2005-06-nieuwsbronnen-engels

30 juni 2005

Cops nab gunman in crimes probe

ONE man was arrested as police reported progress in the probe of one of several crimes reported in Berbice, East Coast Demerara and Georgetown on Tuesday. The suspect was held with components of a gun by a mobile patrol in the town of Rose Hall, Corentyne, about 16:45 h that day. He had been seen throwing away an object and fleeing but the cops pursued and took him into custody after the find.

Meanwhile, one of three robberies being investigated took place at Action Tek Internet Café in Barr Street, Kitty, from where two gunmen carted off an undisclosed sum of money. A police report said it happened about 02:25 h while cashier Eon Stephens was on duty. One of the bandits stood at the door and his accomplice asked to make a telephone call but ordered customers inside the building to lie on the floor and robbed Stephens of the cash.

Another robbery was attempted at Industry Housing Scheme, East Coast Demerara where a household was attacked by two men and a woman who were thwarted by other residents. The intended victim, housewife Neisha Alli was at home about 21:10 h when she heard someone calling. She saw the other woman who claimed she wanted to make a complaint about a relative who occupies a section of the same house with Alli.

Alli told the complainant the relative was not there but she requested a drink of water and, as the request was about to be fulfilled, a gunman brandished a weapon and was joined by a third attacker who barged into the house demanding cash and gold jewellery. However, Alli’s daughter, on whom the demand was made, raised an alarm and, as other residents responded, the robbers fled in a waiting sports car after firing three shots.

The third robbery report was made by Troy Marcus, who said he had just arrived in front of his Kelman Drive, Festival City home, about 21:20 h, when he was robbed at gunpoint of his motorcycle number CD 3689. Two men were involved in the stick-up and they also searched his empty pockets before riding away, the victim said. His assailants were still not apprehended up to late yesterday. (Guyana Cronicle)

Man accused of robbery near police station on new charges

The man who was granted $20,000 bail last week after being accused of robbing three persons at gunpoint not far from a police station, on Tuesday had new charges instituted against him. Cronika Gomes, called `Bonie', 30, of River View, Ruimveldt pleaded not guilty to two counts of malicious damage to property and one count of attempting to commit a felony.

Gomes was remanded to prison by Acting Chief Magistrate Cecil Sullivan. Gomes allegedly attempted to commit robbery under arms on June 24. It is also alleged that on the same day Gomes unlawfully and maliciously damaged one motor scooter valued $40,000, and a shirt valued $3,000 belonging to Troy Persaud.

Acting Commissioner Delano Christopher has ordered pro-
active measures

ST. JOHN'S, Antigua: Law enforcement officials in Antigua are moving early in making efforts to ensure a safe carnival season for the 2005 summer festival. Carnival festivities last year were clouded by violence, including two murders, which forced the country's Culture Minister, John Maginley, to close Last-Lap festivities prematurely.

In an address to the nation just over a month ago, while announcing major changes to the police force, Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer said he was alarmed that Antigua and Barbuda is experiencing "the frightening phenomenon of young persons going to public entertainment events armed with dangerous weapons," and made reference to last year's carnival events.

With this in mind, coupled with recent incidents of violent crime affecting the country as the 2005 Carnival Season approaches, police are pulling out the stops in their bid to prevent a repeat of last year's occurrences. Speaking on the radio Tuesday, the recently appointed Acting Commissioner of Police, Delano Christopher, disclosed that a number of operations have been ongoing, including "stopping and searching" and all pre-carnival activities are being closely "monitored."

The Acting Commissioner noted that officials could not wait until the "appointed time of carnival to start whatever we are doing. We are hoping that out pro-active approach will act as a deterrent to persons who intend to walk with weapons wherever they are going." Christopher said her department wants members of the public to feel safe and free to attend whatever carnival activity they so desire, having the confidence that the police is standing guard. (Sarrah Hadeed/Caribbean Net News Antigua-Barbuda Correspondent)

Man flees to roof to escape bandits

POLICE in the city and on the East Coast Demerara are investigating two separate armed robberies committed Monday night. According to a police press release, at Beehive, East Coast Demerara, 44-year-old Jagernauth called ‘Cullie Cross’, fled to the roof of his house when a noise in his yard alerted him to the presence of two men, one of whom was armed.

At 18:45 h, the self-employed man after hearing the noise peeped out a window and saw the two men about to enter his home, police said. The two subsequently stole $30,000 and some foreign currency from the man’s pants pockets which he left in the building, police said. The next victim, minibus conductor Nigel McLean, of Dazel Housing Scheme, in Georgetown, was relieved of the day’s earnings when two would-be passengers pointed a gun to his head before snatching $5,000 from his hand and escaped.

Police said the men were in a Route 41 mini-bus on which McLean, 22, was the conductor, when they requested to be let out at Penny Lane, South Ruimveldt Park, and escaped through an alley after robbing the conductor. (Guyana Cronicle)

Police hold 13 in Linden raids

THIRTEEN persons have been taken into custody and a quantity of drugs seized after police in Linden conducted a series of raids on Monday. The early morning exercise saw cops search 11 houses in Wismar and Mackenzie and arrest some of the occupants for several offences, a police press release said. In addition to the seizure of a quantity of cannabis sativa, cops also confiscated an amplifier, a water pump and a scale, all suspected to have been stolen or unlawfully obtained, it said. The release said charges will be laid shortly. (Guyana Cronicle)

Five arrested in murder probe

POLICE arrested five persons on Monday following the recovery of two motor cars, including one reported missing since the murder of its driver. One of the vehicles, found at Adventure, Essequibo Coast, was previously being driven by Martin Conelly of Vegas Taxi Service, whose dead body, with a hole at the back of his head and swollen face, was discovered on the fringe of Le Repentir Cemetery, also in Georgetown, last week Wednesday.

Cops, acting on a tip off, took possession of the cars between 15:00 h and 20:00 h and one, the AT 192 which Conelly used to drive, was fitted with a false number plate instead of the legitimate PJJ 3885 it was carrying when last seen on Tuesday, June 21. The other car had accessories and parts taken off PJJ 3885.

Reports are that the key suspect is a Georgetown man with four accomplices, among them two Police Special Constables, all from Essequibo Coast. The corpse of Conelly, 23, who lived in James Street, Albouystown, another part of the capital, was bound, blindfolded and battered when pulled from a trench in the burial ground. He had disappeared since Tuesday about 01:00 h.

Before that, he was facing a rape charge and the lives of he and his co-accused had been threatened. Arrest warrants are also out for two more men implicated with he and Lawrence Abrams (no address given) in the crime. (Guyana Cronicle)

Guyanese missing in Caribbean Sea

IT HAS been two weeks since the Guyanese-registered tug `Dixie’ and its crew failed to moor at Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic and relatives of the men here are growing worried. The tug and barge owned by Seerab Sears of Georgetown left the Caicos Islands for the Dominican Republic and should have landed in Santo Domingo on June 18, but there has been no word from the crew since, relatives said.

On board were Dexter Richmond of Mi Mi Dam, Mount Sinai, Berbice, John Layne of West Bank Berbice, and two others whose names were not available. Relatives of the two men from Berbice said they were told that the United States Coast Guard searched the route of the boat but came up empty-handed.

“There was no debris to suggest that the craft had sunk or collided was seen”, one family member told the Guyana Chronicle. An extensive three-day search by air was also conducted. At the home of Richmond, his wife, Angela, and their four daughters are worried about him. Angela said that following a telephone call from the wife of the boat owner on Friday afternoon, she was told that repeated efforts were made to contact the vessel but there were constant breaks in transmission.

Angela said her husband previously worked with the J.P. Knights firm in the Berbice bauxite industry, was then a `hire car’ driver and more recently worked on the Mahaicony to Rosignol road before joining the crew of the ‘Dixie’. Richmond’s sister Petula is not satisfied with the answers she is receiving from the boat owner. She said the information is sketchy. She said her brother hurriedly left Guyana on May 14 after being told of the job by a friend. (Guyana Cronicle/Jeune Bailey van-Keric)

A YOUNG soldier on his way to work was killed when gunmen opened fire on a mini-bus with passengers on the East Bank Demerara early yesterday morning.

Dead is Guyana Defence Force (GDF) private Gilford Henry, 24, of Lot 165 Soesdyke Public Road, East Bank Demerara. He died in hospital about seven hours after the deadly pre-dawn attack on the bus by men armed with high-powered rifles. Reports said two men flagged down the Route 42 bus at about 02:00 h yesterday in Agricola, East Bank Demerara.

The bus was heading into Georgetown from Timehri and when the driver stopped, police said one of the men pointed a gun at the conductor and tried to rob him. The driver reacted swiftly, driving off and foiling the brazen robbery attempt. But the bandits opened fire on the speeding vehicle and a bullet hit the hapless young soldier in the left jaw, police reported last night.

Henry’s friend, Simone Jeffrey, 27, with whom he shared an apartment at Soesdyke, said he was on his way to work at the GDF Camp Ayanganna headquarters in Thomas Lands, Georgetown when the two men attacked. She said she was told that the two tried to block the bus from moving off on the Agricola road near the flour mill but the driver evaded them and drove on. The wounded soldier was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) and later transferred to Woodlands Hospital, also in the city, where he died about 09:00 h, she said.

Jeffrey said he left home about 01:45 h for work and when he arrived at the GPHC she received a telephone call and rushed there. She told the Guyana Chronicle that Henry was conscious when she saw him and was shocked when she learnt that he died. The killers were lurking in Brutus Street, Agricola, minutes before the shooting, reports said.

The soldier joined the GDF in 2002 and was described as a dedicated and promising young man who loved his job. The attackers were still at large up to press time. Yesterday’s deadly attack on the mini-bus followed another bloody assault on a mini-bus on the Lethem-Linden trail when a young woman who defied two men robbing passengers was shot in the abdomen. Those two bandits were also still at large up to yesterday. (Michel Outridge/Guyana Cronicle)

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados: Barbadian police have made a major breakthrough in what sources say is a high-profile kidnapping case involving a wealthy British man and a Spanish woman. After intense, around-the-clock investigations, they rescued the kidnapped victims whose names have not yet been released, and held five British men who are now being questioned.

Police Public Relations Officer, Station Sergeant Barry Hunte says after the kidnapped couple was found, they had to receive medical treatment for injuries sustained during the ordeal. The two landed in Barbados on May 25th, with a scheduled July 6 departure date, but it was not until Saturday morning that the kidnapping occurred.

The drama began in the Church Village neighbourhood in the eastern parish of St. Philip when they were forced into cars by a group of men. Police were soon afterwards on the trail and traced the woman that afternoon. Her companion was found early this morning in the west of the island when a warrant was executed at a house in Cherry Drive, Sunset Crest, St. James.

“Five Caucasian males, British nationals, ranging in age from 24 to 40 years were also taken into custody,” reported Station Sergeant Hunte. “Further investigations revealed that the five suspects arrived in Barbados together on June 15th and were scheduled to depart on June 29th.” It is expected that charges will soon be laid against the five. (Dawne Bennett/Caribbean Net News Barbados Correspondent)

PARAMARIBO, Suriname: Police in Suriname arrested a gang of kidnappers on Friday and freed their victims. According to police, four immigrants from India, all men, and a Guyanese woman were held hostages since June 8.

It is alleged that with help from the kidnappers, the five victims traveled from Guyana to Suriname on false documents. They were supposed to continue their travel to the United States of America.

The Police Information Service (PIS) disclosed that after the group arrived in the capital Paramaribo they were put up in a home in the northern outskirts of the city. Two days later they were transferred to a hotel were they were kept hostage.

Friday afternoon police got a tip on the kidnapping and launched an investigation in the hotel. The Anti-Terror Squad and other units were called in and in the raid that followed freed the 5 victims. Five kidnappers, two Guyanese and three Surinamese nationals who were guarding the victims were arrested on the scene. Four others are still at large.

Preliminary investigations reveal that one of the Indian men is married to the Guyanese woman who was also kept hostage. All the victims were living in Guyana for a couple of years. According to police the gangsters demanded US$500,000 ransom before releasing the captives.

After the victims called relatives in India to meet the kidnappers' demands family members in the US transferred US$30,000 to Suriname. After collecting the money, the cash was seized by the gangsters. The five arrested suspects informed police that the ransom was in the possession of the kidnappers who are still at large. The victims were physically abused. One of them needed medical attention for injuries to the head.

This is the second kidnapping within weeks. Three days after a car dealer was abducted on June 7, he managed to escape from the trunk of a car he was kept in when police were chasing after the kidnappers. When jumping out of the trunk he was shot in the back by his captors but survived the injuries.

Subsequently police arrested seven suspects including two women. In a raid at two premises south of the capital police also seized weapons and discovered the ransom that was paid by the victims stashed away in a freezer. It is alleged that these gangsters had no intention of releasing their victim but planned to kill him since he knew all of them. Investigations indicate that some of his kidnappers were former business partners.

Last week officials of the Prosecutors Office, police and Military Police received training in ‘Negotiating techniques with kidnappers'. During the course, participants were instructed how to handle the situation in a professional manner when dealing with kidnappings. An elite unit of the French police delivered the training sessions. (Ivan Cairo/Caribbean Net News Suriname Correspondent)

ORANJESTAD, Aruba (UPI): The father of a teenage suspect in the disappearance of an Alabama teenager in Aruba was arrested Thursday in connection with the case, CNN reported.

Prosecution spokeswoman Mariane Croes told CNN that Paul Van Der Sloot, an Aruban judge, is now being viewed as a suspect in the case of Natalee Holloway. The 18-year-old Birmingham, Ala., woman has been missing since May 30, after she left a nightclub with 17-year-old Joran Van Der Sloot and two other young men. Deepak Kalpoe, 21, and his brother Satish Kalpoe, 18, are also under arrest in the case.

Paul Van Der Sloot was questioned by police last Saturday, one day after a judge ruled that he was not permitted to visit his son in jail.

Holloway was in Aruba with about 100 classmates to celebrate their recent graduation. CNN said Joran Van Der Sloot, the Kalpoe brothers and 26-year-old disc jockey Steve Croes face accusations of two counts of murder and one count of kidnapping leading to murder. No formal charges have been filed. Defense attorneys for Joran Van Der Sloot and the Kalpoes said their clients maintain their innocence. (Caribbean Net News)

Commission to spearhead drugs fight

President outlines crime battle plan

BATTLE PLAN: President Bharrat Jagdeo with Attorney-at-Law and Opposition PNCR Member of Parliament, Basil Williams, left, and Chief Justice Carl Singh at the launching of the National Drug Strategy Master Plan. (Winston Oudkerk photo)

`…at the end of the day the responsibility to implement the strategy is ours. And we shall not shirk from our obligations’ –- President Bharrat Jagdeo

A national Anti-Narcotics Commission backed by a secretariat will lead a coordinated fight back against the illicit drugs trade under a $G650 million five-year National Drug Strategy Master Plan, President Bharrat Jagdeo announced yesterday.

Key elements in the battle plan he outlined include beefing up intelligence gathering, modernising the capabilities of the Police Force, more resources for counter-narcotics agencies, and greater bilateral cooperation with neighbouring countries. Mr Jagdeo unveiled the long-awaited plan before police and army top brass, the diplomatic community and others and outlined several initiatives, programmes and strategies to also wage war against the crime scourge.

At the launching at Le Meridien Pegasus Hotel in Georgetown, he said the commission will be the focal point in this new counter-narcotics strategy which will lead to the overall improvement in co-ordination by various agencies. He said the commission will over the next five years oversee programmed activities against drug supply and demand.

The agenda for supply reduction includes:

Improving intelligence gathering functions of the law enforcement agencies.

Putting into operation the Joint Intelligence Coordinating Centre which brings together representatives of the intelligence gathering apparatus of the Joint Services for better intelligence-led counter-narcotic operations.

Strengthening the Criminal Investigation Department of the Police Force through the expanded application of Information Communication and Technology. This will create a simple central law enforcement database allowing ready access to information relating to criminal charges, convictions and punishment, immigration records and asset holdings of drug traffickers.

Strengthening counter-narcotic agencies by providing additional resources. President Jagdeo said more equipment will be procured to entail secure communication, land and riverain transportation, better border control facilities and the surveillance of air and sea spaces.

Strengthening the capacities of the National Forensic Laboratory through acquiring more up-to-date equipment and technology and the aggressive recruitment of necessary skills.

Improving the functioning of the criminal justice administrative system through sustained training for court officials and providing better court facilities.

Strengthening the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions and augmenting Prosecutors’ skills in prosecuting narco-traffickers. (President Jagdeo said the current situation was a source of concern with the delays and the less than anticipated rate of convictions due in part to corruption.)

Improving the legal framework through enacting new legislation which is in keeping with the regional legal thrust against drug traffickers and the drug trafficking industry.

Expanding international cooperation through ratifying relevant and important international conventions and treaties including the Inter-American Convention on Mutual Assistance on Criminal Matters; and the Inter-American Convention Against the Illicit Trafficking, Manufacturing of Firearms, Ammunition and Explosives.

Strengthening bilateral cooperation between Guyana, and its neighbours and other countries.

The President said this Master Plan will build on the foundation laid by the first Master Plan (1997–2000) which expanded into additional areas of narcotic interdiction, strengthening inter-agency co-operation and increased engagement with bilateral, regional and international agencies.

He reported that the strategy was drafted in consultation with key persons in his administration, civilian law enforcement agencies, the military and Non-Governmental Organisations.

DEMAND REDUCTION

Under the Demand Reduction category of the plan, he said the following activities would be implemented:

Developing and implementing safe lifestyle programmes for youths

Strengthening the current health and family life education programmes that target vulnerable women, children and adolescents

Providing continuous statistical surveillance on the prevalence of drug use in selected populations, thereby obtaining information that will be useful in policy formulation

Encouraging heightened civil society participation in anti-drug abuse activities, including advocacy and the provision of services

Heightening media involvement in promoting awareness of drug abuse

Providing better clinical and behavioural treatment for drug users and abusers through training relevant personnel and establishing additional rehabilitation centres, either directly or giving support to NGOs. This would improve the availability of rehabilitation and counselling services.

“The implementation of our anti-drug strategy with its programmes and activities would need to be resourced by the combined efforts of Central Government, and our bilateral and multilateral partners”, the President said.

“At a minimum, the incremental financial cost to implement the master plan is projected at G$650M.”

He acknowledged that although this is a significant sum of money for Guyana, it may appear paltry when compared to the resources provided elsewhere in the hemisphere to fight narco-trafficking.

“Clearly, international support would be critical for the successful implementation of the Master Plan,” he said.

“However, at the end of the day the responsibility to implement the strategy is ours. And we shall not shirk from our obligations,” he declared.

“While we move ahead with the implementation of this Drug Master Plan, we cannot ignore the fact that success depends on how we effectively tackle the bigger picture of crime and violence in Guyana,” he reminded the audience.

That picture, he said, is compounded by the even bigger picture of trans-national crime and its implications for small developing countries like Guyana.

“We cannot ignore the reality that our security threats are not unique, given the similarities in the situation of crime and violence in the Caribbean and Latin American countries,” he posited.

“I am certain that we are all aware that Guyana and the other countries in the Caribbean and in Latin America have seen an upsurge in criminal activities (since) statistics, media reports and research all point to an increase and new trends of violence and trans-national crime,” Mr Jagdeo said.

“My colleague Heads and I have given considerable attention to this growing threat in the Caribbean (and) that intense focus led to the creation of the CARICOM (Caribbean Community) Ministerial Committee on Crime and Security.”

He said that body has already proposed initiatives for implementation in CARICOM countries. In spite of the implementation of several of these and other initiatives such as the promulgation of new laws allowing easier criminal prosecutions, maritime interdiction, the provision of additional resources (financial, human and technical), the statistics suggest that “we are still to attain a sustained and significant impact” on crime and violence in the region, he said.

“Notwithstanding, my government is committed to waging the war against all manifestations of crime and violence in our society,” he declared. (See other story on centre).

The crime battle plan

PRESIDENT Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday outlined a new programme aimed at battling crime and violence in the country. He said heightening all STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVEMENT in implementing crime prevention and crime fighting measures will be done through:

Establishment of a National Commission on Law and Order

We intend to establish the National Commission on Law and Order which would include representatives of the Government, the Parliamentary Opposition, youth, religious organisations, academia, the private sector and organised labour. The Commission’s mandate will include the examination of existing and proposed policies and making recommendations to the President. This is one of the recommendations made to Heads by the CARICOM Ministerial Committee on Crime and Security.

Creation of Community Policing Ministerial Unit

A Ministerial Unit on Community Policing will be created within the Ministry of Home Affairs. This would lead to better management of the government’s undertakings and obligations to Community Policing. That Ministerial unit would be responsible for establishing and maintaining the necessary liaison between Community Policing groups, their regional and national bodies, the Police Divisional Command structures, Police Headquarters and other executive entities.

Among the functions of that Unit would be those discharged by field officers who would be assigned to work with Community Policing groups in the different Police divisions. Community Policing Groups would now be benefiting from better administrative support, including funding from the $30M annual subvention I am now proposing.

Tougher Action Against Racial Incitement And Violence

We recognise that the current legal framework to address racially-motivated crime, racial incitement and the promotion of violence is inadequate. I expect more robust enforcement of existing laws by the Police and will be inviting recommendations to strengthen our laws in line with modern practices.

Greater NGO Involvement In Crime Prevention

Our attention to the media would be complemented by our efforts to increase the number of social workers and counsellors. These officers would aggressively support programmes in schools, clubs and work places to promote civic responsibility, and a culture of tolerance in our interpersonal relationship. They will collaborate with Non-Governmental groups that are actively involved in activities to protect children and spouses from abuse, violence and other anti-social acts. We intend to increase financial support to NGOs involved in these programmes.

Secondly, another area of emphasis will be CRIME PREVENTION. We intend to:

Introduce Neighbourhood Police

In my travels around the country, many persons have expressed willingness to serve their communities as part of the Guyana Police Force but are constrained by either recruitment factors or reluctance to serve outside of their communities.

Recognising this willingness to serve and in the face of the need to improve policing of communities, I have decided to establish a new full-time community based-arm of the Guyana Police Force. Under this programme, 600 men and women drawn from their communities between the ages of 18 and 45 will be trained and employed to provide full-time residential Police presence to assist in the prevention and reduction of crime in their communities.

These Neighbourhood Police will also support community policing groups. This is a new category of Police officers and is not intended to de-emphasise the regular policing for which recruitment will be intensified.   I wish to thank the Commissioner of Police, the leadership of the Police Force and the Ministry of Home Affairs for their work on this initiative.

Introduce Penal Reform with emphasis on correction and reintegration

More attention will be directed to the Prison population and specifically from the perspective of ensuring the return of prisoners especially the young and first offenders, to productive lives on their release. In that regard, the staffing of the Guyana Prison Service would continue to be increased according to the approved four-year plan to increase appointments of training instructors. This would provide more opportunities for prisoners to acquire marketable skills during their period of incarceration. We envisage the introduction of new programmes to develop and enhance life skills that will be beneficial to inmates. This hopefully, would reduce recidivism among young offenders.

Heighten attention to vulnerable and at-risk groups

The Administration will provide more resources that will increase the opportunities for the unemployed, unskilled and out-of-school youth and prevent them falling prey to recruitment by anti-social and criminal elements. (On Monday) I launched a $350M nationwide non-residential national training programme for youth empowerment which will provide training in marketable skills for more than 5,200 out-of-school youths.

This programme will be conducted over the next three years with the intention of improving their opportunities for post secondary education and employment. This programme will complement existing programmes targeting ‘out-of-school’ young people. Many wished to find a job or to continue studying, but they did not have the basic skills or qualification to realize their ambitions. This programme will correct this situation and allow them to lead productive lives. We must ensure that they do not get involved in negative activities.

Waive Duty and Taxes on surveillance technology for the private sector

Aware as I am of the unique exposure of the business community to criminal onslaughts, I am disposed to consider the provision of duty and tax concessions on the importation of electronic surveillance technology and other security related items to registered legitimate businesses to protect their business places and aid crime prevention.

All of these will have to be supplemented by stronger CRIME FIGHTING measures and effective Police operations. In this regard, areas for additional attention are:

1. Traffic:

Due to the improvement of our roadways and the increased number of vehicles on our roads, there has been an increase in accidents and fatalities. We are moving to:

Introduce a modern traffic control system with more stringent laws, harsher punishment and rigid enforcement. These would be supported by greater reliance on advanced technology. For efficiency reasons, a modern ‘ticketing’ system for traffic violations would also be introduced to reduce incidents of corruption and harassment and loss of man-hours.

Conduct a feasibility study for the separation of Motor Vehicle Inspection and Certification from the Police Force so that it can concentrate on its core functions.

2. White-collar crime:

We will focus more attention and resources to combating white-collar crimes, by implementing the following:

The Fraud Squad in the CID will be strengthened through recruitment and exposure to additional training and the application of relevant technology

We will commit more resources to enhance the work of the Financial Investigative Unit. Since becoming a member of the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force, we now have greater access to training of staff and the preparation of legislation that would make it easier to prosecute money launderers

3. Immigration:

Due to the increase transnational nature of crime, alien smuggling and trafficking in persons, we will modernise our Immigration and Naturalisation services. Therefore,

we are introducing machine-readable passports using an integrated database and will enact tougher legislation to deal with Immigration-related offences including backtracking.

we are examining the feasibility of creating a separate entity to deal with Immigration and Naturalisation services which would also release scarce Police personnel and resources

4. Gun Control:

Due to increased gun-related crimes caused by the inflows of illegal weapons, my Administration will:

introduce tougher penalties for those convicted of illegal possession and use of firearms

improve intelligence in this area

expand the Guyana Revenue Authority’s ability to detect smuggled weapons at our sea ports and airports

increase our military presence in the border areas for better interdiction

increase international co-operation to combat trafficking in firearms

4. Strengthen Law Enforcement Agencies:

In addition to all of the above, there is a need for us to continue the increasing budgetary and policy support provided to the Guyana Police Force and other Law Enforcement agencies. Everyone would recognise our commitment to crime fighting through the increase in budgetary allocation which has grown from $500M to $3.4 billion during the past decade. In this regard:

more funding will be made available for new Police stations, rehabilitation of existing buildings, enhancing communication and transportation, providing modern facilities and increasing state-of-the equipment including forensic capabilities and computerisation, communication and transportation

we will upgrade the data collection and data analysis capabilities of the Law Enforcement agencies. The focus will be on compiling crime statistics for use in guiding policy and operations.

we will consider a comprehensive review of the demarcation of existing Policing Divisions and the placement of Police stations. Already, commitments have been made for additional Police Stations in Regions 4 and 5.

The establishment of a National Commission on Law and Order, the creation of a Community Policing Ministerial Unit, tougher action against racial incitement and violence, the introduction of the Neighbourhood Police arm, penal reforms, heightened attention to vulnerable groups, a modern traffic control system, increased attention to white-collar crime, tougher gun control, modernising and enhancing the Law Enforcement agencies anti-crime capacities are just some of the initiatives that will give you an idea about our approach to fighting crime.

Many of these measures are either at the point of implementation or under active consideration. Others will join the list of proposals and recommendations for combating Crime and Violence that would be laid before the National Commission on Law and Order. (Guyana Cronicle)

Three officers charged with gang rape at NOC

Astell Melville (left) Cromwell Mentis (centra) and Hutton Christian

THREE officers of the New Opportunity Corps (NOC) have been jointly charged following extensive investigations into alleged sexual abuse of an inmate at the correctional institution on Essequibo Coast.

It is alleged that the trio, Astell Melville, Cromwell Mentis and Hutton Christian, raped a 13-year-old girl between August 1, 2004 and January 31, 2005. The accused appeared before acting Chief Magistrate Cecil Sullivan on the joint indictable charge yesterday and were each ordered to post $100,000 bail.

Particulars of the offence said Melville, Mentis and Christian had carnal knowledge of the victim at the NOC without her consent. Police Inspector Kevin Adonis, prosecuting, said the officials gang raped her and even threatened to kill her.

Defence Counsel Joseph Harmon, in his application for reasonable surety to be set, said the crime was committed over a long period and reports in another section of the press suggest it was part of a conspiracy to damage the officers who have served the institution with credibility for years.

The lawyer declared that the Prosecution will be at a severe disadvantage to prove the charge is not a figment of the virtual complainant’s imagination. He added that the men before the court have cooperated with the police since the investigation began. Adonis did not object to the grant of pre-trial freedom to the three and the case has been transferred to Suddie Court, also on Essequibo Coast, for July 11. (Guyana Cronicle)

ROAD TOWN, BVI: A Dutch national whose 17ft. Boston Whaler ran into a dinghy near Saba Rock, killing two boys was fined $60,000 in the British Virgin Islands High Court Monday. Arjaan Hendricksen was found guilty last week on two counts of manslaughter by gross negligence for the deaths of American Dennis Campbell-Harty, 19, and British teenager Luke Noble, 15.

The incident occurred on August 5, 2004, when Hendricksen’s vessel collided with a dinghy with four young men aboard. All four were spilled out. Two boys survived.

Justice Indra Hariprashad Charles delivered the sentence - $30,000 for each count, which was to be paid by 4:30p.m Monday. In lieu of timely payment, Hendricksen will spend three years in prison on each count, to run concurrently. Hendricksen has also been disqualified from operating a vessel for three years and the BVI High Court Registrar is to forward a copy of the order to the Embassy of the Netherlands in Trinidad for transmission to the police department in Holland.

The prosecution’s case was that Hendricksen drove his powerboat in a reckless and grossly negligent manner at an excessive speed of 12 to 15 knots, hitting the dinghy. As a seaman, Hendricksen was required to stand by after the collision and offer assistance, instead he left the scene, prosecutors said.

Hendricksen said that the collision was an unavoidable accident which was caused by the fact that the dinghy was not equipped with the requisite all-round white light and that he did not see the boys. He said that after the collision he remained at the scene for about 15 minutes, looked for the boys, then panicked and went to find his brother.

Justice Charles said that the Court of Appeal has established guidelines for sentencing in cases of murders, involuntary manslaughter, rape and unlawful carnal knowledge but no decision from the BVI jurisdiction or Court of Appeal, establishing guidelines on sentencing in manslaughter by gross negligence cases were brought to her attention.

J.S Archibald, defense attorney had asked the court to impose a non-custodial sentence and to consider the other sentencing options provided for by the law. Meanwhile Michael Harty, the father of Dennis Campbell Harty, and Chief Inspector Anthony Noble, the uncle of Luke Joseph Noble, told the court that the families would prefer a custodial sentence.

“There is no doubt that the mitigating factors far outweigh the aggravating factors in this case but it seems to me that a custodial sentence is generally necessary where there are one or more aggravating factors as in the instant case,” Justice Charles said. “However, the Court is mindful that the deceased may have contributed to the accident by contravening the laws of this territory by driving a dinghy without the requisite all-round white light.”

Regarding Hendricksen: “He has shown remorse to the grieving relatives. No words of contrition will be sufficient for these grieving families who will continue to mourn the loss of their dear little boys. Nothing could bring Luke and Campbell back. Not even a sentence of imprisonment or a fine however substantial,” she said. (Tanya Scott/Caribbean Net News BVI correspondent)

Unknown assailants shot a father of five dead on Saturday night on the railway embankment road. Dead is Dexter Cummings also known as `Sicka', 33, a self-employed businessman / vendor of West La Penitence (the Island). He was shot behind the head while in a vehicle at Bel Air on the railway embankment.

According to police reports residents in the area heard three loud explosions, which sounded like gunshots, after which the man's body was found lying in a pool of blood with injuries to the head. He had in his possession a .38 special revolver, six live matching rounds, cash and articles. His body is currently at a city mortuary awaiting a post-mortem while investigations are continuing.

According to the man's mother, Doreen Knights, and his brother, someone who knew one of the women who bore children for him called the family at about 5 am and informed them that Cummings had been shot. The man's brother said that Cummings was recently involved in an altercation with a man, unknown to him, over some deal. Apparently he attempted to represent a friend who was involved in the deal.

"He said he received some threats," his brother told Stabroek News. He recalled that Cummings had told him of these threats a few days ago. The man had made a report to the police about these threats which he was attempting to get them to straighten out. According to reports Cummings and the man who his friend was dealing with met in a supermarket in Georgetown on Saturday. His brother said it seemed as if the situation was a 'macho' kind of altercation as his brother had told the man he could not do anything to his friend.

Cummings was described by his brother as fearless, a man who did not back away from a challenge. He was however on the lookout as he knew someone was out to get him, his brother said. He was of the opinion that it was probably a close friend of his brother who had taken him to the scene of the crime in a vehicle. He said this because his brother rode a CG motorcycle, which since the incident has not been found. According to Cummings' brother there is a possibility he may have been at some activity at one of the popular grounds along the East Coast of Demerara on Saturday night.

The man was very cautious about climbing into vehicles with anyone therefore it is thought by the family that he may have been lured into a vehicle by someone he knew well. The family also pointed to the fact that he was shot behind the head. Following the shooting, the man's residence and place of business in West La Penitence were ransacked. Observers in the area where the man lived said after word spread that he had been shot persons ran through Cummings' property and removed some of his things.

Reports from relatives indicated that the persons who Cummings was involved with could have searched the house after the shooting as well. The police were also at the man's place of abode sometime after the incident occurred. A female acquaintance of Cummings had said that he received at least two phone calls before leaving his home on Saturday evening.

His family and friends said he was a good father and took the time to take his children to and from school. The day before the incident Cummings was planning to treat his children for Father's Day yesterday. His family also noted that he has had previous issues with the law but over minor matters such as fighting and not recently. He never spent anytime behind bars for violation of the law. Cummings' mother related that he left home in his late teens and went into buying and selling provisions from Bartica and other places through Stabroek Market before starting his shop at West La Penitence three years ago.

Cummings has left to mourn five children, his mother, father, two sisters and four brothers.

Several men have been victims of execution-style murders recently, including Donovan Hailes, Kevin Bastemyer, and Troy Gomes. All of these cases remain unsolved together with other gruesome murders. Gomes, 34, of Lot 2 Public Road, La Penitence was shot and killed by two assailants while sitting in a shop in Ruimveldt in late May. Bastemyer, 25, of Sophia was dragged from a pick-up on May 3 at Eccles backdam, severely beaten, shot five times and set on fire. On April 25 Hailes was shot and killed on Princes Street after being chased by the occupants of a motorcar from D'urban Street where he was walking with two friends.

Many observers believe these killings may be linked to the work of a death squad. (Stabroek News/Christopher Yaw)

GDF-type kit, gun found at St Ignatius

Police in the E and F Division are investigating the circumstances which led to the discovery of a firearm, ammunition and military-type uniform on Saturday morning at St Ignatius Village, Central Rupununi.

According to a release from the Police Public Relations Unit, ranks were on patrol around 9 am on Saturday when they observed a man acting suspiciously. He then began to run and the police gave chase and later caught him. A search on him revealed one 14-gaugeshotgun and two live matching cartridges.

Subsequently a search of his home was conducted and a pair of Guyana Defence Force-type uniforms was found. The suspect is in custody as investigations continue. (Stabroek News)

Drug Master Plan to be launched Tuesday

(GINA) – THE Government of Guyana will launch its National Drug Strategy Master Plan (2005-2009) on Tuesday at the Police Officers’ Mess, Eve Leary. President Bharrat Jagdeo will deliver the feature address. This is Guyana’s first comprehensive strategy to combat narco-trafficking and an initiative undertaken by only a few CARICOM countries.

The five-year plan has been developed with assistance from the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD) and the contributions of more than 36 local agencies and organisations. The local bodies will also participate in the fight against drug trafficking, drug addiction, money laundering and related crimes.

The President is also expected to elaborate on his Government’s position on improving crime and security in the country. (Gyana Cronicle)

The three soldiers who hijacked a taxi in Suriname last week and attempted to evade a police roadblock by driving the vehicle into a trench were officially dismissed from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) yesterday. And the army is planning a massive exercise to apprehend the scores of soldiers who are Absent Without Leave (AWOL) like the trio was before they got involved in the incident.

A senior officer of the GDF told Stabroek News yesterday that soldiers have been making the headlines recently for all the wrong reasons. And among them are many absent and ex-soldiers. Asked why the GDF had not kept up a sustained campaign to apprehend errant members, the officer said they had encountered problems in the past. The officer recalled one such exercise in West Berbice where ranks went in search of a few soldiers who were AWOL and the missing soldiers opened fire on their colleagues.

The officer said that campaigns of this nature had to be carefully planned, noting that some of the missing soldiers may have picked up a gun or are into crime. And why does the army continue to attract such characters? The officer said many of the young men were joining the organisation with ulterior motives. "Their heart is not with the army but with a life of crime. And some of them, even while absent from duties, are going about telling people they are soldiers so we really have to do something about this," the officer asserted.

Only recently a GDF sergeant was nabbed at the John F Kennedy Airport, New York with cocaine strapped to his body after successfully dodging authorities at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri. He, too, was absent without leave. Over the years there have been several other cases of soldiers found with illegal firearms and others embroiled in various illicit acts. A large amount of ganja was also found on the GDF flagship.

With regard to the hijackers, the GDF officer said they had disgraced the organisation. The men were charged in Suriname for the offence and the officer said the GDF and the police are keen to have them here as soon as they have served their sentences. "We would like to know whether they had any links with criminals in Guyana or abroad so it would be in our best interest to have them when they would have served their time," the officer said.

Stabroek News was told that the soldiers: two privates and a Lance Corporal were probably on a mission to rob someone or were going to strip the car and sell its parts. The army officer said no drugs or guns were found on them which raised a question about their motive. The officer believes that the men were part of a larger gang in the neighbouring country.

Sources had told this newspaper that there have been a number of reports of Guyanese entering Suriname illegally and participating in armed robberies. The three soldiers had entered the country through the `backtrack' (illegal) route, the officer observed, noting that there were no records of them at the various authorised ports of their departure.

Stabroek News was told that the soldiers had hijacked the car somewhere on the outskirts of Suriname and were about to enter the capital, Paramaribo. They tied up the driver and bundled him into the trunk and sped off, according to information. The driver however managed to untie himself and escaped from the car. He immediately contacted the police who responded swiftly by setting up a roadblock. Unaware of the police's action the soldiers drove into the roadblock and when they realised that they were trapped they ran the vehicle into a nearby trench and tried to escape.

The officer said all three of them had given below three years of service to the GDF. He said two of them were from the same village and they all trained together. Stabroek News was told that two of the soldiers were stationed at Camp Ayanganna. (Stabroek News)

Anti-crime strategies crucial to regional economic integration

Carrington

HONOURED: Guyana’s Attorney-General, Senior Counsel Doodnauth Singh, left, and CCJ President Justice Michael de la Bastide at the meeting yesterday.

CARIBBEAN Community (CARICOM) Secretary-General Edwin Carrington has pleaded with the CARICOM Legal Affairs Committee (LAC) to give urgent attention to legislation aimed at curbing rising crime and violence in the community, which he said could threaten the regional economic integration process.

His call came yesterday as the LAC, comprising Attorneys-General and Ministers of the Legal Affairs of CARICOM, and other legal officials of regional institutions, opened its 11th special meeting here. Emphasising the importance of the LAC, in conjunction with Ministers responsible for National Security with regard to developing strategies to stem crime and violence in the region, Carrington also urged that consideration be given to concluding the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty, which will facilitate cooperation among the various law enforcement agencies of the community.

In the context of crime and security, the Secretary-General also recommended that swift action be taken to develop the Regional Justice Protection Programme. Noting that the LAC was instrumental in negotiating the agreement establishing the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), Carrington commended Guyana and Barbados for subscribing to the appellate jurisdiction of the court. In this regard, he charged Attorneys-General of other member states to push for their respective countries to follow suit, thereby enabling “the transition of the community towards its full independence.”

Highlighting the growing acceptance of the CARICOM passport as another accomplishment by the LAC, he said there remain other challenges in the region for the attention of the LAC. He underscored the importance of the adoption of “sunset legislation” to the region’s preparation for hosting Cricket World Cup (CWC) in 2007, particularly with relation to the protection of brands and trademarks.

“The legislation will also deal with other issues regarding ease of movement between participating countries, relaxing of rules in relation to customs duties where possible, and security,” Carrington stated.

With 2005 designated the Year of the Single Market, the Secretary-General alluded to the progress made by the LAC and the Chief Parliamentary Counsels with respect to completing legislation to govern the operation of the Single Market. He noted that the early approval and enactment of legislation in all participating member states is crucial to the December 2005 implementation timeline for the Single Market.

Touching on issue of Legal Education in the community, Carrington observed that globalisation and liberalisation has made it imperative for the region to revisit its delivery of legal education at the University of the West Indies (UWI) and the law schools. “The continued acceptance of quotas at the UWI Faculty of Law, and by acceptance the Hugh Wooding and Norman Manley Law Schools must be reviewed in light of the prevalence of liberalisation, and in light of the requirements that the CSME and our interactions with the global community.”

He stated that the community’s heavy reliance on the LAC, encompasses a range of issues including institutional governance, to which end the community is awaiting guidance on proposals to reform the Community Council of Ministers to boost the effectiveness of that organ. He told the LAC that in the near future, the community would be seeking its deliberation on a draft instrument to clarify and strengthen the arrangements for governance between the community and its institutions, associate institutions and observers.

President of the CCJ, Justice Michael de la Bastide, T.C. was special guest at the LAC meeting, while other organisations represented included the Caribbean Council For Legal Education (CLE), the UWI, and the Coalition for the International Criminal Court. Guyana’s Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Doodnauth Singh chaired the meeting and said Guyana was honoured to also host Justice de la Bastide. He said the next time he welcomes officials he expects it would be at the newly constructed CARICOM Secretariat at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara. (Guyana Cronicle)

Fishermen robbed at sea

Police are investigating a fresh wave of robbery attacks against fishermen in Berbice. Gunmen attacked and robbed two crews in separate raids in the Corentyne River on Tuesday, police reported yesterday.

Yeovindra Kumar Jaipaul, a fisherman of #79 Village, and a crew member, were fishing at 00:30 h Tuesday off Scotsburg when three men armed with guns struck. The bandits went alongside their boat, stuck them up and robbed them of their 25hp Evinrude outboard engine, gasoline and articles after which they escaped, polices said.

And in another attack about 15 minutes earlier, three gunmen also robbed Cecil Ramcharran, of Springlands, Corentyne, and his two crew members. Police said the attackers struck while the fishermen were off Banga Bucket and robbed them of a 40hp Yamaha outboard engine. (Guyana Cronicle)

Goldsmith murdered

Police are investigating the murder of Veersammy Apadoo, 47, a goldsmith of Ramphal Street, Williamsburg, Corentyne. The businessman who owned an AT 192 white Carina motor car #PHH 2510, left home for Georgetown on Tuesday and last made contact with his wife at 15:30 h that day, police said.

He was reported missing yesterday and the car was found abandoned at Overwinning, East Bank Berbice. Police said his body was later found in a trench and there were injuries to his head. The body is at the New Amsterdam Hospital mortuary awaiting post mortem. (Guyana Cronicle)

Police yesterday issued a wanted bulletin for the suspect in the murder of a woman at Uitvlugt, West Coast Demerara, Sunday night. Police said Kenneth Oswald Griffith, 48, is wanted for the murder of Hazel Lawrence, 51, of Casbah, Uitvlugt, and wounding her son David Chester.

The gruesome murder took place at the residence of Lorna Simpson, reputed wife of the suspect and daughter of the dead woman. The mini-bus conductor eluded the police who were in pursuit of him shortly after the killing.

Chester, who was slashed across the abdomen during the knife attack, was yesterday reported stable but still serious in hospital. Lawrence died after she was stabbed several times by the attacker who also wounded her son and daughter in a frenzied attack. Simpson, 28, the common-law wife of the alleged attacker, was slashed on her left arm during the attack. (Guyana Cronicle)

Aruba beach search ends without result

ORANJESTAD, Aruba (UPI): Police ended their beachfront search at nightfall Tuesday at the Marriott Hotel on Aruba, looking for clues in the disappearance of an Alabama teen.

Broadcast reports said they found no clues to the young woman's disappearance. Authorities cordoned off a swampy mangrove area and police began a sweep hours after the release of two security guards who worked near the Holiday Inn where Natalee Holloway, 18, was staying when she vanished May 30. One of the men released Monday said three suspects still in custody lied about dropping the girl off at her hotel. One told him they left the girl on the beach with a Dutch youth.

CNN said FBI bloodhounds and several boats combed beachfront and shrubbery several blocks from the Holiday Inn. The area had not been searched previously. Beth Holloway-Twitty, Natalee's mother, praised authorities for cooperating with the FBI. The teen from the Birmingham suburb of Mountain Brook, Ala., was on a trip to the Dutch Caribbean island with classmates celebrating her high school graduation. (Caribbean Net News)

Joseph Inniss

A police sergeant accused of shooting a man in his left thigh was yesterday granted $10,000 bail by Magistrate Maxwell Edwards.

It is alleged that Joseph Inniss unlawfully and maliciously wounded Joel Fariah with intent to maim, disfigure or cause him actual bodily harm on February 27.

Police alleged that following an incident at the home of Inniss' reputed wife, Fariah was pointed out by a friend of hers to a police patrol that was passing. Two policemen, including Inniss who is attached to CID Headquarters, stopped Fariah at Cross Street, Werk-en-Rust and there was an exchange of words. A scuffle reportedly ensued between the complainant and Inniss. Fariah allegedly managed to disengage himself and began walking up the street. While doing so he was reportedly shot by Inniss in the left thigh. He was subsequently taken to the hospital where he received medical attention for a six-inch wide hole in his leg.

Inniss is being represented by attorney-at-law Vic Puran. Puran told the court that the complainant attacked his client with a knife. Puran said that his client was on duty when the incident occurred and he could not understand how the police disbelieved a police witness. Inniss pleaded not guilty to the charge of felonious wounding and he has to return to Court Two on July 10. (Stabroek News)

FBI playing second fiddle in Aruba

ORANJESTAD, Aruba: Top sleuths from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Miami have been slithering through the grass on Aruba for the last 14 days but the role these highly-trained agents have been forced to play is that of “second fiddle" to the Aruban police, who have been struggling to crack the case of the missing 18-year-old Natalee Holloway, whose disappearance on May 30 has drawn the international media to this Dutch Caribbean island of just over 97,000 people.

Officials at Aruba's Foreign Affairs office told Caribbean Net News that the Miami-based FBI agents were invited to the island as observers only, and the Aruban police are the ones "calling the shots." This has annoyed FBI brass in the US, prompting one senior FBI agent to wonder aloud: "Are they having an election down there or are they looking for a missing person? What's this observer status stuff all about?"

According to Judy Orihuela, FBI spokesperson at the Miami office, the government of Aruba has only asked for minimal FBI help from the organisation. FBI sources told Caribbean Net News that there is one agent from Barbados, along with six from Miami, who are on the ground in Aruba and will "help" when they are asked to.

Police in Aruba confirmed to Caribbean Net News that the FBI are here as observers and were part of a team that was allowed to watch from behind a glass when Aruban police interviewed five men held in connection with Holloway's disappearance. Limited in technology, the Aruban police have also sought the help of the FBI in analysing a DNA sample that was removed from the rear seat of a vehicle belonging to one of the suspects. Caribbean Net News has learnt the DNA tests came back negative when tested for blood.

The slow pace of the investigation has angered many, forcing Holloway's mother to make public criticism of the slow pace. The case has caused great embarrassment for the Aruba authorities. In one instance, the Deputy Commissioner told the media that there was a confession and that one of the accused was leading the police to the scene of Police. Minutes after, that line was changed and officials had no more to say about the “confession”, saying rather that they had reached a "critical" point in their in their investigations.

No one has made any further comment on what the Deputy Commissioner had said earlier. However, Holloway's mother is of the view that the authorities could be seeking to protect the three young men who were last to see her daughter. The trio told police they had dropped off the 18-year-old at her hotel following a party session.

Police, when pressed, told Caribbean Net News that video tapes from surveillance cameras at the hotel show no evidence of this. Meanwhile, FBI agents will stay in Aruba and continue to observe from behind the glass, until they called upon to run any further errands. (Norman 'Gus' Thomas, Caribbean Net News Senior Regional Correspondent)

Bandits kill Sophia resident

The spot where Brentnol Figueira was shot dead.

A SOPHIA resident was shot dead when five armed bandits invaded a shop last Friday night around 10.15 hrs at `E’ Field Sophia. According to eyewitnesses, the victim Brentnon Figueira, 35, and other customers were looking at video and playing dominoes - regular Friday night activities in the area - when the gang barged into Nicky’s Players Club and ordered them to lie on the ground.

Brentnon Figueira, 35

Figueira of `D’ Field Sophia was shot in his chest because he resisted the order. The bandits then robbed customers of their valuables and cash before fleeing. One eyewitness told the Chronicle that it was difficult to see the bandits because they had switched off the power generating set, leaving the place in darkness.

The sister of the dead man, Rochelle Figueira, said her brother, who was employed as a contractor at Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company, was a friendly and pleasant person, always trying to make everyone around him happy.

The shop `Nicky’s’ where the incident occurred

In wake of the incident, residents are appealing for proper roads and electricity in the area, noting that the lack of these facilities make it easier for criminals to attack them.

When this newspaper visited the scene, police were still questioning witnesses. (Guyana Cronicle

Investigation continues in Aruba

ORANJESTAD, Aruba (UPI): Three young men continue to be held in Aruba in connection with the disappearance of an 18-year-old Alabama woman. However, there have been no formal charges filed against them, despite word from police that at least one had confessed to killing the woman.

Broadcast source reported that a judge in Oranjestad ruled Saturday the men could be kept in custody, allowing police and prosecutors eight days to continue their investigations.

Natalee Holloway of Mountain Brook, Ala., was on a high school graduation trip to Aruba when she disappeared May 30. Two security guards at the hotel where Holloway was staying have also been detained.

A resort island in the Caribbean just north of Venezuela, Aruba's economy depends heavily on tourists. The island is an autonomous member of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. (Caribbean Net News)

Vaugh Gardener

An East Ruimveldt man accused of raping and buggering a 16-year-old girl was yesterday remanded to prison by Acting Chief Magistrate Cecil Sullivan. Vaugh Gardener of 302 East Ruimveldt allegedly committed the acts on the teenager on May 16.

Police alleged that the girl was being molested by Gardener since she was eight years old. One of the most recent occurrences was on May 14. After he allegedly violated her on May 16 he threatened to kill her if she said anything about what had happened.

However she confided in her father who subsequently went to the police. Gardener was subsequently arrested and charged with the present offences. Gardener was not required to plead to the indictable charges of rape and buggery and he has to return to Court Three on June 29. (Stabroek News)

Police discover a group of illegal Haitians in Antigua-Barbuda

ST. JOHN'S, Antigua: Immigration officials in Antigua have launched an investigation into what is believed to be the illegal entry of some 30 Haitians who landed on the sister island of Barbuda.

One visitor staying at a local hotel told Caribbean Net News that the Haitians were being observed as they landed on Barbuda from a boat.

Police in St John's said that at present there are 29 individuals - 15 females and 14 males - in the care of law enforcement officials while the search is on for another person who is believed to have "gotten away" and is hiding on Barbuda. A police source told Caribbean Net News that the men will be housed at the Immigration Department while the women will stay at the Defence Force headquarters until they depart the State.

Three weeks ago, police on the island of Nevis arrested a group of Haitians who had landed on that island while en route to the Dutch/French island of St.Maarten. Police in Nevis reported that, five days after, another group of twenty-one Haitians also landed on St. Kitts and it has been reported that the Haitians who landed on Barbuda were also reported to be on their way to St.Maarten.

Officials in St. John's could not confirm the existence of a human trafficking ring for Haitians but said they are carrying out a full investigation into the matter. (Sarrah Hadeed/Caribbean Net News Antigua-Barbuda Correspondent)

Queenstown housewife released unharmed after abduction

The Campbell's residence in Queenstown.

`I cried and begged for my life because they wanted to kill me, but they spared my life and I thank God for that.’ Tracey Campbell.

Heavily armed and masked bandits kidnapped a 34-year-old mother of four from her city home, after robbing her of half a million dollars in cash.

Tracey Campbell told the Chronicle that she was at her Lot 106 New Garden Street, Queenstown home shortly after midday yesterday, with two of her four children, aged three and 10, when three men entered her house through the unlocked gate and door.

Campbell said she had just opened her door and was preparing to do chores in the yard when the intruders barged in. She stated that the men expertly de-activated the home’s electronic alarm system as well as the telephone line. They demanded cash and began threatening her and the children. Campbell said she begged for her children’s lives after the gunmen threatened to take them away. She persuaded them to take her instead.

Apart from robbing her of $500,000.00 in cash, they thoroughly ransacked the house before taking her to a motorcar which was parked in Laluni Street, Queenstown. The woman said the robbers took her to the canefields at the back of South Ruimveldt where they tied her arms and duct-taped her mouth.

She said she was freed after she managed to convince the gunmen that her husband was overseas and that they had no more money. Campbell said that the men took her into a street within the South Ruimveldt area and told her to walk without looking back while they made good their escape in the car. She said she walked into a yard and asked for a telephone call to alert the police who quickly picked her up and took her home.

“I cried and begged for my life because they wanted to kill me, but they spared my life and I thank God for that,” she said yesterday after the dreaded ordeal. Her husband, Lemme Campbell who has been operating a seafood exporting business since 1990, was on an aircraft at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport Timehri preparing to depart for Barbados when he was alerted by phone of his wife’s plight.

He told the Chronicle he was forced to exit the plane, and rushed home to be with his wife and children. The family had a happy but tearful reunion yesterday after Tracey Campbell returned home. (Michel Outridge and Renu Raghubir/Guyana Cronicle)

Aruba men still held for missing teen

ORANJESTAD, Aruba (UPI): A judge in Aruba ruled Wednesday there is enough evidence to keep two suspects jailed in the disappearance of an 18-year-old Alabama teenager.

The hearing for Nick John, 28, and Abraham Jones, 30, had been moved to a police station because of the extensive media coverage involved in the search for Natalee Holloway, a student who disappeared more than a week ago while on vacation in Aruba.

Acting on a tip, police arrested the two security guards, Sunday morning in the oil-refining town of San Nicolas.

The guards worked at Hotel Allegro, near the Holiday Inn where Holloway was staying. A lawyer for one of the men said neither of the men were working the night Holloway disappeared.

"They have both denied very categorically knowing Natalee Holloway or having any contact with her," Chris Lejuez told CNN. "All they know about her is what they read and saw in the paper." (Caribbean Net News)

June sessions open with historic parade of policewomen

HISTORIC PARADE: Justice Jainarayan Singh takes the salute during the march past yesterday. (Picture by Delano Williams)

HISTORY was created in Guyana yesterday when, for the first time in the history of this country, there was an all-women Ceremonial Parade to mark the opening of the June criminal sessions.

In the past, the traditional ceremonial parade that included the posting of a Guard of Honour and the taking of the salute during the March Past was confined to males who were often drawn from the Police Tactical Services Unit.

The idea of Commissioner of Police, Winston Felix, to introduce such an event was lauded by lawyers who saw the parade of some 30 members of the Force as yet another move to bring policewomen on par with their male counterparts. Retired Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr George Jackman, S.C., and Attorney-at-Law Mr Hukumchand were among those who commented on the occasion.

Mr Jackman, who had watched hundreds of parades over the years to mark the opening of the criminal sessions, declared that the all-female parade augurs well, not only for the women in the Police Force, but women in Guyana. Mr Hukumchand, one of the defence lawyers at the current sessions, supported the views expressed by the veteran retired DPP and added: "The parade showed off the female grace and the traditional splendour".

Referring to the smartness of the women on parade, Huckumchand declared: "Their appearance significantly enhanced an otherwise sultry morning". The parade, which was inspected by Justice Jainarayan Singh, concluded with a Guard of Honour mounted on South Road outside of the High Court. The 30 female ranks were drawn from headquarters and `A’ Division'.

The Guyana Police Force Military Band and Corps of drums were also in attendance. (George Barclay//Guyana Cronicle)

A teenage boy died on Sunday at the New Amsterdam Hospital after a friend allegedly stabbed him during a row over a DVD on Saturday at Number 36 Village, Corentyne, Berbice. Dead is 18-year-old Cliff Chinamootoo of Number 25 Village, Corentyne, Berbice.

According to the police, on Saturday at about 18:00 hrs (6 pm) Chinamootoo went to visit a friend, also 18, who lives at Number 36 Village, Corentyne. The two friends were standing on the road when they got into an argument over a DVD. The friend allegedly pulled out an unknown instrument and stabbed Chinamootoo once in the stomach and once in the left armpit.

Chinamootoo then left to go home and collapsed a short distance away from his home. His brother ran out and took him into the house before taking him to the Port Mourant Hospital, where a doctor treated him and sent him home. Later the same evening he complained of feeling unwell and was taken back to the same hospital. He was then referred to the New Amsterdam Hospital where he died on Sunday at 13:00 hrs (1 pm) while undergoing surgery.

The matter was then reported to the police who are investigating. His friend who is suspected of committing the offence is at large. (Keisha McCammon/Stabroek News)

Armed, masked bandits rob Cumberland family

A businessman and his wife were yesterday morning robbed of a large quantity of jewellery and cash when four armed men broke into their home at Cumberland, East Canje, Berbice. According to the police, four armed men who wore masks entered the home of Randolf and Rhonda Blair who reside at Coburg Street, Cumberland, around 2.30 am yesterday.

The men gained entry by climbing on a shed and breaking into the western bedroom window, police said. They then stuck up Blair and his wife and demanded money and jewellery. Two other persons who were in the home were threatened and made to lie on the floor. Blair and his wife who were assaulted by the men were forced to hand over $150,000 in jewellery and $50,000 cash. The ordeal lasted for about 15 minutes.

The men then made good their escape after discharging two rounds into the air. The police were called and following investigations have taken three suspects into custody. (Keisha McCammon/Stabroek News)

Several dead, neighbors shaken after violent Haitian police raid

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AFP): Hours after an aggressive police operation in an impoverished neighborhood of the Haitian capital, few residents ventured into the streets and those that did kept a low profile. Defiant youths gave a visitor hard looks and angrily denounced UN peacekeepers who they said watched a forceful raid Saturday by Haitian police without lifting a finger.

"They were here when the police opened fire on us and burned houses in the neighborhood," fumed one man, pointing to piles of smoking sheet metal that once formed the roofs of humble, now ruined homes. A UN source said two people were killed and 35 questioned in the Bel Air neighborhood, home to some 300,000 people. But relatives of victims said the toll was as high as 23. Only four bodies were brought to the main morgue in Port-au-Prince, a source there said.

The police operation came four days after unknown assailants attacked a police station and a market in Port-au-Prince, killing ten. Seated on a collapsed wall, a woman in her 70s told how "men dressed in black" -- Haitian police -- torched her modest home. "I have no family. Where am I going to spend the night?" she whimpered.

Bullet holes in the walls and cartridges littering the blood-stained pavement spoke just as clearly of the events. No-one could give a certain toll of the three-hour police raid. "They killed 18 people," a teenager said, while another offered a figure of 23.

A woman cried in front of the remains of her shack, strewn with shattered crockery. In her absence, police broke down the door and turned her home into a heap of ruins, she claimed. "They took my husband. I've heard nothing," another woman said. The woman immediately rushed to the police station, but soldiers of the UN stabilization mission (MINUSTAH) had no record of her husband. "The people being questioned are here. But other people taken by the police, we don't know," she said a peacekeeper told her.

Justice Minister Bernard Gousse called for a permanent posting of UN soldiers in "hot neighborhoods" like Bel Air and at police posts on Friday, after eight people were kidnapped for ransom and at the end of a particularly violent week in Port-au-Prince. Released hostages said their kidnappers hid in the densely populated shanty towns like Bel Air, a stronghold of supporters of former president Jean Bertrand Aristide, now in exile in South Africa.

"There are only bandits here," said a young man with a Rastafarian haircut who lives in Bel Air. He quickly added: "There are also quiet people here that only want to live in peace." He called on police to not turn their weapons on their own people. (Clarens Renois/Caribbean Net News)

Netherlands Antilles leader threatens legal action over immigration limits

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AFP): The prime minister of the Netherlands Antilles, Etienne Ys, threatened Sunday to take the government in The Hague to court over plans to restrict the immigration of young people from the Caribbean islands that are part of The Netherlands, the Dutch news agency ANP reported.

Ys, who is on a working visit to The Netherlands, also said he would seek help from the United Nations' human rights commission. The inhabitants of the Antilles hold Dutch passports and are entitled to live in the mother country. But the Dutch government, which has sought to control the influx of young people from the Antilles, adopted new measures on May 13.

Under the proposal, people aged between 16 and 24 arriving from the Antilles can be deported if they neither find a job nor sign up for studies three months after their arrival. "We can't go on like this," the tough-talking minister for immigration and integration, Rita Verdonk, has said, commenting on reports that young people from the Antilles cause social problems in The Netherlands. The immigration restrictions still need the approval of the Dutch parliament.

The Netherlands Antilles is made up of five islands, two in the Lesser Antilles north of Venezuela, and three in the Leeward Islands east of Puerto Rico. They are Curacao, the most populated, Bonaire, Sint Maarten -- which is half Dutch and half French -- Sint Eustatius and Saba. (Caribbean Net News)

Husband chops wife to death at Whim

Attempts suicide

The house in which Jasorada Sookshine was killed.

Twenty-four year old Jasorada Sookshine was brutally murdered by her spouse at their Whim, Corentyne home, yesterday morning, following rumours of infidelity.

The man, Eric Sookshine, called Shakaal, 30, a cane harvester, is currently a patient at the New Amsterdam Hospital, where he was admitted after a failed suicide attempt.

Jasorada and Eric Sookshine in happier times

According to the mother of the dead woman, Vidawattie Narine, during a telephone conversation with her daughter and son in law, at 21:00hrs on Thursday evening, the former told her that her husband was threatening to kill her and hang himself. The distraught woman said she became concerned on hearing the screams of her three grandchildren aged eight, six and three, but consoled herself that all would be well. But at about 06:00 yesterday, a relative reported the tragic news.

At the Lot 18 First Street residence of the couple, residents of the community surrounded the home where the incident occurred. When the Chronicle arrived at the scene, detectives were interrogating the relatives behind closed doors, during which time the badly chopped body of the woman was being removed. The younger children, Rookmanie, and Vishal, consoled each other while embracing a family portrait.

According to neighbours the dead woman had left the matrimonial home and her children, for a month, but returned just week ago. Rumours of infidelity may have been the reason for the incident. According to reports, the act was premeditated, as the eight-year-old child, Meena, was sent on an errant, while the others were told to sit on the front stairway.

It was in that period, during a heated argument that the woman was chopped repeatedly about her body with a cutlass. Portions of her hair were also removed. Her assailant reportedly turned the suspected murder weapon on himself, inflicting several wounds to his abdomen. He underwent emergency surgery at the health institution. (Guyama Cronicle/Jeune Bailey Van-Keric)

Police intensify search for missing men

THE Guyana Police Force intensified the search yesterday for the missing sugar workers with several vanloads of members of the Tactical Service Unit (TSU) and the East Coast squads combing the Guysuco backlands. They abandoned the task before dusk and, once again, came out empty-handed.

`So many days have passed and not a good sign that my father is alive and it is very difficult to bear not knowing what happened to him.’ Dharmo Sawh, son of missing sugar worker.

Sugar workers, Sampersaud Taranauth, 37, called `Shammie’ and Maikhram Sawh, 46, called `Bharrat’ of Non Pariel, East Coast Demerara, mysteriously disappeared 11 days ago while clearing a GUYSUCO drainage canal aback of Vigilance.

A relative of Sampersaud Taranauth, 37, called `Shammie’ of Fernandes Street, Enterprise, said yesterday that though the GAWU protest yesterday was appreciated, more needs to be done in locating the men.

Meanwhile, Dharmo Sawh, son of Maikhram Sawh told the Chronicle yesterday that he too, is still trying to come to grips with the men’s sudden disappearance.

“So many days have passed and not a good sign that my father is alive and it is very difficult to bear not knowing what happened to him,” he said. Both families are still praying for the return of their loved ones.

Relatives and friends were yesterday contemplating a picketing exercise today at the Cove and John, East Coast Demerara Police Station. (Guyana Cronicle)

Fishing fleet owner executed by gunmen

The Riverview, Ruimveldt shop where Gomes was killed.

Well known businessman Troy Anthony Gomes was shot dead early yesterday morning while watching television in a Riverview, Ruimveldt shop in Georgetown. It happened about 1:15 h when two gunmen fired six shots that hit him three times before they rode off on his scooter. The owner of a fleet of fishing boats, Gomes, 34, lived along La Penitence Public Road, also in the city.

He and another customer were in the business place when the bullets struck him on his chest and above his right ear, too. Gomes, who died on the spot, was believed to be the intended target of the shooting because his killers did not fire at two other men who were as visible on the premises.

Christine Gomes, sister of the deceased, said her brother was killed in what appeared to be a planned execution although she was not aware he had ever been threatened. “…they murdered him senselessly,” she cried at her Riverview, Ruimveldt residence, a short distance from the crime scene. A tent was already erected and black flags were hoisted for the mourning there as many people gathered to console his mother and six other siblings, as well.

Gomes, himself a father of four, owned six fishing vessels.

Police said the scooter which the shooters stole was later found abandoned in another part of the capital, Le Repentir cemetery. A post mortem examination is expected to be performed on the corpse today as cops continue to investigate the murder. (Guyana Cronicle)