Recent events review Saturday, July 22 to Friday, July 28
Saturday, July 22
Board says GPHC breached law in $632M ‘emergency’ purchases, former CEO acted ‘recklessly’
After months of reports in this newspaper about illegal purchases by the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) totalling $632 million, the board of the hospital yesterday said that its former Chief Executive Officer Allan Johnson had acted “recklessly” in the matter but said that there was no information that Minister of Public Health Volda Lawrence had instructed that procurement procedures be bypassed. The GPHC came under intense scrutiny when Stabroek News reported on March 8 this year that the institution had sought approval for an “emergency” purchase of $605 million in items from Trinidadian conglomerate ANSA McAl. It turned out that the purchase was not in compliance with the procurement law and that a number of items sought from ANSA could not be deemed emergency supplies. It was later revealed that three other “emergency” purchases were made by GPHC in breach of the procurement law from New GPC to the value of $20.8 million, Health2000 for $2.9 million and Chirsosyn Discovery for $2.1 million.
Police believe escapees split up
The manhunt for the remaining four inmates who escaped from the Georgetown Prison on July 9 continues and it is suspected that they are hiding out in separate locations. This disclosure was made by Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud yesterday afternoon during a press conference held in the Ministry of Public Security’s boardroom. Persaud said that intelligence-led operations are ongoing as the search continues for Cobena Stephens also known as ‘OJ’, Bartica massacre convict Mark Royden Williams, murder accused Stafrei Alexander and Uree Varswyk.
Over 2,000 applicants for 100 onshore oil jobs
Over 2,000 persons have applied for the 100 onshore oil jobs advertised by the Muneshwer’s joint venture, Guyana Shore Base Inc (GSBI) and applications continue to come in on a daily basis. “We are averaging 100 applications per day, we are over 2000 applicants so far,” Robin Muneshwer, who is the Chief Executive Officer of the three-company consortium, told the press yesterday. The company, which last month won the tender to provide shore-based services to ExxonMobil, yesterday held another tour of the facility, located at Houston on the East Bank of Demerara, to update Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman as to progress and plans for the facility. Last month too, the company had advertised dozens of oil and gas positions. Among the administrative positions advertised were senior accountant, executive director and office manager. In the category of operational positions, GSBI sought a port/shore base manager, yard foreman, crane operators, forklift operators, senior diesel mechanics, industrial electricians, auto electricians, stevedores and articulated vehicle drivers among others. issued yesterday in response to recent statements made by President David Granger, who said that he will continue to act on the matter based on his interpretation of the Constitution with respect to the appointment. Based on application by businessman Marcel Gaskin for declaratory orders on the meaning of Article 161(2), which provides for the appointment of the Gecom Chairperson, last Monday Justice George ruled, among other things, that the appointee did not have to be judge, former judge or someone eligible to be a judge.
Monday, July 24 Two weeks on…no sign of dangerous prison escapees
Fourteen days after a chilling breakout from the Camp Street jail which also saw its demolition by fire, four dangerous escapees remain on the run and the authorities appear clueless. Bartica massacre convict Mark Royden Williams, Stafrei Alexander, Uree Varswyck and Cobena Stephens remain on the run. Alexander and Varswyck have several murder accusations against them. Williams is believed to be the mastermind of the breakout and based on eyewitness accounts Varswyck also played a major role. That the authorities have not been able to recapture the quartet has left sections of the public in jitters. The ease with which the escapees were also able to exit the prison front gate without being intercepted has also raised concerns. After the 2002 jailbreak, five prison escapees embarked upon a bloody robbery and killing spree. Observers have suggested that those who fled on July 9th from Camp Street may have been more interested in their freedom rather than launching attacks. With a two-week head start and few confirmed sightings they could have been long gone.
Sophia man hacked to death on Mabura trail
An 18-year-old Sophia man was hacked to death by a colleague after a confrontation over the former’s girlfriend. The police at ‘E’ Division are currently investigating the murder of Devon Murray, 18, a sawmill operator of 1331 B Field, Sophia, East Coast Demerara which occurred between 8.30 pm on Friday and 5.30 am on Saturday, at 38 Miles Mabura Trail, Upper Demerara River. According to a police press release, Murray’s death may have stemmed from an incident where the suspect was said to have been making sexual advances to Murray’s girlfriend. An argument ensued between the two and Murray was killed. A cutlass was said to have been used to commit the act. The body of the teen is presently at the Mackenzie Hospital Mortuary awaiting a post-mortem examination.
Prisoner who fled GPHC found hiding in barrel
Melvor Jeffrey, who was allegedly shot by the police and then escaped from lawful custody while under guard at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) on Wednesday, was yesterday recaptured by the lawmen after he was found hiding in a barrel at Agricola, East Bank Demerara. After four days of searching, the police found the wanted 18-year-old, Jeffrey, of Kaneville and Agricola, East Bank Demerara, in a house at Agricola. Jeffrey, a mason, was in custody following a police operation in Agricola, on July 11. According to Commander of ‘A’ Division, Marlon Chapman, the man was held in connection with discharging a loaded firearm at the police. According to a police source, the teen was allegedly found with a sawnoff shotgun in his possession, during his arrest. Prison pasture early yesterday morning, after digging a tunnel that took them under the fence and into the backlands. The 13 inmates, who included nine murder accused, were suspected to have fled the compound sometime between 1 am and 2.30 am yesterday during a heavy downpour. They were subsequently identified as Clive Forde, Tishan McKenzie, Winston Long, Kerry Cromwell, Pascal Smith, Odel Roberts, Kendell Skeete, Paul Goriah, Jamal Forde, Jamal Joseph, Jason Howard, Rayon Jones and Shawn Harris. Forde, Cromwell, Smith, Roberts, Skeete, Howard and Harris are wanted for murder while McKenzie and Long are wanted for armed robbery. Goriah and Forde are wanted for murder/robbery, Joseph is wanted for inflicting grievous bodily harm and Jones for discharging a loaded firearm. Meanwhile, police said last night that Long and McKenzie were recaptured in Georgetown at the Number 44 minibus park, while Roberts, Forde and Jones were nabbed around 7 pm at Block 8, Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara. Howard and Joseph were caught just around 10 pm in the North Ruimveldt area.
Ramjattan accepts responsibility for ‘embarrassing’ Lusignan escape
Although taking overall responsibility for the “embarrassing” escape of 13 high-risk prisoners from the Lusignan pasture, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan yesterday brushed off calls for his resignation. “I am here because I indeed wanted to help in the security sector. It is unfortunate that this thing has happened under my stewardship and indeed it is a bad thing, if I may say so, but resignation is not a word that I am normally associated with,” he told reporters during a press conference held at his Brickdam office. Among those who have called for his immediate resignation are Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo and former home affairs minister Clement Rohee. The two recent jailbreaks–occurring just two weeks apart—follow a major fire last year at the Georgetown Prison, where 17 inmates died.
Corentyne business owners hospitalized after bandit attack
A Number 73 Village, Corentyne shop owner and his wife were injured and admitted to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital yesterday morning, after bandits launched an attack on them around 2 am.
Commander of ‘B’ Division Ian Amsterdam confirmed that one person has since been taken into custody and is assisting with the investigation. A police source close to the investigation told Stabroek News that the person in custody is from the Number 71 Village, Corentyne, and is known to the businessman and his family. Rakesh Bisham Harold, also known as ‘Anil’, 42, is nursing pellet wounds about his body, while his wife Nadeera Harold, 40, sustained a fractured ankle and severe back injury. The Harolds operate a grocery and liquor store at their home in Number 73 Village, Corentyne.
Wednesday, July 26 Roraima chief pilot dies in crash
A veteran pilot attached to domestic airline, Roraima Airways died yesterday afternoon after his plane crashed while approaching the Eteringbang airstrip in Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni). The deceased pilot has been identified as 39-year-old Collin Winston Martin, the chief medical evacuation pilot for the airline. Martin’s body was flown out of the area last evening and arrived at the Eugene F Correia International Airport around 8:30 pm. According to Chief Executive Officer of the airline, Captain Gerry Gouveia, Captain Martin who was flying solo at the time of the incident was returning from Ekereku, with another Roraima-owned aircraft behind him when the incident occurred around 5.30 pm.
Slain prison officer hailed as fallen hero
Before being laid to rest, Odinga Wain Wickham, the prison warder who was gunned down during the July 9 Camp Street jailbreak, was yesterday remembered as a fallen hero who had been a role model to all. Hundreds of mourners, including family and friends, gathered at the Ann’s Grove Methodist Church before 2 pm to pay their last respects to Wickham, 33, who had succumbed after being shot five times. The church and the churchyard were filled with mourners, who spilled out on to the streets as they waited for his casket to be paraded down the road. Close family members and friends were also seen dressed in red t-shirts bearing Wickham’s photo at the back.
Melanie man critical after shot by police
A Melanie Damishana labourer was in critical condition at the Georgetown Public Hospital up to last night after he was shot by police, who have since launched a probe into the shooting. The wounded man has been identified as Charles Peters, 36, a father of two of Lot 184 Melanie Damishana, East Coast Demerara. He Charles Peters was shot twice and his family said that they were told that one of his hands will have to be amputated due to the injuries he sustained. Police say that Peters was observed running on the road and acting in a suspicious manner. As a result, they stopped to challenge him and it is being alleged that he attacked a police rank, resulting in him being shot. This newspaper was told that the Guyana Police Force’s Office of Professional Responsibility is conducting an investigation into the shooting.
Thursday, July 27
Three escapees from Lusignan jailed for a year
Three of the prisoners who fled from a Lusignan holding facility on Monday were jailed for one-year each yesterday while four others contested the charges and decried the conditions under which they had been held. The seven had been recaptured at various times on Monday. They appeared in court and were charged with escaping from lawful custody. Three of the men pleaded guilty and were sentenced to one year imprisonment each. Jamal Forde, Jamal Joseph and Winston Long pleaded guilty to the charge which stated that between July 23 and 24, they escaped from the Lusignan Prison. The four others, Tishan McKenzie, Odel Roberts, Jason Howard and Rayon Jones denied the allegation. They were each charged separately when they appeared before Magistrate Peter Hugh in the Cove and John Magistrate’s Court. During the court proceedings, Stabroek News was informed that the inmates told the court that they escaped from a pasture and not a prison. They also complained about the poor conditions they were kept under which they blamed for their escape. The matter was adjourned to next month when it will be called again in the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court.
Ex-magistrate held over alleged attempt to pervert course of justice
Former magistrate Chandra Sohan was yesterday taken into custody at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court for allegedly attempting to pervert the course of justice in the preliminary inquiry into the murder of Number 70 Village carpenter Faiyaz Narinedatt. Sohan, an attorney at law, was arrested yesterday midday and up to press time, there was no word of him being released on bail. According to police sources, they were awaiting word from officials in Georgetown on how to proceed. The case, which involves US-based Guyanese Marcus Brian Bisram, who had fled the country shortly after the murder and was recently arrested in America, has grabbed the nation’s attention. Five other men, including Bisram’s bodyguard, were charged with the murder. Bisram, police have alleged, procured and commanded Orlando Dickie, Radesh Motie, Diodath Datt, Harri Paul Parsram, and Niran Yacoob to murder Narinedatt between October 31 and November 1, 2016, at Number 70 Village, Berbice.
Melanie Damishana labourer shot by police succumbs
Charles Peters, the Melanie Damishana labourer who was shot by the police on Tuesday afternoon, succumbed to his injuries yesterday morning. Stabroek News understands that Peters, 36, a father of two of Lot 184 Melanie Damishana, East Coast Demerara died around 1 am at the Georgetown Public Hospital where he had been admitted. He was shot twice; in his arm and foot and his family had said that they were told that if he had survived one of his hands would have had to be amputated due to the injuries he sustained. The Guyana Police Force’s Office of Professional Responsibility has since launched an investigation. It is unclear whether any of the three ranks who were on the patrol at the time of the incident is under close arrest. The police had said that Peters was observed running on the road and acting in a suspicious manner.
Friday, July 28 Anti-smoking bill passed
The National Assembly last night passed the landmark Tobacco Control Bill 2017 which will target smoking in indoor public places and ban advertising of tobacco products. The bill was passed by a vote of 32 to one with 23 abstentions. During the five hours of debate, which saw a total of 13 members argue the merits of the long-awaited legislation, the government side of the House was full of praise while the opposition argued that the bill managed at the same time to do too much and not enough. Minister of Public Health Volda Lawrence in whose name the bill was laid told the house that the passage of the bill was instrumental to the Guyana’s quest to achieve the Sustainable Developmental Goal Three. She noted that this goal which is to ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing is a key priority of government while stressing that the legislation will assist the country in reducing by one third, premature mortality from non-communicable diseases by 2030 as well as fulfilling Guyana’s obligations under the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.
Teen gets three years for harbouring hospital escapee
An Agricola youth, Esan Gibson, 18, will be spending the next three years in jail after admitting to harbouring fugitive Melvor Jeffrey, who had escaped custody while being held under guard at the Georgetown Public Hospital. Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan handed down the sentence to Gibson, a welder, after he pleaded guilty yesterday, while she remanded two young women who were also charged alongside him with the crime. Gibson, Carlotta Geer, 24, and Shyon Freeman, 17, all of Agricola, were read a charge which stated that between July 19 and July 23, at Lot 80 Brutus Street, Agricola, East Bank Demerara, they together knowingly lodged or harboured Jeffrey, who was wanted in connection with a crime. Geer and Freeman pleaded not guilty.
Ex-magistrate calls perversion of justice allegation baseless
Following his arrest for allegedly attempting to pervert the course of justice, attorney Chandra Sohan yesterday dismissed the accusation as baseless, while warning that the decision by the police to move against him could have implications for the ability of lawyers to properly represent their clients. Sohan, a former magistrate, stressed yesterday that he was hired for his services as a lawyer for a witness in the preliminary inquiry into the murder charge against five men accused of murdering Number 70 Village carpenter Faiyaz Narinedatt, and he could not understand why exactly he was held by the police. On Wednesday, State Prosecutor Stacy Goodings, who replaced police prosecutor ASP Stephen Telford, told the court that Sohan had no authority in the proceedings. However, according to Sohan, the witness approached him about one month ago for his services as a lawyer. He stressed that the court’s records and even Telford could verify that he played “little or no role” in the case.