Wages talks with teachers’ union not over –Henry
As teachers across Guyana prepare to strike, Minister of Education Nicolette Henry has said that the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) will be invited back to the negotiation table before the end of the week. “I’m looking at a meeting this week because it’s both urgent and important and therefore we need to ensure that we continue to address and resolve these issues in the most effective way and with also some amount of expediency,” a statement from the Ministry of Presidency quoted Henry as saying yesterday. She also indicated that any increases offered to teachers would be offered to all categories of government workers. “I understand that teachers, like many other categories, feel that they should be given an increase and it is my intention to ensure that we give them an increase in keeping with what we can afford, in the best interest of the teachers and the people of this country…notwithstanding my responsibilities as Minister of Education, I believe that whenever we take a decision as Government we have to look at the best interest of all of our people. I would want to ensure that what we offer to teachers is what we can afford but also what we’re going to offer to other categories will be in keeping with the prevailing financial resources and it must operate within that context,” Henry was quoted as saying.
Baker charged over armed robberies, attempted murder
A baker was yesterday remanded to prison after being charged with nine counts of armed robbery and discharging a loaded firearm with intent to commit murder. Among the charges laid against Omalla Williams, 26, was the armed attack on a visiting group of American citizens, who were robbed at gunpoint. It was alleged that on July 27th, at Leopold and Breda streets, Werk-en-Rust, in the company of others and armed with a gun, Williams robbed Dennis Grant, taking two gold chains, valued $1.8 million, and a Samsung Galaxy cellphone, valued $71,000; Christina Gaines-Sluss, 45, whom he relieved of US$1,300; Joe Hughes, 60, from whom he took US$800; Darlene Gaines, 64, from whom he took a Samsung Galaxy S8 cellphone, valued $140,000; and Daisy Gaines-Sluss, 19, taking an MP3 player, valued $5,000. Police had previously stated that Hughes, Gaines, and the two Gaines-Sluss women, who are all US citizens, were robbed shortly after their arrival in Guyana. After being picked up at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri they were transported to the city, where they were ambushed, when their driver reportedly slowed down in order to allow other vehicles to pass by. The gunman who attacked them reportedly pulled the key from the ignition of the minibus and he was then joined by four other men, who relieved all the occupants of the bus of their items and passports.
Cop linked to Brazilian miner’s killing refuses to take part in ID parade
The policeman who has reportedly admitted to shooting Brazilian miner Estevão Costa Marques, saying he had been fired upon, yesterday refused to be placed on an identification parade. A police source told Stabroek News that the Police Constable refused to participate in the ID parade, which was scheduled to be conducted yesterday afternoon. The Constable and a Subordinate Officer, who were arrested after the fatal shooting, remain in custody. The police are awaiting an autopsy report before they seek legal advice on the way forward. The autopsy is scheduled to be conducted today. The two ranks were