March 31-April 5, 2014
MONDAY 31
Business persons at Charity accused of dumping garbage in Pomeroon River
BOAT operators in the Pomeroon River are calling on both the Maritime Division of the Ministry of Transport and Hydraulics (MARAD) and the Environmental Protection Agency to look into the careless dumping of plastic bags into the Pomeroon River. Reports are that plastic bags pose grave danger to operators of outboard engines, and can cause serious accidents and concomitant loss of innocent lives.Some business owners and vendors at Charity reportedly dump garbage, which includes plastic bags, bottles and disposable cups.

Serial thief begs for one month imprisonment but fined $25,000
IMRAN ALI confessed to stealing $8,000 worth of mangoes from the fenced yard of Deodat Singh in Adelphi Village, East Canje, Berbice. He said he committed the act because he was hungry. “I can take a one-month, Madam. They does take advantage on me,” Ali suggested to the magistrate. who questioned the thief as to why he had to be sentenced so often. She said it seems he was not learning from his experiences.
“I gon change dis time, Your Honour. I gon change,” was Ali’s reply. The magistrate fined Ali $25,000, with an alternative of 50 days imprisonment.

First batch Berbice ’Health and Wellness’ volunteers graduate
FOURTEEN volunteers attached to the Berbice Regional Health Authority (BRHA) are now equipped with medical knowledge and practical skills to be of service to the Upper Corentyne community. This first batch, known as the ‘Health and Wellness’ team, underwent eight months of intense training by Dr. Haripersaud Chand and staff of the Skeldon Hospital Complex.

TUESDAY 1
Guyana, U.S. enter agreement to stop tax evasion
GUYANA will enter into an inter-governmental agreement (IGA) with the United States (U.S.) to help the latter ensnare its citizens who are evading taxes on income earned through non-U.S. financial institutions and other foreign entities. In his 2014 Budget presentation, Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh disclosed that the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has been identified as the conduit of financial information between Guyana and the U.S. Inland Revenue Service (IRS) towards collaboration with the U.S. Foreign Account Tax Compliant Act (FATCA).

Education Minister commissions new computer laboratory at Bath
MINISTER of Education Priya Manickchand has commissioned a new computer laboratory at Bath Primary School in Region 5 (Mahaica/Berbice) as part of a collaboration between the Canadian Global Partnership for Literacy and former student, mechanical engineer, entrepreneur and philanthropist, Mr. Trevor Anthony Subryan. At present, there are 123 secondary schools and 85 primary schools equipped with computer laboratories. Another 30 primary schools are slated to acquire computer labs in 2014.

Hits and Jams recruiting for Miss Jamzone Pageant
HITS and Jams Entertainment will be recruiting the best looking females who have the charm, stamina and beauty to represent Guyana in the upcoming Miss Jamzone International Pageant. The show is slated for August at the National Cultural Centre (NCC) in Georgetown. Last year’s Guyana delegate, Alicia Bess was selected. This year Hits and Jams is in the hope of stirring the interest of young ladies between the ages of 18 and 25. Entry forms can be uplifted from the Hits and Jams Headquarters, in Lance Gibbs Street, Queenstown, also in Georgetown.

WEDNESDAY 2
Nagamootoo blistered over Leguan ‘grass cutter’ comment
ALLIANCE For Change (AFC) Vice-Chairman and Member of Parliament Moses Nagamootoo received severe flak from Region 3 (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara) representative and Government MP Bibi Shaddick over his “grass cutter” reference to the people of Leguan. A native of Leguan, Shaddick decried this reference, making it clear that the people of Leguan are hardworking people. During Minister Irfaan Ali’s contribution to the debates in the National Assembly, while he was addressing the investments that benefit the people of Leguan in the area of job creation, Nagamootoo heckled, “Leguan people cutting grass. Whea the jobs deh!” Ali, in turn, demanded an apology, saying: “How dare you reduce the people of Leguan to people that cut grass? I demand that you offer a public apology.” Ali’s call for a public apology was supported by Shaddick.

Boy, 13, hangs himself
THIRTEEN-YEAR-OLD Rishi Ramkisoon, called ‘Sanjay’, of Lot 162 Hope West Enmore, East Coast Demerara, committed suicide by hanging. His father found his dangling body around 06:30 hrs when he went to wake him up to prepare for school. The lad had reportedly awakened earlier, but went back to sleep before his father found him in his room with a sheet tied around his neck. The Golden Grove Secondary School second-former would have celebrated his 14th birthday on July 9.

Mon Repos businessman hit by fire a second time
A FIRE in Mon Repos destroyed a flat wooden building where a couple operated a shopping mall.
Proprietor, Raul Anthony Persaud told the Guyana Chronicle that the Lot 94 Melsha Road business, named Tony and Cavita’s Shopping Mall, has been in operation for some time now. He said he and his wife have been slowly recovering from the destruction, by fire in March 2007 of a previous venture they ran from the very location. That operation, called Brian’s Variety Store, was housed in a two-storeyed building.

THURSDAY 3
Veteran cyclist killed by speeding minibus on Carifesta Avenue
A MINIBUS driver is now in police custody assisting with investigations after he allegedly struck dead 67-year-old pedal cyclist Roy Mendonca on Carifesta Avenue. Chronicle has been informed that the driver of the minibus hit the cyclist while trying to overtake another vehicle. The man was killed while on one of his regular fitness training rides. The minibus, licence plate BNN 6492, has been detained while the driver remains in custody. The widow related that her husband loved cycling and only last week he was awarded for being the top ‘over 60s’ rider.

More than 15,000 to sit NGSA
THE National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) will be held April 16 and 17, 2014 at centres across Guyana. Approximately 15,500 candidates are registered to write this examination. English Language, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies will be assessed. Each subject will consist of two papers. English Language and Science will be administered on April 16, Mathematics and Social Studies on April 17.
Timetables for the candidates were prepared and distributed last month to schools across the country.
Seminars are being held to train supervisors and invigilators in the administration of all examinations and to enlighten them on the new procedures for these examinations.

Philadelphia man dies after being struck during rum shop brawl
THE death of 38-year-old Mahendra Singh of Philadelphia, East Bank Essequibo is now being treated as a murder as police ranks conduct investigations following reports that he was allegedly struck by another man while drinking when an argument ensued. Singh, who worked with a family in the rice production business, met his demise after resting at the home of his employer at Philadelphia where he resides sometimes.
Bissoondai Sammy, Singh’s sister, related to the Guyana Chronicle that her brother was in the village drinking with his good friend when an argument broke out between them and they got into a fight.

FRIDAY 4
APNU’s Jaipaul Sharma resigns as MP
MEMBER of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Jaipaul Sharma has resigned as a Member of Parliament. He has forwarded a letter to this effect to the Speaker of the House, Raphael Trotman.
Sharma told the media that his decision to resign was based on alleged controversial statements made by Education Minister Priya Manickchand. The APNU member explained that his decision was taken after much consideration and is “a strategic move.” “I will not be a political football,” he said, explaining that given the hints of snap elections, Manickchand’s comment, which was directed at his father, Chandra Narine Sharma, can be used to affect the standing of APNU. According to Sharma, his move is the “honourable” thing to do and APNU has many capable members who can fill his seat.

Prisoner stabbed in Camp Street jail
DOCTORS at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation were battling to save the life of prison inmate Terry Joseph, 29, who was stabbed in the right side of chest at the Camp Street Prison. The Guyana Chronicle was informed that the man got into an argument with another inmate and he received the stab wound during a fight. Efforts to ascertain what exactly the man is serving time for in the Camp Street jail were futile.
Over the years, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Guyana Prison Service have been venting their concerns over the presence of weapons and other prohibited items in the Camp Street jail.

Renrick Alexander, 61, found guilty of murder
A DEMERARA Assize jury has found 61-year old Renwick Alexander guilty of knifing to death his neighbour, Carl Thomas, 35, on November 3, 2010.
Presiding judge Navindra Singh did not impose the death sentence, but sentenced the convict to 56 years imprisonment. The judge had in mind a sentence of 60 years, but discounted four years, for the time the prisoner was incarcerated. The 61-year-old murderer took the 56 years sentence calmly.

SATURDAY 5
Fuel boats explode at Port Kaituma
MILLIONS of dollars went up in flames as fuel boats which were parked on the waterfront at Port Kaituma in the remote North West District exploded, damaging four buildings in the process. Millions have been lost when the boats in Port Kaituma exploded and started a fire. Though unconfirmed, this newspaper was told that most of the persons selling fuel on the Port Kaituma waterfront are illegal vendors who do not possess the requisite paperwork from the Guyana Energy Agency.

Gold ‘tampering’ uncovered at Bartica
THE Board of Directors of the Guyana Gold Board (GGB) has called in the Guyana Police Force to investigate the issue of gold tampering during the purchasing process. This is according to a statement from the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment.
“The Guyana Police Force is currently questioning several persons including the employees of both the Bartica sub-office and the main office in Georgetown,” a ministry statement said.

Elderly woman dies after ingesting rat poison
BARBARA Ramnauth of 84 Vryheid’s Lust, East Coast Demerara left home to go to church, but apparently diverted and later turned up at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), where she subsequently succumbed, having reportedly ingested five carbon tablets (rat bait).The 62-year-old mother of four sons had shared a home with her youngest child, Patrick Gobin, at Vryheid Lust. However, at the time of her demise, she had been residing temporarily at her brother, Basil Bengrie’s home at Independence Boulevard in Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

Carolan Lynch PI to continue Monday
THE second Preliminary Inquiry (PI) to decide whether Carolan Lynch is to stand trial for the murder of her husband, former Swiss House Cambio managing director, Farouk Razack, will continue on Monday before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry. The former beauty queen was recharged for the murder. The original charge was dismissed in 2008 against her by then Magistrate Gordon Gilhuys on the basis of insufficient evidence. Particulars of the capital offence said she murdered her husband Razack at their home at Lot 106 Ireng Place, Bel Air Park, Georgetown on May 7, 2007. The post-mortem report showed that Razack died as a result of asphyxiation due to possible ligature strangulation.