Monday June 30
Fire ravages chowmein factory, residential buildings at Sisters Village, W.B.D
A FIRE of great magnitude broke out in a chowmein factory at 23, Sisters Village, West Bank Demerara, quickly devouring the facility and ravaging everything in its path. Within minutes of being detected, it had extended its consuming reach to two nearby residential buildings at Lots 21 and 22, completely reducing both to charcoal and rubble. The house on Lot 22 was burnt flat to the ground and nothing was saved; but it was a miracle that no one was hurt in the blaze. At least 12 persons are now homeless from the rampage of that fire.

Forty families benefit from FFTP ‘Whitewater’ Project
FORTY families recently benefitted from the Food For The Poor (FFTP) humanitarian project, “Whitewater Community Development Project”, where 40 houses were built for them. According to Project Manager Andrea Benjamin, the economic situation appeared to be dire and the housing conditions were the worst she had seen. Parents told her that children had to walk 45 minutes to get to school and that most days cassava bread was all they had to eat. Milk and cheese according to them are luxuries in the community.

Main conservancies below full supply level
AGRICULTURE Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, pointing out that the May/June rains have been less than expected, said that the probability of Guyana experiencing El Nino conditions has increased over 98 per cent. “The May/June rain, even though we have had rain, is below what we normally have; so all our conservancies are below full supply levels,” he said. The Agriculture Ministry had issued an El Nino alert in May, after having consulted with its Hydro-meteorological Office and taking into consideration predictions from various regional and international forecasting and weather agencies. A Special El Nino Working Group has since been set up.

Tuesday July 1
Peliminary census results show population figure at 747,884 in 2012
THE population of Guyana, counted on September 15, 2012 Census Day, was recorded at 747,884, according to a preliminary report of the Guyana Population and Housing Census, 2012. This data shows that there has been a marginal reduction of 3,339 persons from the population count of 751,223 that was recorded in 2002.

According to census 2012, Guyana’s coastland population stands at 666,261 persons. This count reflects the reality of the greatest concentration of Guyana’s population living within the coastland regions.
Although, the Coastal Plain represents the smallest physical geographic area of Guyana, it includes six of the ten administrative regions. The heavily populated zone boasts the majority of commercial activities being conducted in the country.

Young vendor sentenced to 56 months for stealing $6.5M from friend
TWENTY-TWO-YEAR-OLD vendor, Sunail Sumra of Lot 69 Robb Street, Bourda was convicted on a break and enter and larceny charge by Georgetown Magistrate Judy Latchman, and was sentenced to 56 months’ imprisonment.
Particulars of the charge against Sumra are that on November 26, at Lot 79, Da Silva Street, Newtown Kitty, he broke and entered the dwelling house of Dexter John and stole a quantity of gold jewellery, a quantity of raw gold, and $65,000 cash, together valued at more than $6.5M.

Daring $1M gunpoint robbery caught on surveillance camera
AN armed bandit and his accomplice snatched approximately one million dollars from a woman minutes after she exited the Republic Bank on Camp Street and had gone to a popular pharmacy in Kitty, Georgetown. The criminals, who were reportedly staking out the bank, pounced on the young woman after she travelled from the city bank and entered a pharmacy in the Kitty area. A senior Police rank said every effort will be made to ensure that these brazen bandits are caught and brought to justice.

Wednesday 2
Father of six-month-old baby robbed, murdered
BHARAT Petamber, 26, of 1401 Section C Block Y, Golden Grove, East Bank Demerara, was robbed and murdered a short distance from where he operates a tailoring business. The man was apparently on his way home when he was attacked and killed. His wife, Menedai Persaud, said two of her husband’s friends went to her house in a taxi and informed her that there was a party of police at the location next to where her husband had his business. There she was told that her husband was robbed and stabbed. She rushed to the hospital only to be told that he had died.

All NICIL decisions had to have Cabinet’s approval before implementation
GOVERNMENT’S chief spokesperson, Dr. Roger Luncheon, addressing the line peddled by sections of the media which portrays the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) and its head, Mr. Winston Brassington, as acting as free agents, or doing as they please, has said that any decision taken by NICIL and its Head, Winston Brassington, must necessarily have Cabinet’s endorsement before it is acted upon. He deemed this principle a matter virtually “laid down in stone.” “The pilgrimage of this governance chain of recommendations and decisions of the NICIL Board to ultimately consideration by Cabinet, and its endorsement by Cabinet, is virtually laid down in stone. It is cast in stone,” Dr. Luncheon remarked.

GPF fleet of vehicles boosted by almost 50 brand new cars and pickups
A FLEET in excess of 30 brand new vehicles, inclusive of cars and open-back pickups procured from budget allocations in 2013, is parked on the tarmac at the Guyana Police Force (GPF) Headquarters at Eve Leary, Georgetown awaiting official handing over. Sourced through Four Brothers and Car Clean Enterprise, two separate dealers, the vehicles were to be handed over to the GPF last week, but would now be handed over later this month. The Guyana Chronicle has been informed that these vehicles are just part of the GPF entitlement of vehicles, and more would be handed over to the GPF to bring its full complement to just below fifty.

Thursday 3
Gov’t cautions diplomats to stay within boundaries of conventions
THE commemoration of the 238th Independence Anniversary of the United States of America held at the Cummings Lodge residence of outgoing US Ambassador, Dr. Brent Hardt was the stage for a major showdown between himself and the Government of Guyana. Acting Foreign Affairs Minister, Priya Manickchand, despite being heckled at the instigation of a local PR man and denied the use of a nearby speaker by Alliance For Change (AFC)’s Nigel Hughes, pressed on with her presentation, in which she took Hardt to task for “creating tensions” between Guyana and the US, and for the position he takes on many a local issue, positions she deemed hypocritical, considering the position taken by the US itself.

Destitute found murdered with bottle and wood stuck in anus
PERSONS making their way to work in Linden discovered the body of 49-year-old Andrew Dey, a Linden destitute, lying behind the car park with his head badly lacerated and a piece of wood and a bottle sticking out of his anus. Dey, who used to do odd jobs for persons in that Region 10 community, had an argument with someone at the market place on Tuesday night; but since everyone had known him to be a non-confrontational destitute, everyone had ignored that incident. One person in the area said that Dey had usually been a quiet person who had avoided offending anyone.

Seven cases of chikungunya confirmed in other parts of country
THE chikungunya virus has made its way to other parts of the country, with seven of the 12 newly confirmed cases emanating from Regions 3, 4 and 5, and the City. Minister of Health, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran said there were three cases from West Berbice, namely Bath Settlement, Bush Lot, and Number 9 Village; one each from Mahaicony and Ithaca; one from North Ruimveldt; and one from Crane, on the West Coast Demerara, in Region 3. According to the Minister, on July 1, upon receiving the results of samples that were sent to the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) in Trinidad and Tobago, it was confirmed that the disease has spread. The 12 more cases of the mosquito-borne disease have brought the total number of cases to 31 thus far.

Friday 4
8-yr-old killed attempting to cross road
POLICE reported that a fatal accident occurred at the Land of Canaan Public Road, E.B.D, which resulted in the death of pedestrian Gabriella Davidson of Land of Canaan. Investigations have revealed that the child attempted to cross the road and was struck down by a motor vehicle. She died while receiving treatment at the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, EBD. The driver of the motor vehicle is in police custody.

Pomeroon farmers form association in bid to attract international markets
COCONUT farmers and non-traditional agricultural commodities (cash crops) farmers in the Pomeroon area of Essequibo have joined together to form the ‘Pomeroon Farmers – Coconut and Other Crops Association’ in a deliberate attempt to improve production, attract funding and overseas markets. The association was born out of a need to improve farming conditions in the area and to expand production. The following office bearers were elected: Michael Griffith (Chairman), Brian Ally (Vice Chairman), Vilma Da Silva (Secretary), Eric Gomes (Treasurer) and Yeridin Cameron (Assistant Secretary/Treasurer).

GTT post-paid customers can now access telephone bills Online
GUYANA Telephone & Telegraph Company (GT&T) post-paid customers can now access their telephone bills online using any internet enabled device, signalling the launch of its E-Billing service. Any internet enabled device including smartphones, iPads, tablets, and laptops may be used, Radha Krishna Sharma, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GT&T said. Director of Customer Services GT&T Pamela Briggs related that the service is free and allows customers to view all their telephone details including their current telephone charges, previous bills, and payment history, account balances, due dates or call details. She noted that customers will be required to register with their email address at Myaccount.gtt.co.gy to enjoy the benefits of this service.

Saturday 5
Indecent exposure accused no longer employed at Home Affairs
THE Ministry of Home Affairs, in a press statement, referred to an article published in the Kaiteur News of last July 1 with the caption: ‘Senior Government Official Charged with Indecent Exposure’, and informed that the person in question is no longer employed with that ministry. MOHA added that the person in question, Narine Chattergoon, aka ‘Ken’, who claimed as reported in the article “to be a big one with the Ministry of Home Affairs” is no longer employed. Chattergoon’s contract was terminated with effect from August 1, 2013 and he does not have any other affiliation with the Ministry.

Farm house destroyed by fire
A FIRE of unknown origin razed a two-bedroom cottage at Lot 29, Farm, East Bank Essequibo leaving two persons homeless. The fire was spotted by neighbours and the fire department was immediately summoned, but the building being small; and fanned by the wind was ravaged very quickly. The building was owned and occupied by Neville Duncan, 74, a farmer and his wife, who at the moment, are both at Port Kaituma.

D.Y Patil Group building a new university at Turkeyen
JUST five minutes away from the University of Guyana (UG) campus at Turkeyen, the D.Y. Patil Group is constructing a new tertiary education institution, named Ajeenkya D. Y. Patil University, and it is expected to be completed soon. The D.Y Patil Group is highly regarded as one of the largest educational groups in India. Dr. Padmashree D.Y. Patil founded it in 1983. The group’s activities encompass the fields of Education, Healthcare‚ Agriculture and Sports. It has over 160 institutions of learning encompassed in its three universities‚ based at Navi, Mumbai‚ Pune and Kolhapur.