Monday, 16

APNU, AFC strike alliance deal – Granger presidential candidate, Nagamootoo PM
THE long courtship came to a formal end (Valentine’s Day) following the much-anticipated ‘marriage of convenience’ between A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC). Three years after bitterly contesting against each other in the 2011 General and Regional Elections, the political coalition APNU and the AFC have joined forces in a move intended to oust the incumbent People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) from office come May 11, 2015 when Guyanese head to the polls. But Guyanese Head of State, President Donald Ramotar, deems news of the merger as “no surprise”.

Elderly Berbice man suffers heart attack at news of APNU/AFC coalition
ROSIGNOL, West Coast Berbice resident Ramnauth, popularly known as ‘Thana’, 67, suffered a massive heart attack allegedly after hearing the news of an agreed coalition between the Alliance For Change (AFC) and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU).He was pronounced dead on arrival at a hospital in Berbice. ‘Thana’ was reportedly at a ‘bottom house’ meeting in Rosignol, held by the ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP) as part of its ongoing outreaches. Member of Parliament (MP) Neil Kumar told the Guyana Chronicle last evening that, prior to the man’s death, Ramnauth was a vibrant contributor to discussions at that meeting.

Minibus, taxi operators not sharing benefits of lower fuel costs with commuters
WHILE Government has lowered fuel prices in light of the drop in prices on the world market, President Donald Ramotar has reiterated his disappointment with many operators in the transportation sector who are not passing on the benefits to commuters. “Unfortunately, many of those involved in the transportation sector have not passed on the benefit that they are getting at the pump to the consumer and I still urge them to do so, so that our people can benefit from this cheaper fuel price that we have” – President Ramotar. Minibuses fares for drops at different stages of a route remain at $80, $100 and $120 per person, while there have been no lowering of the various taxi fares, even though there have been calls from several quarters, including the private sector bodies, for the benefit to trickle down to the travelling public.

Tuesday, 17

Girl, 14, contracts STI allegedly following rape by TSU rank
A 14-year-old girl who resides on the West Bank of Demerara is reportedly being treated for a sexually transmitted disease (STI), allegedly contracted after she had been raped by an officer of the Guyana Police Force. The Guyana Chronicle understands that the police constable, who operates under the Tactical Services Unit and was stationed in the Police D Division, was first placed under close arrest, and, following expiration of the 72-hour detention period, has since been placed on open arrest and is being held at the Police Headquarters at Eve Leary. Sources close to the investigation said the police, who had genital warts at the time he committed the act on the child, may have transmitted those to her, since it is now being reported that the child also has genital warts. The Child Care and Protection Agency (CC&PA) yesterday confirmed investigating a report of rape of a 14-year-old girl by a police officer.

Schoolboy critical after speeding car slams horse into him
A HORSE wandering along the Zeelugt Public Road, West Coast Demerara was hit by a speeding motorcar and flung several feet away, slamming into a 13-year-old boy who had tried to jump away from the car. But it was too late. In a freaky chain of events, the horse was flung several feet away and slammed into the child, who was hurled into the air before landing on the roadway badly injured.
The child, Wayne Noel, of Zeelugt North, East Bank Essequibo, and a student of Saraswat Primary School, at De Willem, was picked up and rushed first to the Leonora Cottage Hospital, before being transferred to the West Demerara Regional Hospital, and finally to the Georgetown Public Hospital by ambulance.

AFC trumps PNC to secure dominant role in Opposition coalition
GOING into the coalition negotiation with the five-party A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), the Alliance for Change (AFC) controlled 21 per cent of the Combined Opposition seats in Parliament, but came out with a guarantee of 40 per cent of the Cabinet, and at least 12 Parliamentary seats, should they succeed at the May 11, 2015 General and Regional Polls. Analysts have since concluded that the Minority Opposition Party has trumped the larger five-party APNU, which held 79 per cent of the Opposition seating arrangement in the House going into the negotiation. The AFC has also secured, through the negotiations, the post of Prime Ministerial Candidate for its front-runner, Moses Nagamootoo, along with two Vice-Presidential posts.

‘I will never vote for the APNU/AFC coalition’, Assakata resident tells PPP/C meeting
ASSAKATA resident 77-year-old Ignatius Joseph has assured the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) that he would never vote for the APNU/AFC coalition. He said, moreover, that he is confident his community, located some 25 miles 1, Barima/Waini, will vote solidly for the PPP/C on May 11 at the general and regional elections. The pensioner, a former toshao and member of the United Force party in the sixties, said the PPP/C is a party that cares for the people. He said Assakata has been transformed into a bright and thriving village under the PPP/C, and the Government has constructed a new primary school so students can pursue their education there.

Wednesday, 18

Rohee sums up ‘unholy alliance’… ‘Dead politically’ or ‘badly wounded’
“I THINK the AFC has signed their death warrant, meaning they are quite likely to be the biggest losers in an election that is going to be hotly contested in a two-way fight.” The foregoing were the sentiments expressed by General Secretary of the ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Clement Rohee, who was commenting on the alliance between the Alliance For Change and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), which coalesced last weekend. He acknowledged the critical importance of the upcoming May 11 General and Regional Elections, particularly considering the existing political state of affairs, and the gridlock that has gripped the nation for the last three years.

Guyanese busted with ingested cocaine at Ogle Airport
MEMBERS of the Police Narcotics Branch succeeded in nabbing another drug mule who had ingested cocaine pellets, and was about to board a LIAT flight at the Ogle International Airport. Guyanese Stephon James Watson, 28, was an outgoing passenger on LIAT flight 512 destined for Antigua when he was observed by narcotics ranks sweating profusely. The man was then approached, taken into a room and questioned. He reportedly admitted that he had swallowed several pellets of cocaine. He was then rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he is at present under police guard.
13 entries received for Road March competition
WITH new artistes expressing their interest, about 13 entries have been registered for the Mashramani 2015 Road March competition. To compete, an entry must be an original Guyanese composition in any style, suited for the competition, and must have never been submitted in a competition before. A recording of the complete song must be submitted with the registration form and the song most played on Mash Day will be declared the winner of the Road March competition.

Rohee puts ‘campaign manager’ rumour to rest –‘We direct our show collectively,’ he says
AN announcement to name the Prime Ministerial candidate for the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C), and a date for the Party’s official campaign launch is yet to be made. “The PPP does not have a history of identifying anyone as a campaign manager; the Party has not now, or in the past, done it. There is no one individual directing the show; we direct our show collectively; we have systems and mechanisms in place, and based on that, that is how we approach all elections,” he said.

Thursday, 19

On Election Day…. Polling places, staff will be sufficient
THE final number of polling places could be affected by the number of eligible voters on the Official List of Electors (OLE), according to Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield. The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) official, speaking during a news conference explained that the intention is not to have more than 400 persons assigned to vote at a particular polling station. As such, he reasoned that there may be need to increase the current number of polling stations, an increase from an estimated 2,260 polling stations.
Pensioner, two sons busted with illegal guns
A mechanic and his two sons were arrested and taken into custody by officers from the Criminal Investigation Department out of Eve Leary after a search of their home found that they were in possession of two illegal guns. The mechanic has been identified as 66-year-old Oswald Dass, while his two sons are Oswald Dass Junior, 21 and Ivan Dass, 23, all living at Kuru Kuru on the Soesdyke/Linden Highway. The police at the Eve Leary CID division received information that the family is in the business of trafficking weapons and as such they were placed under surveillance for approximately one week.

Monitors for MMU selected –US$100,000 funding secured
REVIEWS of election coverage in the media by the Media Monitoring Unit (MMU) are expected to commence within two weeks, according to Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Dr. Steve Surujbally. He disclosed that the vacancies for media monitors have been filled by qualified, University of Guyana (UG) graduates. The operations of the MMU are an added measure in the interest of maintaining the laudable electoral processes of the last few elections. Funding in the sum of US$100,000 has been secured for the resuscitated MMU and, according to Dr. Surujbally, this is expected to be released to the Commission shortly.

Hamilton warns AFC leadership about PNCR-controlled APNU
FORMER People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Executive, Joseph Hamilton said the decision by the Alliance For Change (AFC) and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) to form an alliance is a product of people consumed by bitterness, so much so that “they cannot think straight”. According to Hamilton, it is bewildering that “a party with no constituency” and seven seats in Parliament “would be guaranteed 12 seats in the House” if the alliance, which is yet to be named, “emerges victorious at the May 11 polls”. Under the pact reached by the two Opposition Parties, it was agreed that there will be a 60/40 allocation in Cabinet positions in favour of APNU.

Friday, 20

Attorney-at-Law Balwant Persaud quits AFC over coalition decision
DAYS after the Alliance For Change (AFC) General Secretary, Sixtus Edwards, resigned from the party, another member has publicly issued his resignation and has alleged that the recent decision to form a coalition with A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) was one made by a ‘gang of five’, without the authorisation of its membership. Attorney-at-Law Balwant Persaud vowed to do everything in his power to ensure the AFC does not come to power and has in fact now endorsed the People’s Progressive Party / Civic (PPP/C), the party, he said, for which he will now campaign.

Exxon Mobil oil rig heading to Guyana – drilling expected to start mid-March
EXXON Mobil brought Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Mr. Robert Persaud up to speed on activities it will be undertaking here over the next few weeks. During the course of a meeting with Exxon Mobil Vice-President, Mr. Jeff Simon, and ESSO Country Manager, Mr. Chuck Calavan, Minister Persaud was briefed on how the company’s oil rig, ‘Deep Water Champion’, will be deployed, among other matters of importance. According to a release from the Minister’s office, the rig departed Louisiana, in the USA, for the Stabroek Block, offshore Guyana, where it is expected to commence drilling in mid-March.

Calls made to reduce price for beverages, other commodities
PRIVATE Sector Commission (PSC) Chairman Ramesh Persaud says the Commission will be analysing the impact of the 10 percent reduction in electricity rates before it makes a definitive appeal to businesses to lower prices for certain goods. Saying that it is too soon to make a definitive pronouncement, Persaud told the Guyana Chronicle that the Commission will be looking at the impact the reduction will have on savings for the different types of businesses after the first month of implementation. There have been calls from several quarters for the reduction of electricity rates to be reflected in lower of prices for goods that require electricity for production and preservation.

Journalist is UG’s new Law Society president
JOURNALIST and first year law student, Chevy Devonish was declared the newly-elected President of the University of Guyana Law Society (UGLS), following the premature resignation of Patrice Wishart. Wishart, who served in the position for approximately four months, had explained that his resignation was influenced by added domestic responsibilities which would have prevented him from adequately functioning as the Law Society’s president. As a result, the former president, who assumed his post in October last year submitted his resignation last week.
Saturday, 21

Teacher, 6 students perish in Burma accident
THE Guyanese nation is still reeling from news of the shocking accident on the Burma Branch Road in Mahaicony (Region 5) that has left a teacher and six of her students dead. The teacher and six students of the Augsburg Primary School died by apparent drowning after the vehicle they were travelling in ended up in a canal along the Burma Road. Those who perished yesterday are: Eight-year-old grade 3 student Justin Abel, seven-year-old grade 2 student Rayden Abel, 10-year-old grade 5 student Ayesha Abel — all from the same family; together with six-year-old grade 1 student Azidia Fraser, 10-year-old grade 5 student Atesha Woolford, eight-year-old grade 2 student Martina Persaud, and their teacher, Senior Mistress Shondel Duke. The teacher and children had traversed the Burma Road from their school to attend an activity that had taken place at the Novar Primary School and were returning home when disaster struck.

Former President Jagdeo appointed Chair of National Economic Council
PRESIDENT Donald Ramotar has announced that Former President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo will be the Chairman of the newly-created National Economic Council (NEC).The president explained that he decided to establish this council in order “to bring greater support to my government in enhancing and accelerating our transformational and modernisation agenda.” He said that he has asked Former President Jagdeo to fill the role of heading the council, as he has the necessary criteria, seeing that “he served for a number of years as the pivot in the modernisation of our economy, and led in the crafting of many strategies, including the National Development Strategy, the Poverty Reduction Strategy and the Low Carbon Development Strategy.

Current dry weather greatly impacting savannahs, rivers – in Region One
THE current dry weather that Region One, Barima-Waini, is experiencing has caused its vast savannah to dry up at an alarming rate. The water level in the savannah’s main creek – upon which residents, farmers, gold miners and fishermen depend – has reportedly dropped to an alarmingly low level, and boats powered by large outboard engines have to travel very slowly along the creek, mostly in areas near Moruca, Dark Bush and 99 Turns, because of the low water level and exposed rotten wood. Boats navigating the Dark Bush and 99 Turns areas reportedly get stuck many times, because of the shallow water and exposed logs and tree branches. Miners said they are finding it very difficult to cross Dark Bush and 99 Turns during the dry weather, and are calling for the area to be dredged.

Elderly live-alone woman brutally raped, murdered
NEIGHBOURS of 73-year-old Suroojpattie Ramlakhan, known as ‘Auntie Carmen’, found her dead body lying naked on the bedroom floor of her Richmond village, Essequibo Coast home after they had unsuccessfully tried several times to alert her that an anaconda (camoudie) was eating one of her chickens in a drain near the street. The childless woman had reportedly lived alone. Neighbours said they called several times for ‘Auntie Carmen’ but there was no answer. They said the front door to her house was locked, so they ventured into the yard and went to the back of the house, where they discovered the door open. They called her name again but there was no answer; so, becoming suspicious that something was wrong, they peeped inside the house and, to their shock and horror, saw ‘Auntie Carmen’ lying naked on the floor, seemingly dead.

End