Monday 10
Former News of the World editor jailed over phone hacking
THE former editor of the defunct British tabloid News of the World, Ian Edmondson, was sentenced Friday by a British court to eight months in prison for his role in the phone hacking scandal that put his former paper out of business. Edmondson, 45, admitted to the Central Criminal Court of England and Wales, also known as the ‘Old Bailey’ his part in the plot to hack phones, becoming the eighth person from Rupert Murdoch’s now-defunct newspaper to be convicted. A senior editorial executive at News of the World between 2005 and 2010, Edmondson admitted conspiring with private investigator Glenn Mulcaire to electronically eavesdrop on voicemail messages of sports stars, celebrities and politicians.

Don’t forsake the Caribbean
-CARICOM SG urges UG graduates
THE graduating class of 2014 at the University of Guyana has been urged not to forsake the Caribbean Region by CARICOM Secretary General, Irwin La Rocque. Delivering the feature address at the 48th convocation at the University’s Turkeyen Campus, the Region’s top ambassador congratulated them and said that the constraints facing those who graduate from tertiary institutions are well known. One thousand, six hundred and five students graduated from the faculties of Agriculture, Forestry, Education and Humanities, Health Sciences, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences and Technology, and the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences.

Gladstone turns 103
GLADSTONE Augustus Mack of Lot 11, ‘A’ Field Sophia, Georgetown turned 103 two Saturdays ago; and from all indications, is set to continue his innings with the aim of scoring another century! And whereas a lot of men are reluctant to make their age known on scoring the proverbial ‘three-score-and-ten,’ it is with pride, joy, and an amazing depth of gratitude to God that Mack is making it known that he had attained the enviable age of ‘five-scores-and-three’. “Today I am 103 years old, and would not want to hide it under a bushel, but I’ll let it shine. I’ll shout it out and let the world know that it is God who has brought me thus far, and has blessed me with health and long life!” the centenarian declared. “Brother Mack,” as he is familiarly called, was born on October 31, 1911 at Aurora on the Essequibo Coast.

Tuesday 11
PRESIDENT SUSPENDS PARLIAMENT
ARMED with a few options but with back-against-the-wall and recognition that his Government’s exhaustive ‘olive branch’ approaches and appeals to the Parliamentary Opposition to exercise political maturity have “fallen on deaf ears,” President Donald Ramotar issued a Proclamation to Prorogue (suspend) the 10th Parliament of Guyana. The move to Prorogue Parliament, which puts a damper on the Opposition’s affirmation and commitment to go ahead with their controversial “no-confidence” motion against the Government, was well thought out in the interest of the country and the Guyanese people. It was also widely anticipated and, as the President pointed out, well within the exercise of his Constitutional powers conferred on him by Article 70 (1) of the Constitution of the Republic of Guyana.

Dairy Queen Grill and Chill is here
CAMEX Restaurants Inc., franchisee of Church’s Chicken, Mario’s Pizza, Quiznos and Dairy Queen recently opened their new ‘Dairy Queen Grill and Chill’ outlet at Middle and Camp Streets, Georgetown. The new location is housed in the same building as Church’s Chicken holdings. Dairy Queen was founded in 1940 and today boasts close to 6,000 restaurants worldwide. DQ is one of the most popular chains of soft serve ice cream in the fast food industry. The opening of their Grill and Chill concept in
Guyana will be the company’s first in the Caribbean and South America. The Grill and Chill offers a variety of delicious hamburgers, hot sandwiches, chicken strips, hot dogs and their famous ice cream treats.

Gold Board General Manager resigns
GENERAL Manager of the Guyana Gold Board, Mr. Anantram Balram has resigned after he was sent on five-months leave in March. A source told the Guyana Chronicle that Balram was sent on leave in June in order to facilitate a full investigation into a multi-million fraud at a GGB sub-office in Bartica. After the multi-million dollar fraud at the Bartica sub-office, it had shut its doors which remain closed. The Natural Resources Ministry said a meeting has been convened with the GGB, Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA), licensed dealers and other stakeholders to ensure that this matter does not disrupt the overall trading of gold, particularly in the Region 7 (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) location.

Wednesday 12
Murder accused gets three years
MURDER accused, Kevin Hintzen, 25, has been sentenced to three years’ imprisonment after confessing to hiding 78 grammes of ‘ganja’ in his crotch. The ‘stash’ was unearthed during a routine search at the New Amsterdam prison. Additionally, the convict was fined $30,000 with an alternative of sixty days’ imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to trafficking narcotics. “Sometimes I does sell it, and sometimes I does give them (prisoners) for free,” Hintzen admitted. The labourer was initially incarcerated for the unlawful killing of Jagdat Ramcharran during a robbery at Williamsburg, Corentyne, Berbice.

Plucky pensioner attacks gun-toting bandit with cutlass
A businessman was shot to the right arm by one of two bandits who invaded his business place (Style Palace General Store) on King Street in Georgetown demanding cash. Hospitalised is Inshan Ally, a licensed firearm holder of Peter’s Hall, East Bank Demerara, who received his injuries when the gunman was distracted by a pensioner and he (Ally) attempted to reach for his firearm. When the men entered the store and demanded cash, Ally’s 60–year-old wife, Rakeema drew a cutlass to challenge the gun- toting bandit, even as her husband attempted to come to her rescue by whipping out his weapon.
However, after realising that the businessman was armed with a firearm, the bandit turned his attention away from the pensioner with the cutlass and focused on Ally, who was shot before he could have used his weapon .The bandits then fled the area.

GPHC issues advisory against bringing meals/beverages for patients
THE Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) has issued a press release advising persons to desist from bringing meals for relatives/friends who have been admitted to the hospital, specifically diabetic patients. The release said those who wish to bring meals for patients should first seek the advice of doctors and nurses before they so do. It said the hospital provides well balanced diets to patients. Persons have also been advised against bringing aerated beverages to patients; coconut water and pure water are advised instead.
Traffic Chief again appeals for considerate use of roadways

TRAFFIC Chief, Hugh Denhert told this publication that speeding, drunk driving and inconsiderate use of the roads continue to be the major contributory factors fuelling road fatalities. His statement comes in the wake of recent road accidents that have claimed the lives of several persons. The Police Traffic Department Headquarters reported that, for this year, the police have recorded 111 road accidents in which 120 persons lost their lives, including 15 children.

Thursday 13
Guyana will head to ‘snap’ elections if dialogue unsuccessful
PRESIDENT Donald Ramotar has no intention to prorogue Parliament a second time, after having done so on Monday, but will move straight into “snap” elections if another genuine attempt by his Administration at dialogue with A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) fails. This was according to Head of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS), Dr. Roger Luncheon, who made it clear that the reason for the prorogation was to attempt dialogue in the interest of the Guyanese people. As a result of prorogation, the first session of the 10th Parliament, is suspended up to a maximum of six months – a move that is provided for in Section 70 (1) of Guyana’s Constitution.

Government to increase monitoring offshore exploration
IN an unprecedented move to create a vibrant oil and gas sector by increasing governance and monitoring of offshore explorations, Natural Resources and the Environment Minister, Robert Persaud announced the approval, by Cabinet, of Guyana’s Upstream Oil and Gas Policy. This comes at a time when, according to Persaud, Guyana’s “potential [of producing]… more than 15.2 billion barrels of oil” has seen the country “considered to be the second most attractive exploration basin in the world.” Explaining the ‘across the board’ potential for Guyana’s new policy, Persaud said: “It must be recognised that Guyana’s legal, regulatory and contractual framework is attractive for petroleum investors, while simultaneously ensuring that there are maximum benefits accruing to the people of Guyana.”

Heir to wealthy gynecologist killed in early morning motor cycle accident
A FATHER of one was killed when he fell off his motorcycle while reportedly riding at a fast rate.
Dead is 43-year-old Jonathan Validen of Pigeon Island, East Coast Demerara. Police sources said that the man died sometime when he lost control of his motorcycle, CD 7919, while heading home along the Montrose Public Road. Jonathan Validen’s presence in Guyana came about when his father 76-year-old Specialist Obstetrician/Gynecologist, Dr. Charles Clarence Validen’s partly decomposed body was found in his Agricola Road, Triumph, East Coast Demerara home by his maid in 2012. When the young man got word that his father in Guyana had died, he travelled here to identify the remains and arrange the burial.
Jonathan Validen remained in Guyana and got married to a woman and they had a daughter. Validen was able to inherit several estates and other wealth his father had, including a bank account with more than a hundred million dollars.

Friday 14
GL&SC to set up enforcement arm –will target squatters
AN enforcement arm will be established by the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GL&SC) which will target squatters. Following the Commission’s petition for support and agreement for the creation of an enforcement unit, Cabinet has agreed to the establishment of the unit. This was announced by Head of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS), Dr. Roger Luncheon. The HPS explained that such a unit already exists for the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), and works in close conjunction with the Ministry of Housing and Water.

MV MALALI completes dry docking
THE MV MALALI ferry, which usually plies the Parika-Wakenaam-Supenaam-Parika route, completed its dry docking at the E.C Vieira Investment Ltd Dry Docking facility on October 9, 2014 after extensive rehabilitation was done on the vessel. The vessel entered the dockyard on September 1, 2014 after dry- docking and rehabilitation works were awarded to the E. C Vieira Investment Ltd at a cost of $118,952,000. Dr. Clinton Hazel was assigned as the project engineer. Some of the repair works included the construction of a new canteen on the passengers’ deck, and an opening at the Port-Side Bow was converted into a sailors’ cabin. In addition, seven cabins were reconstructed for the crew, hull works, the installation of Anodes, replacing of the water tank, among other works were also completed.

New British High Commissioner appointed
HEAD of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS), Dr. Roger Luncheon has announced the appointment of a new High Commissioner to Guyana from the United Kingdom. The HPS stated that James Gregory Quinn has now assumed the post, and would be residing in Georgetown. High Commissioner Quinn replaces Andrew Ayre, who had served in Guyana since September 2011. High Commissioners from Britain have been serving in Guyana since the country attained independence in 1966.

Saturday 15
President to invite Opposition for talks within days
PRESIDENT Donald Ramotar has said he has been working on putting together a “negotiation team” and will be making an invitation to the combined Opposition parties for dialogue within the coming days.
“I have been working on my own negotiation team and very soon I will be inviting the Opposition in within a matter of days. I will be inviting the Opposition in for dialogue,” he said, speaking during a news conference. This move comes four days after the Head of State announced his decision to prorogue Parliament.

ExxonMobil to invest over US$200M in oil exploration
THERE are high expectations of Guyana becoming a petroleum-producing nation as ExxonMobil formally announced its exploratory offshore drilling plans. The company is partnering with strategic organisations such as Youth Challenge and the Volunteer Youth Corps as part of its corporate responsibility push. The company’s local headquarters is located at 99 New Market Street, Georgetown. Mobilisation will begin in the first quarter of 2015, and drilling and exploration, initially at the Liza location, will commence in the second quarter of 2015. The total area allotted to Exxon covers 26, 806 square kilometres.

Two cops under close arrest for brutalising, dumping man in lockups
THE Guyana Police Force on Thursday confirmed that two officers from the West Demerara police district were placed under close arrest following reports of police brutality meted out to Sunil Lall of La Parfaite Harmonie, WBD. Under close arrest are a constable and a sergeant after a case of police brutality, in addition to an allegation of extortion. Statements have already been taken from the virtual complainant who is also a contractor and father of five children. In addition, the two officers and those who were on a mobile patrol when Lall was arrested were also required to give statements.

Guyana Visual Arts competition revived
THE Ministry of Culture, Youth & Sport, in collaboration with the Guyana Visual Arts Committee and the E.R Burrowes School of Arts, has re-launched its visual arts competition, targeting over 200 Guyanese artists. Last week saw a plethora of artists submitting their entries to the E.R Burrowes School of Arts, as they patiently await the exhibition and awards ceremony slated for mid-December, to determine the winners of approximately 20 prizes consisting of cash and medals. This competition was launched in 2012 with the aim of promoting recognition for all artists in the Guyanese visual arts arena, as well as to motivate them to display their unique pieces. The competition accommodates six (6) categories: painting, drawing, photography, sculpture, ceramics and textile/fine craft, and its targeted artists are 16 years and older.