January 19-24, 2015

Monday, 19
Fire destroys West Bank house, motorbike workshop
A FIRE of unknown origins swept through a flat concrete house at Lot16 Pouderoyen Public Road, West Bank Demerara leaving one person homeless and millions in losses, even as nearby houses suffered heat and water damages. Joseph Gomes, the caretaker of the home who has been operating a motorcycle repair shop at the location for several years, said that he was not at home at the time. The house belonged to his sister. He claimed that the fire service was slothful in their response to the emergency call. Asked to estimate his losses, Gomes said that he had three motorcycles inside the house and engines also.

Eleven countries ready to land flights in Guyana …awaiting completion of CJIA expansion
GUYANA is actively pursuing international airlines to enter the local market, either as a transit point or a destination, said Civil Aviation Department (GCAA) Director Mr. Zulficar Mohamed. Flights coming from Europe and further afield are ‘long-haul flights’ and given the limited length of the runway at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), such ventures are currently not possible. He reported that Guyana entered into agreements with Canada, China, Curaçao (Kingdom of the Netherlands), Ghana, Iceland, Kenya, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Qatar, Singapore and the United Kingdom, 11 of which can be brought into force if the significant bugbear was removed.

18 footpath bridges constructed in communities in Regions 3, 4, 5 and 6
THE Community Infrastructure Improvement Project (CIIP) has invested over $4.6M recently to rehabilitate and construct 18 footpath bridges in several communities in Regions 3, 4, 5 and 6.Approximately 1,800 residents are direct beneficiaries of the bridges, which replaced derelict structures encompassing broken rails, loose planks, missing planks and rotten beams, all of which made the structures unsafe for users. The Ministry of Housing and Water through this component of CIIP helped to provide improved access within the following Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs): Seafield/Tempie; Rosignol/Zeelust; Profit/Rising Sun; Unity/ Vereeniging; Golden Grove/Diamond Place; Gibraltar/Fyrish; Lancaster/Hogstye; Hague/ Blankenburg; Best Klien/Pouderoyen; Greenwich Park/Vergenoegen; Hydronie/Good Hope; and Stewartville/Cornelia Ida.

Tuesday, 20
Gov’t cuts gasoline, diesel prices at GUYOIL outlets by 30%, kero by 42%
GOVERNMENT announced a 30% reduction in the price of gasoline and diesel and a 42% per cent drop in the price of kerosene at all GUYOIL outlets with effect from last Monday night. Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh disclosed that the price of gasoline has been reduced from $995 per gallon to $695 per gallon; the price of diesel reduced from $985 per gallon to $694 per gallon and kerosene from $850 per gallon to $496 per gallon. The new prices mean that prices have dropped to where they were in 2009.

With revenue, more could have been done – Singh
AS the Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association (GABA) prepares for its elections and general meeting today, outgoing president, Michael Singh, believes that he could have done more to help the game in the capital, if he had financial support from the corporate community. Singh, who was elected on January 26, 2013, is considered by many as a saviour of the game, given the fact he took the sport when it was at an all-time low and brought back stability and provided meaningful incentives. Singh was unanimously voted in after receiving nominations from Pacesetters and Colts basketball clubs of which he is the president.

Islander aircraft search called off …after 21 days of multiple sorties
AFTER 21 days of multiple sorties by helicopters and fixed winged aircraft, complemented by seven ground search parties totalling forty seven persons, all to no avail, the search for the missing Islander aircraft was formally called off. Minister of Public Works, Robeson Benn and officials of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) extended their sympathy to the immediate family, relatives and friends of the missing pilot Captain Nicky Persaud, 27, and Cargo Loader David Bisnauth, 51, in their time of distress. 8R-GHE disappeared on a routine shuttle operation from Mahdia to Karisparu on 28th December, 2014.

Edinburgh teen murdered by jilted man
A probe has been launched following the fatal stabbing of 19-year-old Sheniza Mohamed of Edinburgh, East Bank Berbice. Police reported that Mohamed was in a restaurant at Rosignol, also on the East Bank Berbice, and was involved in an argument during which she was stabbed about her body. Mohamed was in a row with a man with whom she is reported to have ended a relationship when. The man is in police custody.

Wednesday, 21
President announces…  Elections Day May 11
AN end to the current political impasse that gripped Guyana for the last three years is finally in sight, following President Donald Ramotar’s much anticipated announcement of a date for General and Regional elections – more than a year earlier than it was due. The date set by the President is Monday, May 11, 2015. He disclosed that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has assured that it will be in a state of readiness for the return to the polls. “I am advised that GECOM would be in a state of readiness for these polls on that date… meetings were held with the Guyana Elections Commission to emphasise the need for their readiness for holding free, fair, transparent and efficient elections,” the President said.

Granger confirms quest for pre-election APNU/AFC coalition
A Partnership For National Unity (APNU) has established a seven member committee to negotiate with the Alliance For Change (AFC) in exploring the establishment of a pre-election coalition. Confirmation came through none-other than Leader of the combined Opposition Brigadier (rtd) David Granger who, following the announcement of an election date by President Donald Ramotar, commented that while it was long overdue it is indeed welcomed. The Opposition leader during an exclusive interview with the Guyana Chronicle, said the seven member team was set up yesterday by APNU and “we expect that the negotiations will be successful.”

GECOM ready to go ‘full throttle’ – Surujbally
THE Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is ready to move forward “full throttle”, according to its Chairman, Dr. Steve Surujbally. His comments follow the announcement of May 11 as the date for General and Regional Elections by President Donald Ramotar. In an interview via telephone, he said, “Now that we have a date we can go full throttle. Our action plan will kick into operation.” Within the framework, there are various statutory and administrative requirements, which must be completed and are relevant to the efficient management and conduct of general and regional elections.

Thursday, 22
Guyana’s upstream oil and gas policy launched
THE Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment continues to work towards creating a viable oil and gas sector, but to have a feasible sector, there must be policy that caters for its development. The ministry launched its upstream oil and gas policy at a national stakeholders’ forum at the Herdmanston Lodge, Georgetown. The strategy focuses on the broader picture of the upcoming sector, as this is the framework that provides the answers to what will and can be done, when and if oil is found in Guyana.
According to Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Robert Persaud, this is to prepare the country for the eventuality of a significant amount of oil being found, more so, for commercial purposes.

Former Human Services Minister is new UG Pro-Chancellor
FORMER Human Services and Social Security Minister Ms Bibi Shaddick has been appointed Pro-Chancellor of the University of Guyana (UG), the eighth person to do so in the history of the institution. According to a release from the University, the decision was made during an adjourned Extra-Ordinary Council Meeting. Ms Shaddick, who is an Attorney-at-Law by profession, succeeds Dr Prem Misir, who has the distinction of being the University’s longest-serving Pro-Chancellor. Ms Shaddick, is a serving member of the University Council, and Chairperson of the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority.

‘I paid a bribe website’ records 111 reports valuing $10, 884 924 to date
PERUSAL of the “I paid a bribe website” has revealed a total of 111 reports of bribery to the value of $10,884,924 has so far been recorded. Speaking about the website, Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee disclosed that the system which was set up by the ministry allowed persons to post/report what they encountered in terms of bribery. Minister Rohee added that persons through the website could have their complaints forwarded to various departments and agencies such as the traffic department, Guyana Police Force, Guyana Revenue Authority and so forth. “We have a person monitoring the website on a daily basis, so as to keep up to date with the posts,” he said.

Friday, 23
Berbice teen bride attempts suicide –after marriage to ‘too old’ husband
EIGHTEEN-year-old Nalisa Singh, also known as Nalisa Abrahim, allegedly consumed a poisonous substance the day after her marriage to Abikraim Rahaim, when she discovered that the man was too old for her. The couple tied the knot according to Hindu rites on January 18 at Number 68 Village, Upper Corentyne, Berbice. The bride’s mother, Shamiroon Abrahim, related that her daughter of Albion, Lower Corentyne, married Rahaim following a prearranged agreement. “I did not know she did not like the boy. Why she did not tell me before?” Shamiroon questioned. The boy at reference here is a 40-year-old man. This newspaper was reliably informed that the man told his newly-wedded wife on the night after the wedding that he was not 36 years old as was previously mentioned, but was instead a 40-year-old father of two adult children.

Prisoner found hanging in lockups
TWENTY-three-year-old Tiffon Osafo Peters of East Ruimveldt, Georgetown was found hanging in a cell at the East Ruimveldt Police Outpost lockups by another prisoner inside the cell. This newspaper has been informed by police sources that Peters had ripped his shirt to construct a rope which he used to hang himself from the grillwork of the lockups. The dead man’s mother, Mrs. Helena Harte Peters said her son had been a patient of Dr. Bhiro Harry’s, and that she had seen him earlier in the day when she showed up at the outpost to take him medication and meals. According to the woman, she was not aware of her son’s death until she showed up at the police outpost to bring him dinner.

Several women benefit from cervical cancer testing
A 16-man team from the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation visited the Transport and Harbours Department where 58 women were examined for cervical cancer using the visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) method. This was in keeping with the Hospital’s announcement earlier in the month that in observance of Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, it would collaborate with the Ministry of Health (MoH) to host several outreach programmes in an effort to encourage women to get screened for cervical cancer. Medex of the VIA Clinic at the GPHC, Lorlene Ramsundar, disclosed that the 58 women represented a 100% turn out at the organisation. She revealed that upon examination, five women required treatment and as such they were treated using Cryotherapy.

Saturday, 24
President asks GPL to examine possibility of reducing electricity costs
THE Guyana Government’s decision to significantly reduce fuel prices on the local market, amid falling fuel prices globally, has resulted in appreciable benefits to consumers. And the possibility of the reduced fuel prices also impacting on the sums paid by electricity consumers to the Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) is one that is currently under serious consideration. In fact, President Donald Ramotar, in an invited comment to this newspaper disclosed that he has asked GPL to examine the possibility of reducing electricity rates to customers.

Gov’t obtains $902M in Surendra Engineering Company lawsuit
GOVERNMENT, in the latter part of 2014, sued Surendra Engineering Company Limited (SECL) for over GY$100M and US$4.3 – the latter being sums that were lost in its contract with the company for the design and construction of the proposed Specialty Hospital – as well as other costs. In a hearing before Justice Rishi Singh in the Commercial Court, Government won its lawsuit. Government was awarded all of its lawsuit’s claims with the exception of damages in excess of $100M.

GPHC patient commits suicide – plunges through hospital window
PANDEMONIUM broke out at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) when a female patient, identified as Sheniza Farouk met her demise after plunging through a window at the medical institution.  The 37-year-old woman who resided at Lot 61 West Meten-Meer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara was said to be suffering from chronic renal failure-a long-term condition where the kidneys fail to work effectively. The woman had been a patient at the GPHC since last December 20, after being admitted for the same condition. Those who witnessed the incident reacted immediately by rushing her to the Emergency Room (ER) but she was already dead by then.

CXC to offer Portuguese for the first time
Education Minister, Priya Manickchand has announced that the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) would be offering Portuguese at the Caribbean Certificate of Secondary Level Competence (CCSLC) examinations which are being written in nine territories for the first time in 2016. This would be in 2017.
“You may recall that it was Guyana’s Ministry of Education that piloted Portuguese formally in the secondary school’s curriculum. It was here that we developed the Curriculum Guides, resource materials, and trained our teachers to deliver this new but increasingly useful language,” Manickchand explained.