned a short distance away with blood stains in the driver’s seat and the front passenger seat. The car was towed to the Police Administration Building where it was tested for prints. Newsday learned that prints were lifted by fingerprint officers.
A party of officers led by Ag Sgt Stephen Grant and others went to the scene and carried out a search for the killers. All medical institutions were alerted to be on the lookout for the injured killers.

The daughter of the dead man told Newsday yesterday that her father was a private person and she did not want to divulge any information about him, while his brother Roger also said that the murder victim was a quiet person. He said that the family never expected anything like this and that they were taking the death very hard. At the scene of the shooting, the bullets which were fired by bandits remained marked out on the front wall by police officers. Neighbours of the dead man said that he lived in the upper part of the Cascade house with his wife Dalia, while the lower part was rented out. They added that while he was a private person, he was friendly to those who knew him and loved his grandchildren. A ferocious dog roamed the yard when Newsday visited yesterday. The Cascade School for the deaf is located directly opposite where the shooting death occurred. Rhonda Maingot, the founder of the Living Water Community said that she knew Govia very well because his wife Dalia is one of the founders of the Living Water Community. “He was a nice person, I knew him as a happy person who would celebrate life, and he loved his grandchildren,” said Maingot. She said that she visited the grieving family on Monday night and prayed with them. “We feel very disturbed and distraught that our country is getting to this state, and we are praying for the soul of the country,” she revealed. Govia’s funeral will take place tomorrow morning at the Church of Assumption, Maraval.

Sean Clarke of Rotoplastics said yesterday that Govia was a working director with the company for many, many years. “He was an extremely pleasant, nice person, and all employees who knew him are in grief and shock over his death. Govia was in charge of the Engineering Department at Rotoplastics. He was also involved in the work at Trinidad Ropeworks Limited. Police investigators said yesterday that they are working along certain lines and arrests are imminent. On June 19, 2001 Govia was the victim of a serious crime when he was robbed of his fully loaced revolver, his $60,000 car, $20,000 in cash, a gold chain valued $1,000 and a quantity of tools and documents. Around 10 pm on June 19, Govia arrived at his Cascade home and parked his car, registration number PBD 3899 in the driveway of his home. When he alighted from the vehicle he was confronted by two men who robbed him. Then they ordered him out of the car and escaped in the vehicle. Minister of National Security Howard Chin Lee was given a full report on the murder of Govia late yesterday.