Monday, 15
Two dead, two critical after pick-up turns turtle at Mabura
TWO persons are now dead, while two others are critical after the F150 motor pick-up they were travelling in along the Mabura Road, Upper Demerara, Region 10, in the vicinity of Mabura Junction, toppled several times after it reportedly had a blowout. A senior police official attached to ‘E’ Division (Linden, Kwakwani, Lethem, and environs) told the Chronicle that the motor pick-up, GMM 7330, was travelling at a fast rate as the driver attempted to turn west of Mabura and lost control of the vehicle. The two dead persons have been identified as Raymond Khan, 65, of Cornelia Ida, WCD, and Jean Williams, 63, of Peter’s Hall, EBD, while those injured were identified as Ramnaratie Sooklall, and the driver, Michael Gordon.

Prisoner stabs to death fellow Mazaruni Prison inmate
THE Guyana Prison Service is investigating the circumstances surrounding the stabbing to death of inmate, Theon Smith by another prisoner at the Mazaruni Prison. Smith was reportedly stabbed by fellow inmate, Akeem Edwards. The two men were reportedly involved in an argument which led to the stabbing during a fight. The men reportedly had an ongoing feud that got out of hand. Information suggested that Smith was charged with ten counts of armed robbery and was serving three five-year sentences. Edwards on the other hand was also at the facility for similar offences along with being in possession of a .38 handgun with matching ammunition.

Biker dies while trying to overtake lorry on Lethem trail
INVESTIGATIONS are being conducted into a fatal accident in the Poke Bridge, Lethem Trail area, which resulted in the death of motorcyclist Lindy Ambrose, 27, of Haiwa, Central Rupununi, police said.
Initial investigations indicate that Ambrose attempted to overtake a motor lorry during which he lost control of the vehicle and was run over by the lorry. He was pronounced DOA at the Lethem Hospital.
The driver of the motor lorry was taken into police custody.

Tuesday, 16
Gov’t provides free public transportation
FOLLOWING threats by some minibus operators to withdraw their service in order to press demands for fare increases, the Government has responded promptly by rolling out big buses to provide free transportation for commuters. The buses which are contracted from the Knight Rider Bus Service and complemented by buses owned by the Public Works Ministry will serve the following areas during morning and afternoon peak hours: East Bank Demerara, East Coast Demerara, West Coast Demerara and West Bank Demerara. Transport Minister, Robeson Benn said the buses will continue to provide the service as long as necessary. He indicated that the Government is prepared to keep the system in place all the way to December if the operators fail to come to the bargaining table. The minister said that the operators have been forcing commuters to pay higher fares and in some cases double fares.

CARICOM strengthens Chikungunya, Ebola response
THE Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is formalising recommendations to deal with any possible incidence of the Ebola virus and is ramping up efforts to respond to the Chikungunya epidemic. Chief Medical Officers and other technical health experts from CARICOM Member States met via video conference to rationalise the Region’s response to the two diseases. This meeting was convened by the CARICOM Secretariat in collaboration with the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA).
Among draft proposals that were fleshed out at the meeting was the achievement of the core competencies cited in WHO’s International Health Regulations. Discussions additionally focused on the need to urge a calm but prudent response when applying the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) recommendation with regard to the Ebola virus – no restrictions on travel and trade in areas where the Ebola transmission has occurred. The urgent need to put in place isolation facilities and resources to permit barrier management of suspected or affected cases of Ebola was also ventilated at the meeting.

Uncle shoots nephew over road dispute
VICKRAM Ramdhanny, 31, of 92 Alliance was in a critical condition at the West Demerara Regional Hospital undergoing surgery after he was shot to the head by his uncle John Bahdur. Ramdhanny, a licensed firearm holder was shot following several months of dispute over the use of a road in the Kamuni backdam, West Bank Demerara. Komal Ramdhanny, father of the injured man, said that he and his son were in the backdam working on a stretch of road which they usually use to gain access to their logging concession. The man said that his brother showed up with a gun and told him that he came for him, prompting Komal to sprint to safety. As the man ran, his brother decided to shoot Vickram in the head and then he fled the scene.

Wednesday, 17
Aunt allegedly fleeces overseas-based niece of over $3M
FIFTY-SIX-YEAR-OLD, Sandra Rampersaud of Lot 2 Highbury, East Bank Berbice, allegedly obtained USD$21,574 from her overseas-based niece by falsely pretending that she was in a position to obtain for her acres of rice lands, house lots and a stall in the New Amsterdam market. The woman, who pleaded not guilty to the charge in court was placed on $100,000 bail. After being told that the lands and stall had been located, the virtual complainant commenced sending varying sums of monies via money transfers. The case has been fixed for September 30.

18-year-old refused bail for robbery under arms
AN EIGHTEEN-YEAR-OLD, man of Lot 416 Laing Avenue, Georgetown, was refused bail for robbery under arms.
Kevin Denhart pleaded not guilty to the charge that said on September 15 at High Street, Kingston, Georgetown, being armed with a knife he robbed Ryan Harry of $15,000 in cash. Police Prosecutor, Michael Grant told the court that on the day in question the virtual complainant was walking north along High Street when the defendant in the company of another person approached him, placed the knife to his neck and demanded money. The police went to Longden Street where the defendant was pointed out and arrested. Denhart will remain in jail until September 30.

Woman’s brutal rape, murder rocks Matthew’s Ridge
THE normally quiet, close-knit community of Matthews Ridge, North West District (NWD) in Region One (Barima/Waini), went into shock and grief following the brutal murder of a resident, Samantha Ashby.
Reports from the remote community said that the battered and nude body of the mother of one was spotted by schoolchildren, who had showed up at the Pakera Centre Ground to practise for upcoming school sports. Villagers told this publication that it appeared as though the woman was the victim of a brutal gang rape, since condoms were observed protruding from her anus and a bottle had been inserted into her private part. Ashby, 32, had been seen in a shop in the village on Monday night drinking with a group of men, who are said to be miners, after which her whereabouts were unknown.

Thursday, 18
Basis for higher minibus fares does not exist
SECRETARY to the Cabinet, Dr. Roger Luncheon has said the “golden yardstick” of $1,000 per gallon for fuel has not been breached and hence the basis for an increase in minibus fares does not exist. The fare increases that have been introduced by minibus owners and operators have been “rejected out of hand” by the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce and commuters have been urged not to pay them. “The cost of fuel remained below $1,000 per gallon. Reasoning with the operators and their representatives is an activity of little benefit. Consequently, commuters who have refused to pay the increased fares have essentially flocked and taken up residence at the car parks and bus parks, and Government has decided to intervene by providing free services for commuters on the East Coast, East Bank and over the river on the Bank and on the Coast,” Luncheon said.

Linden to 72-Mile road users urged to moderate speed
TROY Resources Guyana Inc. (TRGI) is calling on Linden to 72-mile road users to moderate their speed and use caution as the road construction continues. TRGI is currently repairing the road from Linden to 72- mile junction and this road upgrade has so far led to a reduction in travel time, a press release stated. However, the upgrading of the road has led to a massive increase in traffic and this is severely hampering road works beyond the Omai Crossing. Therefore, TRGI is appealing to truck drivers and other users of this road to temporarily minimise traffic on this part of the road and to instead utilise the alternative at Sherima crossing until the project is completed.

No snap elections, says Luncheon
SECRETARY to the Cabinet, Dr. Roger Luncheon has dismissed the idea that snap elections would be the likely outcome of the Alliance For Change (AFC) piloted No-Confidence Motion in the Government.
“It wouldn’t happen. A snap election, as being mooted in elements, the media and elsewhere, that seeks to almost bypass, pre-empt the outcome of the Parliamentary Opposition’s No-Confidence motion by having a snap elections, I’m saying you can forget that. This administration does not propose to engage in such a futile course of action,” Luncheon said. The AFC’s No-Confidence Motion was formally handed over last August to Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs, by the party’s General-Secretary; David Patterson. The Motion was proposed by AFC Vice-Chairman, Moses Nagamootoo and seconded by AFC Executive Member, Cathy Hughes.

Friday, 19
New Providence residents complain about Courtney Benn’s “illegal occupancy” of reserve
RESIDENTS of New Providence Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara are complaining about what they said is “the illegal occupancy of the neighbourhood reserve” by Mr. Courtney Benn, who had built a structure on the reserve four years ago when he was constructing his house. The residents want to know when will the structure be removed and when they will receive an acknowledgement of their letter which was sent to the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC). One resident said that before the structure was put up, residents used the spot for various things. He said that no one since he made his report four years ago has done anything about it because “it’s like Mr. Benn own it.”

$10,000 school grant for distribution by mid October – Education Minister
AS THE Government continues to invest in Guyanese for a brighter future, parents of children attending public schools are expected to start receiving the $10,000 cash grant by mid October. Education Minister, Priya Manickchand said the ministry will use various means to distribute the grants in the different regions. The Ministry has been consulting with parents in various communities to garner suggestions and recommendations as to how the grants should be distributed. This initiative was announced during the 2014 national budget by Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh, and up to 188,406 families of nursery, primary and secondary school children at public schools are expected to benefit. This programme will cost Government $2 billion. This cash grant is expected to ease transportation burdens on parents of school-aged children and will provide added impetus to raising enrolment and attendance rates.

Region 7 solid waste contractor pleads for stronger anti-littering measures
THE Solid Waste Contractor for Region 7 (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), Mr. Wayne Nurse, issued a plea to Local Government Minister, Norman Whittaker to develop “a comprehensive programme” in order to “stop or control the way people throw garbage around the [Bartica] community.” Nurse, who was awarded the contract through a competitive bidding process, asserted during a meeting with the Local Government Minister and other officials that the size of Bartica makes it easier to “bring the garbage situation under control.” The contractor regretted strongly that what usually happens is that after “I go out there with my boys” and commence clean-up works at the beach front, or the parks, “people go behind and throw the water bottles on the street corner.”

Saturday, 20

All primary school children will be equipped with necessary textbooks – Manickchand
ALL children across Guyana in primary schools will be equipped with the necessary textbooks and all students in nursery, primary and secondary schools will now have adequate furniture in their schools,
Minister of Education Priya Manickchand related recently at the commissioning of the St. Agnes Primary School. “All our children in every primary school across this country should have textbooks for Mathematics, English, Science and Social Studies in their book bags,” she said. She explained that over the last two years the ministry has procured books specifically to meet the needs of primary school students. “By next week every single school across this country whether you are from Charity in Region 2, Corentyne Coast, Buxton or Georgetown, we will have enough furniture for every single child attending that school to sit comfortably,” Manickchand assured.

Police begin special riot training exercise
RANKS of ‘A’ Division earlier this week began several Special Riot Training sessions in anticipation of having to deal with crowd control and unauthorised mass street protests. The ranks which were drawn from several policing locations within ‘A’ Division, had their training in the Brickdam Station compound.
‘A’ Division Commander, Clifton Hicken confirmed that the training is in keeping with the standard operating procedures of the force, that is, ongoing training. “We don’t know that our training is geared specially for any elections. What we know is that we need to ensure that our ranks are continuously trained to deal with all occurrences and those training will be conducted in and out of any particular season” the Commander said.

Man accused of strangling, suffocating wife to stand trial in High Court
A FRIENDSHIP, East Bank Demerara man was committed to stand trial at the High Court for the unlawful killing of his wife. Thirty-one-year-old Vindra Krishna Siriram of Lot 34 Friendship, EBD, was accused of murdering his 25-year-old common-law wife, Shellyann Persaud, between June 9 and 10 at their Friendship home, by strangling and suffocating her in a bucket of water. Siriram will stand trial at the next sitting of the Demerara Assizes and was represented by attorney-at-law, Mr. Keavon Bess.
The Preliminary Inquiry (PI) was conducted before Chief Magistrate, Priya Sewnarine-Beharry and he was informed that a prima facie case had been made out against him. Three children, eight-year-old Lisa; Ashley, four; and Arianna Siriram were born out of the couple’s common-law union. Approximately nine witnesses testified in the matter on behalf of the prosecution. The matter was prosecuted by Police Inspector, Michael Grant.

Increase in chikungunya cases ‘notional,’ Dr Luncheon
CABINET Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon has said that Health Minister, Dr Bheri Ramsaran earlier this week reported to Cabinet on the “notional” increases of the dreaded Chikungunya virus. The increases are notional, he explained, because confirmation of the cases is a result of specialised testing in Trinidad. “And therefore, the clinical diagnosis must be supported by those sophisticated tests.” Luncheon said while it is true that symptoms of the virus are noticeably increasing, it is difficult in the absence of this sophisticated testing to determine if an individual has Chikungunya or not. “So soon as ya back hut ya a little, everybody run and holler Chikungunya. Soon as ya foot hut ya lil bit, Chikungunya. And therefore the complaints of Chikungunya just mushroomed and we have to take that into consideration. The bottom line is the test results have in no way gotten a surge the way in which the symptomatic cases have,” Luncheon remarked.