Recent events review Saturday, May 26 to Friday June 1
Twenty-two graduate from oil academy’s first training programme
Twenty-two students graduated yesterday from the inaugural TOTALTEC Academy Oilfield Safety and Operator Training and Development Programme and they were lauded for their outstanding performance and for setting a high bar for their successors. Among the graduates were former GuySuCo workers, who stated that the training they would have received while in the sugar industry contributed to their success in the programme. This batch of graduates is the first to participate in a nineweek training programme which was launched in February by TOTALTEC Oilfield Services. It was related that already, there are more than 50 recruits set to begin the upcoming training programme in June. Those recruits, who were present during yesterday’s graduation ceremony, were challenged to exceed the already high expectations set by their predecessors. “I’ve been in this industry for years and this is the first time we’ve went this far into training new graduates… One thing I have to say is every single person here passed every single exam they went through and they had high pass marks…what I’d also like to say is a lot of these courses that they’ve done are internationally-recognised courses,” said Paul Thomson yesterday. evolving country. In the meanwhile, we will continue our mission to provide quality education to our greatest assets, our students,” it added.
Mechanic charged with murdering Guyana Goldfields manager
A mechanic was yesterday charged with murdering Guyana Goldfields Inc. manager Neil Whyte, who was found stabbed to death just over a week earlier in a Thomas Street, South Cummingsburg apartment. Anthony Ragnauth, 20, appeared in Georgetown before Magistrate Leron Daly, who was told by a lawyer that the accused was brutalised by the police. The charge alleged that Ragnauth on May 21st at 258 Thomas Street, South Cummingsburg, murdered Whyte. Ragnauth was not required to enter a plea to the charge. Anthony Ragnauth accused of murdering Dwarka on May 27 in the said village. They were not required to plead to the indictable charge which was read to them by Magistrate Zamilla Ally-Seepaul at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court and were remanded to prison.
Bar Association passes motion for confirmation of Chancellor, CJ
Attorney-at-law Kamal Ramkarran was yesterday reelected as President of the Guyana Bar Association (GBA), which also passed a motion to support the confirmation of acting Chancellor of the Judiciary Yonette Cummings-Edwards and acting Chief Justice (CJ) Roxane George-Wiltshire SC. Stabroek News was reliably informed that the motion was moved by attorney Emily Dodson in the presence of about 40 lawyers, who had gathered for the GBA’s annual General Meeting at the High Court, where elections were held. President David Granger had nominated Belizean Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin for the post of Chancellor, along with Cummings-Edwards for the position of substantive Chief Justice. Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has since disagreed with the president’s choice and at the moment there is no indication as to what is the solution to the impasse as the two have traded blame over who must take responsibility for the stalled process. The president had suggested that Jagdeo’s failure to provide counterproposals in light of his disagreement is stalling the process. Jagdeo, in response, said that he would not be making any counterproposals and that he has made his position clear in his correspondence to the president. Granger recently said that he plans to have a meeting with Jagdeo “very soon” to discuss the appointments and other pressing issues.
Guyanese Calypsonian Mighty Rebel dead at 72
Guyanese Calypso icon The Mighty Rebel, known for bold and unapologetic political commentary which challenged the state of affairs, died yesterday after a period of illness. Born Geoffrey Phillips, he was 72 at the time of his death. Phillips’ daughter, Raelene, told Stabroek News that her father had started experiencing kidney failure last year and was hospitalised for a period. He was subsequently released but would attend clinic regularly for checkups. She stated that it was during one of these routine checks last Thursday that they were informed that his condition was critical. Raelene noted that even after he had experienced a stroke in 2015, he had still continued performing and offering mentorship to students who participated in the annual Mashramani competitions. She noted that encouraging and facilitating the continuity of the calypso art form was a passion of his. The woman stated that his vision was for the development of a calypso programme locally, so that persons desirous of learning could go on to cultivate their craft. Mighty Rebel
Bandits steal over $1.5M in electronics, watches in Eccles home invasion
Masked bandits early yesterday morning invaded an Eccles, East Bank Demerara, home, where they attacked a family and carted off valuables amounting to over $1.5 million. The attack occurred around 2.30 am, when police said two men wearing masks entered the house at Block “EE” Eccles, and demanded cash and valuables from the occupants. Police said the men gained entry into the house from a southern window on the lower flat of the home. They then kicked open a door leading to bedroom of the victims, Krista Vincent, 29, Mohamed Zameer, 30, and Prathish Madan, 19, and held them at gunpoint. The bandits, police said, were armed with handguns.