Recent events review Saturday, February 25 to Friday, March 3

Saturday, February 25

CH&PA Board dissolved over rancour, little work, Harmon says

The Board of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) was dissolved because the “rancour” between it and the agency’s staff saw very little work being done, Minister of State Joseph Harmon has said. And while the board has still not been officially informed of its dissolution, it will be apprised sometime next week when a new board is sworn in. The Minister of State, in an interview with Stabroek News yesterday, pointed to the fact that the CH&PA had only spent 20 percent of its budgetary allocation last year, primarily due to internal conflict between the Board and CH&PA staff. Yesterday was the first time that the government provided reasons for the dissolution of the board. hours after he lost control of a service vehicle and slammed into a lamp pole and fence along the Vigilance Public Road. Dead is Special Lance Corporal 14790 Ashwell Jackman, 25, of ‘B’ Field, Sophia. The accident occurred around 3.15 am yesterday opposite the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court. Jackman sustained massive head injuries and was rushed in an unconscious state to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH). He died around 3.30 pm in the GPH’s Intensive Care Unit, while receiving medical attention. Stabroek News was informed that Jackman was the lone occupant of the force’s vehicle at the time of the accident.

Sunday, February 26

Retirement of judges leaves Court of Appeal in limbo

The Court of Appeal will be unable to sit as one of its permanent members retired last week and another judge is scheduled to proceed on pre-retirement leave later this week, according to PPP/C Shadow Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, who says the situation is a cause for concern as there are hundreds of cases that are still to be heard. Chancellor (ag) Carl Singh retired on February 23 and Nandlall said that he has been informed that from this week, Justice of Appeal BS Roy is scheduled to proceed on pre-retirement leave. He stressed that Court of Appeal requires at least three judges at any given time, including the Chancellor. “It has been functioning over the last year with only two [permanent] judges—Singh and Roy—and, therefore, every time that court sits, it borrows a judge [the acting Chief Justice] from the High Court, throwing the High Court’s agenda and work load into disarray,” he told Stabroek News.

Monday, February 27

PPP support for term limits has not changed – Ramotar

Former President Donald Ramotar says the PPP’s support of term limits has not changed and head of the 1999-2000 constitutional commission, Ralph Ramkarran says that if necessary a referendum on the matter should pass easily as both major parties support limits on presidential terms. “If the Attorney General does not succeed in the CCJ, the Government will have to do what it needs to – hold a referendum. The PPP would have no reason not to support it,” Ramkarran said in his column in yesterday’s Sunday Stabroek. Pointing to Ramkarran’s column, Ramotar stated that while he is not sure what the current position of the PPP will be on a referendum, the party’s position on having a term limit has not changed. “It is true all that Ralph is saying in his article (yesterday) as far as the PPP’s position and support for a two term limit for presidents…I had worked with Ralph on this matter. I can’t remember the exact year but there was a time when billboards were being put up supporting a third term…I had condemned them because it was not in keeping with the party’s position on the matter…,” Ramotar asserted. Guyana Police Force on the accident which occurred around 7 pm, motor car PTT 8019 was proceeding north along the western side of the Pouderoyen Public Road, West Bank Demerara, when it hit Roopchand who was crossing from east to west. The statement went on to say that the pedestrian was picked up in an unconscious condition and was rushed to the hospital, where he later died.

Tuesday, February 28

Popular Buxton bakery destroyed by arson

Arson yesterday destroyed Benjamin’s Homemade Bakery which had been a fixture in the Buxton community for almost 26 years. At around 12.30 am yesterday, neighbours noticed flames consuming the building and raised an alarm. One neighbour, who did not wish to be identified, told Stabroek News that her grandmother first noticed the fire and called her. Her scream of fire roused the neighbourhood; a bucket brigade was formed and the fire service contacted. Though two fire engines responded promptly, they were unable to save the building. Speaking with Stabroek News, owner of the bakery Adrian Benjamin explained that he learnt about the fire through the same neighbour. “I was at our Berbice branch and received a call that the bakery was on fire. I rushed here only to meet this [shell of the burnt building],” Benjamin said. He later told Stabroek News that the fire service had confirmed that the blaze which began in the office of the building was a result of arson.