Rupert Craig Highway accident victim was tutor at School of the Nations
—with support of ABSAA
A pedestrian who succumbed to his injuries at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) last Saturday night, minutes after he was struck down by a motorcycle along the Rupert Craig Highway in the vicinity of the Russian Embassy, was yesterday identified as a long time Adult Basic Education (ABE) tutor at School of the Nations.
Following Saturday’s accident, the Guyana Police Force had sent out a press release requesting the public’s help in identifying the deceased. Yesterday, they were able to identify the victim as 73-yearold Shri Chandra Persaud also known as ‘Max’ of lot 109 ‘B’ Thomas Street, Kitty, Georgetown.
According to an earlier police report, the fatal accident occurred last Saturday evening about 6.40 pm. Investigations revealed that the motorcycle was proceeding west along the highway and collided with Persaud who was attempting to cross from the southern to the northern side of the road.
Following the impact both Persaud and the rider were picked up in an unconscious state and taken to the GPH where they received medical attention. Persaud succumbed to his injuries some ten minutes after the accident occurred.
School of the Nations yesterday announced on the institution’s Facebook page, the passing of the tutor. “He was a very remarkable person who has taught hundreds if not thousands of persons on our ABE courses over the past decade,” a statement from the Nations community read.
The director of the school, Dr Brian O Toole yesterday afternoon held a prayer service for the deceased via Zoom.
Investigations into the incident are ongoing.
Curtis Vasconsellos, an attempted murder suspect, was yesterday charged with armed robbery.
Vasconsellos, 25, of Agricola, East Bank Demerara, was arraigned before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Courts.
It is alleged that on February 2, 2021, at Houston Public Road, East Bank Demerara, while armed with a gun, he robbed Suw Romaman of $25,000 in cash and a cellphone valued $110,000. He denied the charge and was released on $150,000 bail.
The matter was
February 28.
Attorney-at-law Dexter Todd who represented Vasconsellos told the court that his client was not arrested in relation to the current charge. Todd said that the man was arrested by police after they conducted a raid at Agricola. He also told the court that his client was charged for attempted murder and was released on bail by the High Court. Todd then asked that his client be released on reasonable bail and assured that should bail be granted, the man will attend court. adjourned until
The police prosecutor told the court that on day in question Romaman stopped at Houston to make a delivery. She said that while he was exiting his car, his phone rang and he answered. During this time Vasconsellos approached him and discharged a round which hit the man’s left knee. Vasconsellos allegedly demanded that Romaman hand over the phone and then went to the man’s car and removed the cash.
The prosecutor said that after the matter was reported, a raid was conducted at Agricola where Vasconsellos was arrested. While there were no objections to bail made by the prosecutor, she asked that the Magistrate institute a 7pm to 5am curfew and that the man report to the police station every Friday at 9 am.
Vasconsellos and an accomplice were involved in a shoot-out with a businessman in 2015. The report stated that the two were attempting to rob the man. His accomplice was shot and killed during the incident, while he was injured and remanded to prison for attempted murder. He was later released on bail after Todd made a bail application at the High Court.
Golden Jaguars U20 captain Nicholas McArthur has secured a three year soccer scholarship at Chicago State University following the involvement of the Alex Bunbury Sports and Academics Academy (ABSAA).
This is according to a release from the Guyana Football Federation.
McArthur during brief remarks at the GFF headquarters on Tuesday said, “I’m very happy. Thank you to Mr. Alex Bunbury and the federation for this stepping stone. I want to be a professional footballer. I want to play for PSG (Paris Saint-Germain). That is where my idol Kylian Mbappé plays – I want to be just like him.”
Chicago State University (CSU) competes in seven men’s and eight women’s sports in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I section.
The Plaisance-born former Canadian international and ABSAA founder, Bunbury, said, “This is a great moment for Guyana’s football. I saw an opportunity for this young man who I believe has all the credentials and talent to showcase his Godgiven ability representing Guyana.”
According to Bunbury, who plied his trade with Major League Soccer team Kansas City Wizards, West Ham in the English Premier League and top tier Portuguese side Maritimo, “This will give him an opportunity to be visible on a big stage and an opportunity to be an inspiration for other young people. This programme has been assisted by the GFF and we are planning to do more of this. We have more opportunities coming. We believe this is the start of something really special.”
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Charles Ramson Jr. praised ABSAA for its contribution in securing the scholarship.
“This is a great example of how the diaspora can impact Guyana. Keep pushing the envelope in wanting to give back and understanding that this is where you are from.”
He added, “There are a lot of young people who want to be able to find a pathway for their passion and they want to be able to see examples that can inspire them. There are a lot of people who you will be inspiring just by doing this, so understand that you bear an additional responsibility.”
GFF President Wayne Forde said, “Nicholas, you are going to be a trailblazer
Alex Bunbury
for many players after you.
“It is so important that you are a good ambassador and set the right example, so there is an added incentive for the coaching staff and management of the college to want to offer similar opportunities to the players that will come after you. Congratulations to Mr. Alex Bunbury for networking and doing everything he has done to make this happen,” Forde ended.
SEVILLE, Spain, (Reuters) Sevilla defender Jules Kounde scored an extraordinary solo goal and Ivan Rakitic struck against his old side in a 2-0 win over Barcelona in a Copa del Rey semi-final first leg yesterday.
French centre back Kounde opened the scoring in the 25th minute, dribbling from his own area and playing a one-two with a team mate before bursting past four Barca players to confidently slot past Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
The Barca keeper made a superb save to prevent Sergio Escudero doubling Sevilla’s lead at the end of the first half but Croatia midfielder Rakitic made sure of the victory with a thumping finish into the roof of the net in the 85th minute.
Barca felt they should have been awarded a penalty at 1-0 down when Jordi Alba was tripped on the edge of the area but referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz gave a free kick without checking with the VAR whether the foul had taken place inside the box.
“Everyone has told me it was a penalty,” said Barca coach Ronald Koeman.
“They made a lot of fouls but clever fouls and they defended very well. I think we deserved more, we played well and created a lot of chances. I think it’s a harsh result for us given what we did on the pitch.”
Lionel Messi could have snatched a late away goal but was thwarted by Sevilla keeper Bono and Julen Lopetegui’s side saw out the win without conceding to take a big advantage into the second leg at the Camp Nou on March 3.
The ban on supporters attending matches due to coronavirus restrictions did little to dissuade locals getting fired up for the game and the home team’s bus was greeted by pockets of chanting fans letting off flares when it arrived.
FLAILING LEG
Barca made the better start and would have taken the lead but for the first of three outstanding saves from keeper Bono to thwart Messi, the Moroccan blocking the Argentine’s shot with his flailing leg.
Kounde fired Barca a warning shot by shooting just wide of the far post and the 22-year-old soon steamrolled through the Barca defence to score the opener, further increasing his appeal to the top European clubs circling to
sign him.
Sevilla, fourth in La Liga and one point behind Barca, controlled the first half but Barca enjoyed more possession after the interval and Bono kept out another strike from Messi.
The hosts found their second goal by storming forward on the
counter-attack, Rakitic bursting beyond his former team mates to latch on to a punt forward and hammering past Ter Stegen for a goal he barely celebrated.
“We put in a complete performance and the clean sheet is thanks to the work of the whole team,” said Sevilla’s Kounde.
“We suffered a little more in the second half but everyone stuck to the coach’s plan and it paid off.”
Athletic Bilbao host Levante today in the first leg of the other semi-final. The final takes place in Seville’s La Cartuja stadium on April 17.