Recent events review July 23 – July 29
Saturday, July 23
Two men, teen boy found shot to death at Mibicuri Creek
The bodies of two men and a teenage boy, bearing gunshot wounds, were discovered yesterday at Mibicuri Creek, Black Bush Polder and police had one person in custody up to late last night facing questions about their shocking deaths. The dead have been identified as rice farmer Pawan Chandradeo, 37, and his 15-yearold son Jaikarran Chandradeo, of 163 Mibicuri North, Black Bush Polder, as well as the senior Chandradeo’s brotherin-law Naresh Rooplall, 33, of Number 75 Village, Corentyne. Chandradeo and his son sustained gunshot wounds to their heads, while Rooplall was shot to his neck. Police, in a brief statement, said each body bore a single gunshot wound. Commander of ‘B’ Division Ian Amsterdam told Stabroek News last evening that one person was currently in custody assisting with the investigation. Amsterdam stated that ranks will return to the crime scene today in search of more clues and to gather more evidence as the investigation continues.
Private Sector flays City Hall over ‘unlawful’ container fees
While the Private Sector Commission (PSC) has agreed that the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) needs to collect revenue, it has lambasted the council for doing so without consultation and in an unlawful manner. The PSC made its position known yesterday in wake of Tuesday’s barricading of a number of city wharves to force payment of a contentious container fee. Concerning the approach of the council with regard to making decisions on the administration of the municipality, particularly revenue collection, the PSC in a statement released yesterday said, “… The commission wishes to remind the council that the business sector and residents of the city are its means of revenue and that partnership and consultation [are] infinitely preferable to confrontation and unlawful behaviour in the name of revenue collection.” In the statement, the PSC said that on being alerted to what can only be described as official harassment of members of the business community into paying the fee, “which according to legal advice obtained by the commission in unlawful,” it invited the Town Clerk to a meeting with its council and members of the Shipping Association. Efforts to contact Town Clerk Royston King for a comment proved futile yesterday and this newspaper was told that he had accompanied Mayor Patricia ChaseGreen to Chile.
Sunday, July 24 Two more held as cops look for motive in Corentyne triple murder
Police yesterday detained two more persons as they continued to try to unravel the motive behind the gruesome shooting to death of two men and a teenage boy, whose bodies were discovered at Kokerite Savannah, Mibicuri Creek, on Friday. Pawan Chandradeo, 37, his son Jaikarran Chandradeo, 15, and his brother-in-law Naresh Rooplall, 33, were found dead less than a day after they had left to go on a fishing trip in the Black Bush Polder, Corentyne community. One person had been taken into custody on Friday and police confirmed that two others have been held for questioning. Commander of ‘B’ Division Ian Amsterdam told Stabroek News that investigators have made some headway in the investigation. “One of the men in custody may have been with the victims at one stage, but then left,” he said.
Monday, July 25 ‘Prime’ suspects in Corentyne triple murder held
Police yesterday arrested seven more persons in connection with last week’s shocking triple murder at Black Bush Polder including two prime suspects. A police source told Stabroek News that after intense questioning, the men in custody started pointing fingers at two men, who are now considered the main suspects in the case. According to a source, the police are working on a theory that the victims may have been mistaken for rogue fishermen who on their trips into the backdam would damage rice farmers’ fences, causing cattle to destroy the crops. The source said that these specific fishermen had been warned not to fish in the area and the victims were likely mistaken for them.
Bandits raid Sanjay’s jewellery store
Four bandits carted off millions of dollars in cash and jewellery on Saturday night after holding the owner of Sanjay’s Jewellery at gunpoint at his Sheriff Street home. Bishnarine ‘Sanjay’ Persaud was entering his premises at around 11 pm on Saturday when he was attacked by the bandits and forced into the house. Persaud told Stabroek News that he was returning from a night out with some friends when he was held up by the men. “When I opened my gate, one of the men came up and stick a gun to my waist and said ‘it’s a stick up’ and I opened the gate,” Persaud said. He related that while he only noticed one person at first, after he opened the gate at the man’s command, he saw another one behind him. They were later joined by two other men and the four cleaned out the store’s safes and also left with its surveillance tapes.
Electrician dies in Diamond crash
An electrician died just after midnight yesterday after he was thrown out of the car he was in after the driver lost control and crashed into a fence at Diamond, East Bank Demerara. Dead is Wavel Sabsook also known as ‘Javid’ and ‘Bashment,’ 32, of Samatta Point, Golden Grove, East Bank Demerara. Sabsook was reportedly in the passenger seat of the car and was returning home sometime around midnight when the incident occurred. It was reported to Stabroek News that Sabsook’s friend Shameer Mohamed was driving the vehicle at a fast rate when it was clipped by another vehicle. Mohamed lost control and the car slammed into the Distribution Services Limited (DSL) fence. The car burst into flames minutes after. Sabsook was thrown out of the vehicle and died on the spot. Mohamed was able to escape with only minor injuries. Stabroek News was told that Sabsook would not usually wear his seatbelt and had not been wearing it during the accident. This newspaper was also told that there are cameras nearby that might have recorded the accident.
Tuesday, 26
Despite higher revenue, city still faces deficit
City Hall amassed a whopping $1.29 billion in revenue for the first six months of the year but continues to operate at a deficit and some city councillors are frustrated at their inability to access detailed information on the city’s expenditure. In the absence of Mayor Patricia ChaseGreen and Town Clerk Royston King, who are in Chile at the Latin America and the Caribbean Mayors’ Pre-Forum, councillors yesterday voiced their frustration at being unable to readily access information about the decisions and actions being undertaken by the city administration. Team Legacy Councillor Malcolm Ferreira, during the examination of the monthly report of the Solid Waste Department yesterday, noted that a request had previously been made for a report on the operations of the mechanised city sweeper, yet the council was still to be provided with same. In response, acting Town Clerk Sharon Harry-Monroe explained that a request or recommendation from a single councillor does not represent a decision of the council and, therefore, the councillor should not expect officers to respond as if it were.
Gov’t condemns Jagdeo for race baiting
The Government of Guyana (GoG) yesterday condemned Leader of the Opposition Bharrat Jagdeo for “race baiting,” after he claimed that there is “an assault on people of Indian origin” during a speech at an event in New York recently. “Racism is the well known last refuge of the politically desperate and the coalition government calls on all right-thinking and patriotic Guyanese to reject Mr Jagdeo’s continued attempts at sowing racial divisions in our society,” the GoG said in a statement issued last evening. During his speech, which was being circulated yesterday on social media, Jagdeo, a former president, contended that there is “an assault” on democracy in Guyana. “There is an assault on people of Indian origin. There is an assault on supporters of the
PPP. What we thought would never return to Guyana, in just one short year, has returned in full force and even worse in some regards than the [Forbes] Burnham era,” he said, while accusing the government of stealing transported lands and implementing new taxes that mainly target the rural poor. “…And you know who live in the rural areas? It’s mainly our supporters. And so our country has taken a turn for the worse. It’s something we have to live with but I want to say to you, we are going to work hard and whenever the elections come again, we are going to take back Guyana, we are going to take it back from these people,” he added.
City detectives to assist in Berbice triple murder probe
The police are continuing to work all angles and a number of theories in order to solve last week’s triple murder at Mibicuri, Black Bush Polder and Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum said yesterday that a team from the force’s Major Crimes Unit (MCU) was expected to head to the area to lend assistance in the investigation. Post-mortem examinations conducted on the victims’ bodies yesterday revealed that Pawan Chandradeo sustained a laceration to his head resulting in a fractured skull and he subsequently died of shock and haemorrhaging. His 15-year-old son Jaikarran Chandradeo and his brother-inlaw Naresh Rooplall, 33, also died from shock and haemorrhaging due to gunshot wounds. According to Commander of ‘B’ Division Ian Amsterdam, information suggests that one of the suspects in custody may have had a relationship with Pawan Chandradeo’s wife. According to information gathered, Chandradeo and his wife had separated some time back, but they later reunited and renewed their vows to each other.
Wednesday, July 27
Chair of Bid Protest Committee resigns
Chairperson of the recently-established Bid Protest Committee (BPC) Renee McDonald has resigned even as the body’s first case—Cevons Waste Management’s protest against the Ministry of Communities over the award of a $221 million Haags Bosch landfill maintenance contract—awaits a decision. Both Cevons and the selected contractor Puran Brothers Disposal Inc yesterday registered their concerns about McDonald’s resignation and the possible setback to the decision on the award of the contract. McDonald would only confirm her resignation and pointed Stabroek News to Attorney General Basil Williams for answers to other questions posed yesterday. “You will have to speak with the Attorney General,” she said. Williams, according to the Procurement Act, is responsible for selecting the chair of the Bid Protest Committee in the absence of the Public Procurement Commission (PPC). At 6.52 pm yesterday, the Attorney General returned a call but when told it was this newspaper, he informed that he could not speak as he was still at Cabinet but would call back later. Up to press time, he had not done so.
Main suspect in Black Bush triple murder held, owns shotgun
The main suspect in the Black Bush triple murder has been held and he is the owner of the same type of weapon that inflicted the deadly wounds. Seven out of the ten suspects who were in custody in connection with the triple murder were yesterday released on station bail at $50,000 each. The murders were discovered on Friday. According to Commander of B Division, Ian Amsterdam, the main suspect they were in pursuit of was found and is currently in custody being questioned. Amsterdam also disclosed that two of the main suspect’s workmen were also placed under arrest yesterday, making it a total of six persons now in custody.
Two charged with killing missing miner
Just two days after severed body parts suspected to belong to Mahdia miner Shawn Clarke were discovered, two men were charged in a city court with his murder. Shane McAlmont, 33, and Marlon Joseph, 28, appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan yesterday and were not required to plead to the indictable offences of murder and being an accessory after the fact. It was alleged that McAlmont, between July 10 and July 22, 2016, at Salbora Road, Mahdia, Potaro, murdered Clarke. It was also alleged that Joseph, during that same period, did receive, comfort, relieve and maintain, harbour and assist Mc Almont, knowing he had murdered Clarke.
They have both been remanded to prison until October 17 and the matter has been transferred to the Mahdia Magistrate’s Court for a preliminary inquiry into the charge. Clarke, 47, of Lot ‘C’ Norton Street, Lodge, reportedly went missing on July 10.
Thursday, July 28
Gov’t will not be ‘lectured to in the press’ on forest concessions, Trotman
Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Raphael Trotman yesterday said that the government will not be “lectured” to in the press on the issue of forestry concessions, while announcing that the arrival of officials from a company in China that may take over the operations of the controversial Baishanlin is being awaited. The minister was at the time being questioned on the operations of Baishanlin by Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Natural Resources, PPP/C MP Odinga Lumumba. Trotman said there “seems to be quite an obsession with Baishanlin” but reiterated that as of December last year the ministry through the Guyana Forestry Commission had placed a restriction on the export of crabwood logs following a complaint by local furniture producers that they were unable to get the wood to use. “So I think by a combination of poor demand in Asia; international, perhaps administrative issues with the company and the restrictions; the company’s operations are at a standstill right now,” the minister said. He added that while it is too soon to predict the future of the company, the sense is that it would be totally absorbed by another entity and the government would have to make a decision to allow this or to “kick the investment out” altogether.
Black Bush triple murder suspects brought to city
Seven men, including the main suspect who was arrested in connection with the Black Bush Polder, Corentyne triple murder were transported to Georgetown on Tuesday evening and are currently being questioned by ranks from the Criminal Investigation Department’s (CID), Major Crimes Unit. Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum last evening confirmed that the men were bought to Georgetown for intense questioning by ranks from the Major Crimes Unit, who have been spearheading the probe. Rice farmer, Pawan Chandradeo, 37; his fifteen-year-old son, Jaikarran Chandradeo, both of 163 Mibicuri North, Black Bush Polder and his brother-in-law Naresh Rooplall, 33, of Number 75 Village, Corentyne were found dead less than a day after they had left to go on a fishing trip in Black Bush Polder.
Five cops under close arrest over stolen gold
Five police officers attached to the Brickdam Police Station are currently under close arrest after they allegedly stole a quantity of raw gold from some miners last Friday. Stabroek News was reliably informed that an investigation has been launched into the incident which occurred at Timehri, East Bank Demerara. Reports revealed that the ranks visited the area after receiving information that the miners were allegedly involved in illegal activities. The miners were searched by the ranks during which they were allegedly relieved of the raw gold. Investigations are ongoing.
Friday, July 29
Cops to charge trio over Black Bush murders
Police are preparing to charge a farmer, his teenaged son and an employee with last week’s brutal Black Bush triple murder. Investigators say that the victims were killed because they were seen during a planned fuel theft. Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum yesterday told Stabroek News that the hunt is on for a fourth person who was allegedly present when the crime was committed. Police sources last evening confirmed that the wife of the farmer was earlier in the day arrested and is assisting with the investigations. Stabroek News has since been told that the three men who are to be charged are Carlton Chaitram, 37, known as ‘Lyma’ and Jairam Chaitram, 17, and Tameshwar Jagmohan, 18, known as ‘Guana’ all three are from Mibicuri South, Black Bush Polder.
Over 100 passport applications received from NY weekly
Over 100 passport applications are being received from New York alone on a weekly basis and this has placed pressure on the Central Immigration and Passport Office, Minister of Citizenship Winston Felix says. Felix told Stabroek News on Thursday that because of the increased demand at the Georgetown location, efforts are being made to decentralise the service. Within recent months, members of the public have voiced frustration at this office over the long lines and facilities put in place for members of the public at the location. Felix said that the work at this office has grown “beyond it.” Felix in a letter published in Stabroek News earlier this month, noted that there were around 400 people turning up each day and as a result the Passport Office has been stretched to the limit. As a result of the large numbers that were turning up, Felix disclosed in the letter that he had instituted a numbering system with a cut-off point. This has meant that people – including some from out of town – have had to be turned away and told to return the next day.
Co-worker charged with murdering Gafoor’s manager
A co-worker of murdered Gafoor’s manager Terry Lackhan was yesterday remanded to prison after being charged with killing him. In a city courtroom that was packed with Lackhan’s relatives and police, David Outar, 24, of 369 Foulis, East Coast Demerara, was not required to plead to the charge, which stated that on July 21, at Herstelling, East Bank Demerara, he murdered Lackhan during the course or furtherance of a robbery. Outar, who was unrepresented by a lawyer, was read the charge by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.