Monday 1

BSL makes good on road rehabilitation promise to Region 10

THE initial stages of a massive road rehabilitation programme in Region 10(Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice) have begun in the community of Kwakwani, with significant support from Bai Shin Lin International Forest Development Inc. The work will see approximately 5 miles of internal roadways in Kwakwani being rehabilitated, and is expected to be concluded within ten days. The newly formed Linden Kwakwani Road Users Association (LKRUA), which represents several logging associations in Region Ten, is spearheading the efforts with key support from members of the Kwakwani Natural Resources Organisation (KNRO), and the Upper Berbice Forest and Agriculture Producers Association (UBFAPA).

Farm Supplies makes possible relevant training for GTI Agri Dep’t

LOCAL privately-owned company Farm Supplies Ltd. has given tremendous assistance to the Agricultural Department of the Guyana Technical Institute (GTI) in its work of turning out well-trained agricultural equipment mechanics. This assistance, given free of charge, is entering its third year, an appreciative Renato Yearwood, Head of the Agricultural Machinery and Heavy Duty Equipment training at GTI, recently disclosed. Farm Supplies came on board and refurbished the entire GTI training workshop. The company refurbished the GTI Agri-mechanic workshop, supplied modern engines, equipment and tools, facilitating much needed “hands on” training for youths seeking a certificate in Agricultural Mechanics after a two-year period.

PRESIDENT promises ‘Gov’t will fix Bartica Road’ and garbage woes
PRESIDENT Donald Ramotar told miners that the road from Bartica to the interior would be fixed, as money has been provided to execute works. He also stated that Government would work closely with the Bartica Interim Management Committee (IMC) to address the issue of garbage. “Just to let you know,” he said, “we are going to fix this road; and at the moment, we have just given the Ministry of Works $89M to try to do work to make this road and drainage better, until we can fix it to the standard of a highway. “But we are going to continue to work on that. We are working very closely with the IMC in Bartica in order to clear the drains and garbage, and if we had the resources that can become available from saving $9B per year, we will not have enough contractors and workers to do all the work we can do with $9 billion; and we can solve the problem we have with garbage and drainage, etc.”

Tuesday 2

Drug submersible vessel brought to Georgetown as investigations continue

THE 65-foot-long submersible that was found in the Waini River in the North West District two weeks ago has been brought to Georgetown as investigators continue probing its construction and utility. Twelve feet wide and seven feet deep, this vessel was found outfitted with a diesel engine, and reputedly built in Guyana. No one to date has been arrested in connection with this find, nor was any drug found aboard. Ranks of the Customs Anti- Narcotics Unit (CANU) are convinced that the vessel was used to ship drugs in and out of Guyana. A source said that based on investigations, the vessel was used to ship drugs to some part of Africa and South America.

Gov’t makes US$10M contribution to NPATF

WITH a resolute recommitment to improved environmental practices and sustainable development, the Government of Guyana announced a US$10M contribution to the National Protected Areas Trust Fund (NPATF).
Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Robert Persaud said: “We in Guyana have been very firm and committed in terms of playing our part and contributing in terms of mitigating… within the broader context and the broader commitment of the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS).” He expressed concerns over the current global situation of climate change, citing a United Nations report which posited that there had been increases in greenhouse gas emissions by some 1.3% between 1970 and 2000 with a further increase to 2.2% between 2000 and 2010.

Science, technology will unlock agri potential for contribution to economy

THE application of science and technology to agricultural production will unlock the full potential of the sector for sustained contribution to economic and social prosperity, President Donald Ramotar said recently. The occasion was the commissioning of two state-of-the-art plant laboratories in the compound of the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) at Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara. The two new lab, one a Tissue Culture Lab and the other a Bio-Control Lab, will among other tasks, advance the work of the NAREI in identifying and providing top-quality planting materials for farmers as well as ensuring that agricultural commodities destined for export markets meet the phyto-anitary requirements of importing countries.
Wednesday 3

Mahaica farmer killed with own cutlass by drug addict

BALKISSOON, 52, a cash crop farmer of Helena, Mahaica No.2, East Coast Demerara, bled to death after he was attacked and chopped to the neck by a known drug addict in the area. The man has since been arrested. The man’s eldest son said his father was heading to water his crops and had in his possession a water pump and motor blower, according to his son, along with his cutlass on the bicycle. The man had seconds before leaving home sharpened his cutlass. Balkissoon’s son said that he did not know if his father and the man had any form of talking while they had crossed paths, but related that he was informed that the man pulled out the cutlass from the farmer’s bicycle and dealt him one chop to the neck. Balkissoon’s young son, age 15, who was proceeding behind him in the company of a friend saw the attack on his father and when the man dropped to the ground.

Former murder accused among quartet in custody
FOUR men, including former murder accused Devindra Harrichand, known as ‘Bara,’ remain in custody as police intensify the investigations into the $3M robbery at a Port Mourant grocery. A 7.62×32 spent shell, which investigators said could have been fired from either an M-70 or an AK-47 was retrieved from the crime scene. Three masked bandits armed with high powered rifles and a chainsaw sawed their way into the two-flat wooden house belonging to Michael Ramjan, before robbing the occupants of $3M.
Ramjajan and his wife Basmati Gobin left their residence at 170 Well Street, Miss Phoebe Port Mourant about two weeks ago for an overseas vacation. The couple left Ramjan’s stepson, Leon Verasammy, to manage the grocery shop which was housed on the lower flat of the building. Along with Verasammy, a nephew of the owner and a handyman were also sleeping at the home.

Bandits snatch $5M from Lamaha Street Post Office

A SECURITY guard was injured as two bandits reportedly carrying firearms robbed the Guyana Post Office Cooperation Training Centre shortly after the facility was opened to members of the public. One of the men earlier visited the post office located at Lamaha and Carmichael Streets and later returned with an accomplice to carry out the act. The doors and gate of the facility were locked as investigators carried out their investigation. A security officer was reportedly pistol-whipped by one of the bandits. This newspaper was reliably informed that the monies which amounted to an initial five million based on an auditors’ report represented payment for old-age pensions, public assistance and National Insurance Scheme pensions.

Thursday 4

IFC closes landmark $185M financing package for Guyana Goldfields
THE International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, has completed a $185M financing package for the construction and development of Guyana Goldfield’s Aurora gold mine, located 170 kilometres west of Georgetown. The project is expected to become one of the largest contributors to Guyana’s tax base and generate up to 900 jobs during peak construction. Since becoming a shareholder in the company in 2006, IFC has helped Guyana Goldfields establish an integrated environmental, health, safety, and social management system in line with international best practices. The financing package consists of a $45M loan from IFC’s account and a $33.6 M loan from IFC’s Managed Co-Lending Portfolio Programme, a new syndications platform that offers institutional investors the ability to passively participate in IFC’s future senior loan portfolio.

Following high speed chase…
Police constable shot by fellow rank

THE Guyana Police Force is investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting of police Constable Leroy English by another police constable whose name was given as Jeffers. The incident occurred on the West Bank Demerara when a strange car, PSS 1724, passed the vehicle of a senior police officer and crossed the Demerara Harbour Bridge. The car in which the senior officer was travelling pulled into the corner shortly before the strange car sped past and two other vehicles with police ranks inside who were aware that the senior police was ahead of them did not see his vehicle. They thought the strange car had caused the vehicle with the senior rank inside to run off the road.

Education Ministry gearing up to disburse $10,000 cash grant in public schools
THE Ministry of Education upon completion of a number of public consultations held throughout the country with parents and guardians of children in the public school system, on the $10,000 per student grant, is nearing the end of a lengthy but transparent verification process. Over the last two months, headteachers from across the country met with their respective regional education officers to verify the number of students currently enrolled in their respective schools, and that are on the schools’ registers.
According to the Deputy Chief Education Officer (Administration), Ms. Donna Chapman, the process is moving along smoothly as the Ministry now awaits the final lists of names of children currently beginning Year 1 (Nursery), Grade 1 (Primary) and Grade 7 (Secondary). These lists, she expects, will be submitted within the week to her office and that of the Permanent Secretary of the MOE, so as to facilitate the completion of the master list of students eligible to receive the $10,000 cash grant per student. The Ministry is urging parents and guardians to register their children immediately so that the final verification process can be completed.

Friday 5

Hairdresser’s murder was aftermath of a drug bust

INVESTIGATORS have cracked the case of the murder of Lusignan cosmetologist, 18-year-old, Ashmini Hariram and all the persons who had a hand in her murder are now in police custody. The police were able to pick up two men in Georgetown who confessed to the crime – one being the driver of the getaway car and the other the triggerman, both of whom led investigators to the persons who hired them to carry out the hit on the relative of one of the men. The taxi driver was hired to transport the gunman to Lusignan on the East Coast where they were being updated by the victim’s brother-in-law about her movements. The men in their statements told investigators that they were hired by the woman’s brother-in-law and another man who were convinced that the teenager was the one responsible for law enforcement officers seizing a large quantity of their drugs earlier this year. They were instructed by the relative and the other man to kill the woman and take possession of her mobile phone. The persons who hired the two wanted to search her phone to see who the woman was in contact with and who she may have informed of the shipment of the drugs.
Police Service Commission members sworn in

THE five members who will be serving on the Police Service Commission were sworn in before Commander-in-Chief of Guyana’s armed forces, President Donald Ramotar at the Presidential Complex in Georgetown. The Commission will be headed by Omesh Satyanand who will serve as its Chairman while the other members are Lloyd Smith, Keith John, Harold Martin and Carvil Duncan. Delivering brief remarks at the swearing-in ceremony, President Ramotar said it was a fulfillment of a promise made earlier this year when he addressed the annual Police Officers’ Conference at Eve Leary. “I did say that as soon as I got the names from Parliament, I’d be ready to appoint this body and now today we have that reality.” The Head of State reminded the new PSC members to take their oath to serve the people of Guyana very seriously and with distinction.

Guyana Rastafari Council calls for National Marijuana Commission

THE Rastafarian community in Guyana is calling for the setting up of a National Marijuana Commission.
At the last meeting of the Guyana Rastafari Council held at the F.E. Pollard School on August 24, 2014, members called on the Government to immediately implement the mandate of the last CARICOM Heads of Government meeting that each CARICOM member state set up a National Marijuana Commission to complement the Regional Marijuana Commission to look at decriminalising marijuana for medical, religious and recreational purposes. The Guyana Rastafari Council is about to embark on the process of building its headquarters in Georgetown, and developing an agricultural project on the outskirts of Linden.

Saturday 6

Police destroy three acres of marijuana at La Harmonie

POLICE on the West Bank of Demerara destroyed three acres of marijuana plants by setting fire to same which were being cultivated by so far unknown characters. The plot of land which is owned by two very influential persons in Guyana is not usually visited by them nor do they occupy that part of the land on which the illegal plants were discovered. Information reaching this publication confirmed that the plants which were destroyed were between 4 and 5 feet tall. The police were informed about the presence of the items after persons who would frequent the area noticed the items and based on its shape and smell became suspicious that the plants were not just overgrowth but well groomed plants. Contact was made with the police who visited the area and were able to confirm the well groomed plants to be marijuana. Persons did not report to the police seeing anyone visiting the property, hence, there were no arrests made in connection with the find.

AFC District Councillor lands in court over unauthorised road protest

ALLIANCE For Change (AFC) District Councillor for Region 8 (Potaro/Siparuni), Naieem Mohammed Gafoor made an appearance before Magistrate Judy Latchman to answer a charge related to the protest in Mahdia early in August over deplorable roads. The 48-year-old defendant of Mahdia pleaded not guilty to the charge that said on Monday, August 4 at 111 Miles Mahdia, Potaro, he held a protest without first obtaining permission in writing from the police along the Mahdia compound and the Mahdia airstrip roads. He was represented by attorney-at-law, Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan, who is also the leader of the AFC. He explained that Gafoor was heading a procession for better roads for Mahdia and gave the police a notification which is in the file. However, the police were not looking for a notice but instead a permit and the defence will contest that. Gafoor was released on his own recognisance and will return to court tomorrow.

NRSC appeals for more responsible use of roadways

WITH THE re-opening of schools for the Christmas term last Monday, and the attendant daily increase in traffic on the nation’s roadways, the National Road Safety Council (NRSC) is once again making a special appeal to all road users to be more responsible while using the roads, and moreso, to be on the lookout for children at all times. Motorists, in particular, are asked to look out for school-children. Teachers and parents are reminded to enforce the Road Safety education and School Safety Patrols in schools.
Students are reminded of the CURB DRILL:- LOOK RIGHT, LOOK LEFT, LOOK RIGHT AGAIN; WHEN THE ROAD IS CLEAR, WALK BRISKLY ACROSS. Noting that accidents have resulted in major loss of lives and serious disability to persons, the NRSC is urging motorists to be ever mindful of the five Cs of Road Safety: Care, Courtesy, Consideration, Caution and Commonsense when using the roadways.
Moreover, the Council has observed that blatant disregard for traffic laws and traffic advisories are the major contributing factors to road accidents, which responsible Guyanese are desperately trying to reduce substantially.