Tales from way back when…(A look at some of the stories that made the news ‘back-in-the-day’ with CLIFFORD STANLEY)

Guyanese millionaire killed in car crash
(Guyana Graphic: January 26, 1973)
A FORTY-two-year-old Guyanese, who, by dint of hard work and determination to succeed, worked himself up from humble bus driver in Guyana to film director and millionaire, died in a car crash in the United Kingdom.

The man whose perseverance earned him the admiration of such notable persons as former heavyweight champion, Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali) is Harold Busgit, a Director of Warner Bros., England.
Harold was in his new Rolls Royce when he was killed in the crash. Mr. Busgit’s lone dependant is his 72-year-old father, Phillip of 43 Village, Corentyne, and by virtue of his son’s estate, has automatically become a millionaire overnight. The 42-year-old bachelor also has an insurance policy valued $1M, with full accident benefits.
His death came exactly two weeks after he visited Guyana to see his sick mother, who died some days ago.
Harold left Guyana 21 years ago for the USA. There, he pursued studies in business administration, but after three years, he went to England to study law.
He found the legal profession not to his liking, and subsequently turned his attention to the mortgage and money-lending business. He joined the Warner Bros. company and rose to the position of director.
When he visited Guyana earlier this month, he discussed some of his plans for the future, which included the filming of motion pictures here.
The third of nine children, Harold was once married to a beautiful Hollander.
As the sole benefactor, the aged Mr. Busgit said that he had a lot of children and grandchildren to feed and educate. He had no immediate plans to get into any particular business.
Arrangements are being made by his brother, Cedric, who lives in the United States, to bring his body back home to Guyana.
Harold had visited his brother after leaving Guyana, and before going back to the United Kingdom.

(2)
Appeal in obeah case dismissed
(Guyana Graphic: January 27, 1973)
MR. Justice Akbar Khan, in the Full Court, yesterday dismissed an appeal by Ethel Viola Hayes who was found guilty of having in her possession on Wednesday, November 24, 1971 a quantity of Confusion Oil, Commanding Oil and other articles for the purpose of using them in the practise of obeah.
Mr. Justice Khan, sitting with Mr. Justice Kenneth George, ruled that it was a matter of fact that the Magistrate accepted the evidence of the expert, ex-Corporal William Hughes, and it would be quite wrong for the Full Court to substitute the finding of the Magistrate.
Counsel for the appellant had contended that the magistrate erred in law when he held that the articles were capable of being used for the practise of obeah.
Evidence disclosed that a Police trap was the sequel to visits paid by Hazel Gibbons and Patricia Yhap, who were Police decoys.
Police Constable Jacqueline Yhap accompanied the decoys on a return visit, when fresh eggs were taken to the defendant by Patricia, who was told that she would get something to bury under her steps, and she must return with $20.
The Police closed in, and Hayes was found with the articles for the purpose of using them in the practise of obeah. She was fined $50.

(3)
Served government without leave for 20 years
(Guyana Graphic: January 19, 1973)
A PUBLIC Officer who served Government without going on leave for 20 years is reported to have been granted special additional leave by the Public Service Commission  when he bowed out of the Public recently.
He is the Director of Prisons, Mr. Harold Davis, who it is understood went on pre-retirement leave on Wednesday last.
Mr. Davis, who it is reported has prepared blueprints for the improvement of prison life for both officers and prisoners, and for the establishment of the new prison to be built at Timehri, was in the prison service for 32 years, having started from the lowest rung of the ladder.
According to a source close to the Public Service Commission, because of Mr. Davis’s  very exemplary service — having worked for twenty years without going on leave, he was granted nearly a month’s additional leave.
Mr. Davis was a member of the Guyana Garrison of the South Caribbean Forces before joining the Prison service.

(4)
Non-drinker fined $20 for rum
(Guyana Graphic: January 19, 1973)
A 52-year-old porter attached to the Guyana Distilleries Limited, who told Senior Magistrate Rudolph Harper that he was a non-drinker, was yesterday fined $20 for stealing a half-bottle of rum from his employers.
Archibald Karim pleaded guilty to the charge of simple larceny. He told the Magistrate that he was a non-drinker, and that he had taken the rum to apply to his foot which had a pain. Karim denied a suggestion by the Magistrate that the pain was in his throat and not his foot.
The court was told that on January 17 last, Karim was seen by a security guard leaving the premises of Guyana Distilleries Limited with a bulky waist. He was searched and the rum was found tucked in his trousers.
Karim was given one month to pay the fine.

(5)
Methodist women ministers soon
(Guyana Graphic: January 27, 1973)
WOMEN will soon be able to join the Ministry of the Methodist Church in the South Caribbean, according to informed sources here.
The sources said that delegates attending the annual synod of the Methodist Church in the South Caribbean approved provisional legislation for this on Tuesday night.
The next move, a synod source said, was “routine” approval from the conference from the Methodist Churches in the Caribbean and the Americas later this year. The synod also gave approval to provisional legislation for a new pattern of minister in the Church.
Candidates for this new Order, to be known as Diaconate, may be men or women and must have been baptized, be a full member of the faith, and a fully accredited local preacher.
The persons must not be less than 35 years old, except in exceptional circumstances, and shall be an individual fully discharging the responsibilities of a secular profession vocation or job, the source said. (Clifford Stanley can be reached to discuss any of the foregoing articles at cliffantony@gmail.com or cell-phone # 657 2043)

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