US puts focus on youth, reducing demand to fight drug trade
– US envoy
The United States is pushing ahead with a multipronged approach to fight the drug trade, including targeting youth and preparing those in supply and transshipment countries such as Guyana to be gainfully employed, while it works on reducing demand in the United States. “So, if you can’t find a job as a young Guyanese, what do you do? You either leave the country or you join a gang,” Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs Juan Gonzalez said in an interview with Stabroek News on Thursday as he spoke of the US’ role in tackling the narco trade. “We need to address those opportunities by engaging youth and ensuring you know when you actually get out of school, and you would have worked hard… you have the same opportunity as everybody else to make a future,” he added, pointing out that he was echoing his country’s Vice President Joe Biden’s youth empowerment stance.
Bus drivers charged with killing woman in independence crash
Two drivers were yesterday charged with causing the death of Roxanne Mitchell, the woman who was killed early on Thursday morning after their minibuses collided near the Demerara Harbour Bridge. Jamal McLeod, 50, and Michael Thorne, 26, appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in Georgetown and were read separate charges that on May 26, at Bagotstown Public Road, they caused the death of Mitchell. The charge stated that McLeod drove minibus BPP 6158 and Thorne minibus BPP 1670 in a manner that was dangerous to the public, thereby causing the death of Mitchell. Neither McLeod nor Thorne was required to plead to the indictable charge. At the time of the accident, Mitchell was travelling in a Route 32 bus to return to her Farm, East Bank Essequibo home, after witnessing the flag-raising ceremony in Georgetown that was staged to mark Guyana’s 50th independence anniversary.
Man gets indeterminate jail sentence for murder of nine-year-old Mocha girl
pleasure. Cush was one of two men charged with the 2007 murder of Stoby, whose semi-nude remains were discovered in a drain, a short way from her home at Sixth Field, Barnwell, Mocha Arcadia. Justice Jo-Ann Barlow stated that based on the fact that Cush was only 14 years old at the time of the crime, he would receive a sentence of imprisonment at the court’s pleasure. Additionally, it was the order of the court that Cush participate in all the necessary programmes offered by the prison until his review, which is slated for April, 2018. During Cush’s time in prison, the judge will continue to monitor him until he is ready to be reintegrated in society. This decision will also be heavily dependent on both the court’s and the president’s pleasure.
Sunday, May 29 One dead, three missing after Corentyne pirate attack
One fisherman is now dead, while three of his crew mates are missing after they were attacked on Friday night by five pirates armed with cutlasses in Corentyne waters. The police have since arrested five men and detained a boat. Dead is Hemchand Sookdeo, 45, called ‘Dread,’ a father of five, of Number 55 Village, Corentyne, Berbice. The three fishermen who are missing are Boyo (only name given), Dochan Sukra known as ‘Butcher,’ 54, and Dhanpaul Ramphal, also known as ‘Sunil,’ 38, who all hail from the Upper Corentyne. The attack occurred around 11pm on Friday in the Lower Shell Area, Nickerie, Suriname, where the men were aboard the now missing Rosana 664, which was captained by Seepersaud Persaud, 43, of Number 78 Village, Corentyne.
Monday, May 30
and recommended that the police be called in to probe the laptop thefts. It said there were issues primarily in the areas of planning, management and supervision of the departments. There was also no proper control over inventory which resulted in the loss of the laptops. The report said too that the entire project was “grossly overstaffed” and still a number of departments failed to carry out daily duties in accordance with the standard operating procedures. Overall, there was a general lack of proper internal controls and maintenance of adequate financial systems, it said.
Fishermen still missing, boat found
Seepersaud Persaud
The boat attacked by pirates on Friday night has been found but the three crewmen remain missing while the police continue to hold five men as investigations continue. An intense search has been launched for the three missing men who were part of a five-man crew working along the Corentyne shores, when five men armed with pieces of wood and cutlasses, hijacked their boat and used it to rob two other boats. The captain of the boat, Seepersaud Persaud, 43, was pushed overboard and survived while one of the fishermen, Hemchand Sookdeo, 45, was found dead, tangled in seines with a chop wound at the back of his head. The three fishermen that are missing are Munesh Churman known as Boyo, 26; Dochan Sukra known as Butcher, 54; and Dhanpaul Ramphal, who all hail from the Upper Corentyne.
Beni Sankar betting big on coconuts
Three years ago Essequibo businessman, Beni Sankar made a switch from rice to coconut production as he is optimistic that the industry will boom. Together with his partner, May Cheung, he is working on meeting international standards and has already secured a London customer, who has visited his company. He is currently producing cold press virgin coconut oil under the name, Guyana Ideal Oil Inc. (GILI) – a subsidiary of Kayman Sankar & Co. Ltd, which was incorporated in 1975 – and hopes to fill one 20 ft. container every month with 4,500 gallons. In that event, the amount of coconut he is purchasing weekly from the local farmers around the coast would not be sufficient. He is happy to give farmers an opportunity to sell their coconuts and earn a dollar. He plans to add value by giving the farmers an extra dollar for the coconuts and said, “People are now getting to know the benefits of coconut.”
Venezuelan soldiers shoot at GGMC officers
Three Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) officers narrowly escaped injury yesterday when they reportedly came under attack from members of the Venezuelan army, in the vicinity of Eterinbang, in the Cuyuni River. While details of what took place are not clear, Stabroek News was told that the soldiers, who were positioned on the Venezuelan side of the border, opened fire on the boat that was transporting the three GGMC officers yesterday afternoon. As a result, the men were forced to seek cover by lying flat in the boat. GGMC Commissioner Newel Dennison was able to confirm the attack, while relating that the officers were conducting compliance and regulatory activities prior to the shooting. He said that while he did not have the full details of what took place, the three men were safe.
Miner, 18, dies in Konawaruk pit cave-in
An 18-year-old miner died on Sunday afternoon after the mining pit he was working in caved in at Konawaruk Backdam, Potaro, Region Eight and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) has promised a full investigation. Dead is Ramold Williams called ‘Fat Man’ of 58 Miles, Mabura Road. Williams has been a miner for more than one year. The incident occurred around 18:00 hrs on Sunday. According to reports, Williams and four other men were working in the mining pit when the eastern wall caved in and covered him, while the others ran for cover. A search in a bid to rescue him saw his lifeless body being discovered. He was taken to the Mahdia Hospital where he was pronounced dead. The Ministry of Natural Resources in a statement said, “Every effort was made to rescue and resuscitate Williams, but despite these efforts, he was pronounced dead at the Mahdia hospital.”
Cops probing PPP MP over alleged shooting threat
The police are currently investigating a report of threatening behaviour made about a week ago against People’s Progressive Party Member of Parliament Nigel Dharamlall and the case file has since been sent to the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal advice. Stabroek News was reliably informed yesterday that Dharamlall allegedly took out his firearm and
threatened to shoot an employee of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) office in Guyana after he saw the individual communicating with his ex-wife. Contacted yesterday, Commander of `C’ Division Marlon Chapman refused to go into details, stating that the matter is currently under investigation. Chapman, however, confirmed that a report was indeed made against Dharamlall who has since been questioned and has provided investigators with a statement. “We are currently in the process of seeking legal advice which will determine the way forward in the matter,” Chapman said. This newspaper was informed that the case file was sent to the DPP chambers on Friday, May 27 for legal advice. Dharamlall’s lawyer Glenn Hanoman said in a statement last night that he and his client wanted “the matter to be thoroughly and professionally investigated.”
Wednesday, June 1 UK makes security proposal
A senior United Kingdom official was yesterday expected to hand over a proposal to the APNU+AFC government on tackling security issues here. Almost seven years after a security sector reform project with the UK collapsed following differences between the then PPP/C government and London, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the UK’s Foreign & Commonwealth Office James Duddridge told reporters that he would present a document on security reform to government for its consideration. Responding to a question from Stabroek News during a briefing at the residence of Greg Quinn, the UK High Commissioner to Guyana, Duddridge explained that the document entails “a piece of analysis around the current state of the security sector and what could the potential action plan be taking forward different elements of security sector reform and specifically how the UK government could assist in that action plan.”
Crane woman stabbed to death, ex-held
relationship, remained in custody up to late last evening. A source indicated that phone records revealed that he was the last person in contact with the woman prior to the discovery of her body.
UG loans delinquency rate around 70% – audit finds
Almost 70% of those who obtained government loans to attend the University of Guyana (UG) are delinquent in repaying their loans which amounts to billions of dollars and among these are prominent members of society including magistrates and lawyers. “It appears that many of these individuals are still around and should be pursued to have them settled their indebtedness,” a report by accounting firm, HLB, R Seebarran & Co has recommended. The firm conducted a forensic audit into the UG Student Loan Agency for the period December 2011 to May 2015. In its report, submitted to Minister of Finance Winston Jordan in September, it highlighted the billions owned and urged a number of changes. The report was made publicly available yesterday. It revealed that since the beginning of the programme, 25,335 students had obtained loans up to December 31, 2014. The total value of the loans was $9.1 billion. During the period 1994 to May 2015, the Government of Guyana approved $9.4 billion through the National Budget for the loan agency with $1.8 billion received by the agency during the period April 2011 to December 2014. The report revealed that of the total number of students who have received loans, 17,561 or 69.4% of the loan portfolio are deemed delinquent because they have not been honouring their indebtedness.
Thursday, June 2 Guyana protests to Venezuela over shooting at GGMC officials
Guyana has protested to Venezuela over Monday’s firing of shots by that country’s army at three mines commission officials on the Cuyuni River. “The Ministry has dispatched a Note Verbale to the Venezuelan Ministry of Foreign Affairs conveying the Government of Guyana’s grave concern over this incident and calling on the Venezuelan Government to desist from such provocative and dangerous actions on Guyana’s border,” a press release yesterday from the Ministry stated. The Note Verbale stressed that “such actions can only lead to the destabilisation of relations.” The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also informed that the matter will be brought to the attention of the Secretary General of the United Nation, Ban Kimoon, in his capacity as Good Officer under the Geneva Agreement and members of the UN and its Security Council.
Mason falls to death from Holmes St building
A mason is now dead and another injured after they fell yesterday from a scaffold on the four-storey building where they were both working at Holmes and Quamina streets, South Cummingsburg, Georgetown. Vickram Nandkumar, 22, of Belle West, Canal Number 2 Polder, West Bank Demerara sustained injuries to his chest and abdomen. He was rushed to the St Joseph Mercy Hospital where he died while receiving medical attention. His workmate, Anand Persaud, 24, of Plantain Walk, West Coast Demerara sustained injuries including a broken leg. He was taken to the Woodlands Hospital where he remained a patient up to last evening in a stable condition after undergoing emergency surgery. Nandkumar and Persaud were among of group of men working on the building, which is located behind the Fix-It Hardware Store on Main Street.
Dharamlall will have to give ‘believable’ explanations – Jagdeo
Leader of the Opposition Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday said that People’s Progressive Party/Civic Member of Parliament Nigel Dharamlall will have to give “believable” explanations to the executive of the party about allegations that he threatened to shoot an employee of the Inter-American Development Bank after he saw the individual talking to his ex-wife. “Clearly he has to give explanations, solid explanations, believable explanations to the executive of the party and to us because the allegations are serious,” Jagdeo told members of the media at a press conference yesterday at the party’s headquarters. On Tuesday, Stabroek News had reported that the police are investigating a report of threatening behaviour made a week ago against Dharamlall.
Friday, June 3 Mahaica guard chopped to death by husband at Bygeval school
A woman was on Wednesday night chopped to death by her husband, who made good on previous threats to end her life because she disregarded his wishes that she not work. Security guard Candacy Pitt, 31, of Chelsea Park, Mahaica, East Coast Demerara, was attacked at the
Gunmen raid Region 4 RDC building
Bandits carted off an undisclosed amount of cash after they waylaid guards and broke into the Region Four Regional Democratic Council (RDC) office at Beterverwagting/Triumph, East Coast Demerara early yesterday morning. The Guyana Police Force said the attack occurred around 2am yesterday when four men, armed with handguns, stormed the compound, tied up the guards and proceeded to torch two safes in the building, from where they carted off the cash. They also robbed one of the guards of cash and valuables. Stabroek News was further told that the gunmen also entered the local government office but nothing was missing from that office. When this newspaper visited the office just before noon yesterday, investigators were dusting for fingerprints as well as taking pictures of the crime scene.
Kuru Kururu woman shot in face
Natasha Harry
A 31-year-old woman is now hospitalised after she was shot in her face allegedly by her reputed husband. Natasha Harry, of Kuru Kururu, Linden/Soesdyke Highway, who is a student of the Carnegie School of Home Economics, was reportedly in her home with her reputed husband when an argument broke out between the two. Stabroek News was told that sometime during the argument, around 9PM, the man pulled out a gun and shot Harry to her face. Harry’s relatives, who were at the Diamond Diagnostic Centre on the East Bank were hesitant to talk to the media. However, a source explained to Stabroek News that Harry’s aunt was the one who found the woman on the ground after she heard the gunshot. The source explained that after Harry’s aunt heard the gunshot she proceeded to the living room where she found the woman on the ground bleeding.