Anandai Ramsaywack, seated, being consoled by her daughter, Amanda, at the fire scene yesterday.

Tragedy struck a mother and her daughter yesterday morning when the house they were living in for the past eleven years at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara, along with all their personal and household belongings, were destroyed by fire.

Anandai Ramsaywack, an Administrative Assistant at Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), and her daughter, Amanda, lost all their personal belongings and household items in the blaze, which reportedly started around 08:45h at an abandoned, dilapidated house next door, which was also razed.

Villagers claimed the fire was started by a `junkie’ who hung around the abandoned house at the end of the street next to where the Ramsaywacks lived.

“Nobody knows this guy but he is a frequent visitor at the (abandoned) house, he goes there regularly, he picks coconuts and he use the branches to make broom…and from what my neighbours said, he apparently lighted some dry branches under the house and this caught fire to the building…,” a visibly distraught Ramsaywack told this newspaper at the scene yesterday.

Residents said they, too, do not know the man or where he came from, but saw him at the abandoned house yesterday morning around the same time the fire started. The man, they said, has since ‘disappeared’ from the fire scene.

Although the valiant efforts by the firefighters ensured that other neighbouring buildings were saved, this did not appease the anger of some villagers, who claimed that the second building (Ramsaywack’s) could have been saved had the fire tenders arrived on time and with water.

“Everything gone - my money, my jewellery, my household things, my certificates…everything gone,” Ramsaywack said.

She said the owner of the house is an 83-year-old man who resides in Canada, and she has been care-taking the property for the past eleven years.

Her daughter, Amanda, said she had just stepped into her workplace, Power Marketing, when a co-worker approached and hugged here, which she found to be strange at the time.

Amanda said the co-worker then broke the tragic news that her home was on fire. “I immediately called my mother but she already knew what was going on,” Amanda told the Guyana Chronicle. When she rushed home, Amanda said “every single thing had already been destroyed”. (Guyana Cronicle/(Quacy Sampson photo)

Barber shot dead by cop

Police launch probe

In shock: Three of Garraway’s grieving sisters from left, Malika, Hodiah and Genessa at the family home yesterday.

The death of Clifton Garraway, 27, of 542 East Ruimveldt and an employee of GEE QU barbershop on South Road in the city, was yesterday described by his sister Hodiah as “senseless” and the family is demanding justice.

Police last night said they were investigating the circumstances which led to the fatal shooting by a member of the Guyana Police Force.

A statement issued by the GPF said: “The rank was not on duty and the shooting followed an alleged altercation and scuffle between the (barber) and the police rank.

The police rank had been issued with a handgun by the force, and also carried a licence for a personal weapon. The reason why the police firearm had not been lodged after completion of duty, as is standard procedure is not yet known.

The police rank has since been hospitalised at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation nursing injuries to his forearm.”

According to his sister, Garraway, the sixth of nine children to Fitz and Shuldelin Garraway, and who would have celebrated his 27th birthday on March 7 next, left home earlier Sunday to play a game of cricket with his cousins and friends.

She said a cousin known as `Pato’, who was also in the group, related how after the game, they visited a pools bar before going on to the `Nuclear Disco’, operated by the proprietor of `Jerries’ facility on Camp Street. When it was realized that Garraway did not enter the nightspot, she said the cousin told them he checked and found him resting on his 250 Honda Twister motorcycle outside.

And as the two were making their way into the nightspot, Hodiah said the cousin told them that Garraway “jammed” a young woman and then told her “goodnight”. The young woman apparently took offence at his action, went inside and returned with a man in tow.

A heated exchange of words developed between the two men, during which the other man is said to have pushed Garraway causing him to fall. A drinking glass which he had in his hand also broke.

The sister said `Pato’ further related how he kicked the broken glass away from their path and as Garraway got up, he began advancing towards the other man who took a step backwards, drew a gun from his waist and opened fire.

Garraway was shot several times and fell on the ground bleeding. He died at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). At Garraway’s workplace yesterday, his colleagues all had grim looks while a black cloth was hung at the gate.

Those with whom the Guyana Chronicle spoke had only nice things to say of the dead young man, including, “he was a good individual”; “good worker; very nice, quiet, and sometimes jovial guy who had no problem with anyone;” “he will be greatly missed, we never expected to hear something like that happening to him; his death is a great loss to Gee Que barbershop.”

One of his colleagues said he can vow that Garraway was not violent and shooting him was a senseless act. Eon, who maintains the establishment and was the last person whose hair Garraway cut on Saturday, told the Guyana Chronicle he cried when he heard why the young man was shot.

Garraway leaves to mourn his mother and father Fitz and Shuldelin, siblings Michelle, Amanda, Marcelle, Daga, Hodiah, Avlon, Malika and Genessa, other relatives and several friends. A source told the Guyana Chronicle the suspect was yesterday at the Kitty Police Station. The source said the suspect had two 9mm pistols, one of which he emptied on Garraway when he shot him.

An East Ruimveldt man was on Sunday night shot dead by a policeman who is also the driver of Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee during an altercation at Jerries Snackette on Garnett Street, Newtown, Kitty.

Dead is 26-year-old Clifton Garraway of East Ruimveldt Housing Scheme. He was shot some six times about his body, a relative said, and died on his way to the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Stabroek News was told that the policeman has since claimed that Garraway was attacking him when the bullets from his service revolver connected to him. The policeman is currently in the Georgetown Hospital under police guard nursing an underarm wound.

Police said in a statement last evening that they are investigating the circumstances, which led to the fatal shooting of Garraway by the policeman. According to the statement, the policeman was not on duty and the shooting followed an alleged altercation and scuffle between Garraway and the policeman.

The statement said the police rank had been issued with a handgun by the force, and also had a licence for a personal weapon. The reason why the police firearm had not been lodged on completion of duty, as is standard procedure, is not yet known, the police statement added.

Speaking to Stabroek News yesterday Shemeka Jones, Garraway's girlfriend said that he left home around 10 am on Sunday to play cricket in the National Park. Jones said he was with some 13 persons and after they had finished playing cricket around 5 pm, they went to a pools shop in Kitty. Jones said that following a few games of pools, they moved over to the Garnett Street location.

Jones said around four of the 13 persons who had gone to play cricket went into to bar and were drinking. She said that just before 11 pm, Garraway went outside after complaining of feeling unwell and slept for a short while on his motorcycle, until one of his cousins went outside to check on him.

The man's cousin woke him up and he was proceeding back inside the bar, when he bumped into a female connected to the policeman. Jones said Garraway apologized, but the woman went inside and called out the policeman.

Jones said the policeman confronted Garraway and chucked him, causing Garraway's glass of rum to fall on the ground. She alleged that the policeman then advanced to Garraway and shot him in the abdomen and as he fell to the ground, pumped more bullets into him.

Jones said she tried desperately to get her boyfriend to the hospital, but several drivers refused to take him saying that they didn't want blood in their vehicles. Eventually she got one, but the young man breathed his last before getting to the hospital.

A senior police officer told this newspaper that the policeman claimed he was being attacked from behind and when he whipped out his service revolver and tried to shoot Garraway, he ended up hitting himself. The senior officer said the policeman's version of how he was injured did not seem logical and a thorough investigation would be conducted.

Meanwhile, Jones and Garraway's friends who witnessed the shooting said that at no time did Garraway put up a fight with the policeman. They said the policeman confronted Garraway, chucked him and then shot him, which caused him to collapse. "He never tried to do him anything this is a whole mek up story he now giving," Jones said.

Stabroek News was unable to speak to the policeman yesterday, but a source close to him said the policeman has alleged that Garraway sexually assaulted the woman. The source admitted that the policeman overreacted, but said it was normal for someone to get angry under such circumstances. Garraway's relatives said they would fight for justice.

"We ain't taking it lightly something has to come out of this... it is downright murder," one of the dead man's sisters said. Garraway, a barber attached to GeeQu barbershop on South Road was described as pleasant hard working. His siblings said he was an easygoing person. He leaves to mourn his mother Shauldaline Garra-way, his father who resides overseas and eight siblings. (Guyana Cronicle)

Roger Khan slapped with more charges

Guyanese businessman, Shaheed `Roger’ Khan, who until yesterday was facing a lone charge of `conspiring to import cocaine’, was slapped with 18 more drug–related counts when he made another court appearance in New York. Previously, the prosecution had provided no dates but yesterday it did so, giving specified times when the alleged offences were committed.

The 18 additional charges include conspiracy to distribute and intent to distribute; distribution of and possession with intent to distribute; international distribution conspiracy for the importation of cocaine on December 2003 and March 2004 as well as between April and May 2004; importing cocaine in March 2005; and importing cocaine on eight occasions between February 2003 and May 2004.

Khan, who is now housed in a federal prison in Manhattan, pleaded not guilty to the new charges and is to return to court on March 8.

The US Government is expected to present additional charges against Guyanese businessman, Roger Khan when he makes another court appearance in New York this afternoon.

It is not clear what those would be, but according to reports they are expected to be all narcotics-related. Khan is before the court on a charge of conspiracy to import cocaine into the US, but the US Government had indicated last month that it would file superseding charges against the Guyanese and Stabroek News understands that at today's hearing those additional indictments would be presented.

Khan's case would come up for hearing around 3 pm New York time. The matter was earlier scheduled for 11 am but the defence asked for it to be rescheduled.

The United States District Court Eastern District of New York unsealed the indictment on May 3, but Khan was indicted on April 13.

According to the indictment, the Grand Jury charged that between January 2001 and March 2006 within the Eastern District of New York and elsewhere, Shaheed Khan also called Roger Khan and 'Short Man' together with others, knowingly and intentionally conspired to import a controlled substance into the US.

The offence involved five kilogrammes or more of a substance containing cocaine, the document said. According to the court documents Khan was charged in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 963 and 952(a). Section 952(a) makes it a crime to import a controlled substance into the US and Section 963 makes it a crime to conspire to do the same.

Khan's US lawyers, John Bergendahl and Roberts Simels have argued that the charge against Khan is baseless and they had asked the US Government to withdraw it in a motion filed last year June.

Khan is expected to go on trial by the middle of this year and as such the US Government has beefed up security around the Guyanese. He was transferred from the Nassau County jail to a federal prison in Manhattan where security is tighter. Khan's lawyer Simels has complained about the restrictions placed on his client and has asked the court to release him from what he described as administrative detention at the federal jailhouse. Simels said that the cell in which the Guyanese was being held is reserved for terrorists.

Under US law, Khan faces a minimum of ten years to a maximum of life in prison for the offence based on the amount of cocaine imported.

Following the indictment Khan had issued a statement through his lawyers while on the run saying that his charge was motivated by political considerations. He accused the US Government, the Guyana Police Force, the Guyana Defence Force and the main opposition PNCR of being complicit in silencing him for the General Elections. He also said that the USA, PNCR, GDF and GPF viewed him as someone who had the will and capacity to fight crime and to protect the people of Guyana against a coup d'etat.

In that statement he also mentioned that during the crime spree in 2002, he worked closely with the crime-fighting section of the police force and provided them with assistance and information at his own expense. He said that his participation was instrumental in curbing crime during that period. During the period Khan referred to, several death squads or 'phantom squads' emerged and some of the escapees of the February 23, 2002 jailbreak were gunned down in murky circumstances.

Khan along with ex-policeman Sean Belfield, Paul Rodrigues and Lloyd Roberts had fled Guyana for neighbouring Suriname after raids began over the missing Army AK 47 rifles. The Joint Services had conducted a number of raids on his properties in search of him and with the US indictment that was unsealed later the Guyanese in an attempt to dodge local lawmen ran to Suriname.

He was however, caught along with his three bodyguards during a huge drug bust in Paramaribo in June last year and was subsequently released for deportation to Guyana. On the way, he was seized in Trinidad and flown to New York via Miami. (Stabroek News)

Drug ring with Guyana link busted

An international drug ring involving persons from Trinidad, Canada, Guyana, London and the United States has been interrupted by officers of the Organised Crime Narcotics and Firearms Bureau (OCNFB).

The officers claimed success after their latest seizure on Thursday afternoon, when OCNFB detectives raided a Champs Fleurs guesthouse and arrested two Nigerian nationals and a Trinidad resident. A few minutes later, a Russian woman was held while attempting to board a Caribbean Airlines flight to London with packages of cocaine strapped to her body.

Up to Friday, OCNFB detectives had seized cocaine with an estimated street value of over $8 million. The Russian woman, Sanda Tamasausku, 21, a hairdresser from Latvia, appeared in the Arima Magistrates' Court before Senior Magistrate Debra Quintyne Friday afternoon and was denied bail. Tamasausku is expected to re-appear on March 5. She is charged with possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking and attempting to export a prohibited drug, the latter being a Customs and Excise charge.

Police reports state that around 4.30 p.m. on Thursday, OCNFB officers were on duty at the Piarco International Airport when they were alerted to a woman acting suspiciously as she was about to board Caribbean Airlines flight CA 900 to Heathrow Airport, London. The woman was stopped and searched by officers, who discovered 1.07 kilos of cocaine strapped to her body. The cocaine has an estimated street value of $400,000.

In an earlier exercise, narcotics detectives arrested two Nigerian males, aged 31 and 32, and a 39-year-old Trinidadian female in a guesthouse. The woman, from Cumuto, is employed as a security officer and will appear before Senior Magistrate Lianne Lee Kim in the Port-of-Spain Magistrates' 4A Court tomorrow to answer charges of possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

Police said the trio had been under surveillance for some time and when the room which they occupied was raided, cocaine was found stuffed in several cartons of Crayola markers, flash lights and thermos flasks. Cocaine was also found in the lining of a suitcase.

OCNFB officers said the cocaine, which was in a powdery form, weighed 4.2 kilos and had an estimated street value of $1.7 million. The cocaine, officers added, was to be shipped to North America and Europe.

Senior narcotics officers said both busts were made after intensive surveillance exercises and remain amazed at the innovative concepts that are being adopted by drug mules in a bid to traffic both cocaine and marijuana.

It was only on Monday that OCNFB detectives seized cocaine valued at over $5 million aboard a Caribbean Airlines aircraft at Piarco. The cocaine, stored in pellets, were hidden inside carailli and were part of a vegetable shipment that had left Guyana. The flight was in-transit to Trinidad on a flight destined to Toronto, Canada.

Contacted Friday, Guyana custom officials said they were unaware of the bust and noted that their security system at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport was up to mark. No one was held in connection with that bust, but senior local narcotics officials said they are pursuing various leads. The exercises were spearheaded by ASPs Franklyn Edwards and Allan Crooks.

It was only last week that Caribbean Airlines director of Corporate Affairs Dionne Ligoure boasted that Caribbean Airlines' security systems "meet and surpass the regulatory standards required by all airlines". (Guyana Cronicle/Trinidad Express)

Some of the carailli in which the cocaine was found and the baskets in which they were packed.

Trinidad Guardian Law enforcement officers assigned to the Organised Crime, Narcotics and Firearms Bureau (OCNFB) who reportedly seized cocaine valued $5.3 million, believe they have made a major dent in a drug smuggling operation between T&T, Guyana and Canada.

The cocaine, believed to be of a high grade, was discovered on Monday in pellet form and stuffed inside carailli. It weighed 13.4 kilos. More of the drug was discovered hidden inside wooden baskets of tomatoes and bodi, bound for Canada on board Caribbean Airlines flight 600 at Piarco International Airport.

Police said the flight originated from Guyana, came to Trinidad and was about to take off to Canada, shortly after midday, on Monday. Narcotics officers said although no arrests had been made, they had been monitoring the flight patterns of certain vegetable exporters, including those from Guyana and T&T. Officers said they were able to make the seizure, after weeks of surveillance and intelligence gathering.

Police said T&T is commonly used as a major trans-shipment point for drugs destined for Canada, the United States and Europe. Officers added that during the Carnival period, there was usually a higher detection rate of narcotics entering and exiting the country, given the increased number of visitors and flights passing through T&T.

The police, however, came in for high praise from Caribbean Airlines Ltd, in a statement issued by the company. "Caribbean Airlines assures its stakeholders that the airlines' security systems meet and surpass the international regulatory standards required by all airlines," the release said.

It also said that Caribbean Airlines "remains vigilant and continues to work closely with the respective authorities to ensure the opportunities to transport illegal substances are minimised." (Stabroek News/Trinidad Guardian photo)

US officials taped conversations between Guyanese drug accused Raphel Christopher Douglas and a DEA informant and on two occasions when Douglas promised to send cocaine to the US, empty black bags were sent. On both occasions these were pounced upon by US Drug Enforcement Adminis-tration (DEA) officials.

This was alleged in an affidavit filed by DEA Special Agent Todd Meinken in support of an arrest warrant. Douglas was extradited to the US from Trinidad where he had fled after an extradition request was issued for him in Guyana.

According to the affidavit seen by this newspaper, between September 2003 and May 2004 in New York and elsewhere, Douglas who is also known as 'Chris' and 'Chrissie', together with others conspired to import cocaine into the US. It said Douglas and Barbadian Christopher Hawksworth headed a drug transportation and distribution organization.

On September 20, 2003 184 kilogrammes of cocaine packed in frozen fish was seized at the JFK Airport in New York. And in October 2003, a DEA informant met Hawksworth and another target in Barbados. The informant posed as a drug dealer and had discussions about purchasing cocaine from them.

The first shipment was to be of 10 to 25 kilogrammes, which the target said could have been sent on a commercial flight from Guyana to New York. But Hawksworth wanted the test load to go from Barbados to New York. "During the meeting, the target also said that they had recently lost 180 kilogrammes when the shipment was seized in New York, which was believed to be in reference to the September 20, 2003 seizure at the JFK airportâ€¦," the affidavit said.

Some time around Novem-ber 25, 2003, Hawksworth and the informant travelled to Guyana on a Liat flight to meet Douglas, but he was not there. However, they went to Douglas's residence where they spoke to him on the phone about shipping cocaine. It was arranged that the cocaine would be shipped and on December 8, 2003, Douglas telephoned the informant and told him that after he dealt with Hawksworth he would deal directly with him.

The affidavit said that on the following day Douglas told the informant he would send a two-kilogramme test load in a black bag on a BWIA flight destined for JFK. He said if the test load made it through he would send additional cocaine but when DEA officials seized a black Nike bag matching the description of the bag given by Douglas, it was empty.

The affidavit further said that on December 13, 2003 the informant travelled to Barbados and eventually spoke to Douglas via the telephone. Douglas said he would travel to Barbados the said month to discuss the shipping of the cocaine. Between December 15 and 16, 2003, Douglas contacted the informant and said he would be shipping cocaine on board a BWIA flight on December 16.

After this communication, the man who had been dealing with Douglas "received a call from an unknown male who described the bag the cocaine would be in. Later, the (man) received a call from Douglas, who said the cocaine was on its way. DEA agents intercepted the plane when it arrived, located the bag, and again the bag was empty," the affidavit said.

Subsequently, the informant negotiated an additional deal with Douglas and Hawksworth and on or about March 30, 2004, Douglas sent via courier two kilogrammes of cocaine to the informant in Barbados. Payment was made for one kilogramme.

The affidavit said that on May 27, 2004, the informant called Hawksworth to inform him he would send payment to him for the outstanding cocaine, but he was told to send the payment directly to Douglas. On the same day, the man called and spoke to Douglas's relative in Guyana and left a message. On May 28, 2004, the man called Douglas in Guyana and told him he had some money to pay for the two kilogrammes.

"After a series of phone calls no further payment was rendered for the remaining kilogramme. The two kilogrammes are currently in DEA custody. The approximate weight of the cocaine is slightly less than two kilogrammes," the affidavit said. All conversations were recorded by DEA agents.

Douglas was one of five men who were being sought for trafficking between Guyana, Barbados, St Lucia and the US.

The others named in an indictment in 2004 are Frederick Hawksworth, John Wayne Scantlebury, Sean Gaskin, and another Guyanese man, Terrence Sugrim. It is alleged that they committed the crimes between January 1999 and March 27, 2004 and they were indicted in absentia on two counts in the US District Court (District of Columbia) on March 3, 2003. (Stabroek News)

Another prisoner escaped from custody yesterday while being escorted to the Georgetown Magistrate's Court.

This came on the heels of the escape of remand prisoner Frederick Peters from police custody last Tuesday and for whom the Guyana Police Force has launched a hunt.

The other individual police are now pursuing is Wayne Rogers, 25, who was charged with robbery with violence.

He has no fixed place of abode and was being escorted to the Georgetown Magistrate's Court when he escaped by jumping out of the vehicle. He was not handcuffed at the time.

He was initially arrested after assaulting a man and relieving him of cash. He used his first trip to the court as a means of escape. Peters, 29, had escaped while being held at the Georgetown's Magistrate's Court lockups.

He had been remanded to prison on that day and was in the lockups when he attacked a policeman and escaped. He was chased but the police failed to re-capture him.

The police are asking anyone with information that may help in the arrest of the fugitives to call 911, 225-6411, 226-6978, 227-6123, 227-1149, 226-7065 or any police station. (Guyana Cronicle)

UG student jailed for cocaine trafficking

The full Court yesterday set aside a suspended sentence for a drug conviction and imposed a three years jail term on 18-year old University of Guyana student Nicole Williams. Chief Justice Carl Singh and Justice Dawn Gregory-Barnes inflicted the penalty on the prisoner who was convicted of trafficking a narcotic last year.

Williams was also fined $30,000 by the Full Court, with the directive that she gets a refund of the $20,000 from the $50,000 paid in the Magistrate’s Court. That was in the order as the Full Court allowed an appeal by the Police against the lower Court decision.

Williams was busted at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri, with four kilogrammes 363 grammes of cocaine strapped to her body during a strip search after she was seen acting suspiciously on January 28, 2006.

The convict, who was booked on a flight to the United States, pleaded guilty and was let off with a suspended sentence following a plea in mitigation by Defence Counsel Glen Hanoman. The lawyer had submitted, to the magistrate, that on account of her age, Williams fell in the special circumstances category which gave that tribunal the discretion to treat her differently.

The memorandum of reasons for the leniency said, among other things, that Williams changed her plea to guilty and was given a suspended sentence of two years imprisonment together with a fine of $50,000.

That happened after Hanoman gave her age as between 14 and 18 years old and said the section under which she was charged stipulated mandatory imprisonment, but an amendment to Section 73 of the Narcotic Drugs Act provides for young persons like her to be treated in a different way.

The memorandum said the Act allows a magistrate the discretion to impose either a custodial or non-custodial sentence in such cases. It added that Defence Counsel said Williams had placed fourth on the list of candidates who topped the country at the Secondary Schools Entrance Examination (SSEE) and was then attending UG in pursuit of a degree in Computer Science.

After taking all the issues into consideration, the sentence was meted out because the magistrate considered the penalty to be just and reasonable punishment in the circumstances of her case, the memorandum explained.

But the Police were dissatisfied with the February 3, 2006 outcome and appealed for it to be reversed, as well. The case for the Police was argued by Acting Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Mrs. Shalimar Ali-Hack. In concluding her arguments, she submitted that, in the circumstances of the case, Williams ought to have been imprisoned on the facts and the principles of sentencing.

Pressing for what she called the “right sentence”, Ali-Hack told the judges it would send a message to young persons who are potential traffickers of narcotics. Her guilty plea having been considered, Williams should be jailed for three years as opposed to the maximum five years, Ali-Hack successfully proposed.

Immediately after the Full Court ruling, Williams was taken into Police custody to await transportation to a jail. (Guyana Cronicle)

Dausette Mc Cammon, the man who allegedly shot and killed policeman Micah Cort two weeks ago at the Carib Soca monarch contest in New Amsterdam, was yesterday charged with murder and possession of a firearm and ammunition without licence.

On the night of February 11 Cort was gunned down at the height of the competition at the Esplanade ground, New Amsterdam causing pandemonium. A licensed firearm holder shot Mc Cammon several times as he was attempting to flee.

Cort, 27, of Eldorado Village, West Coast Berbice, after sustaining the gunshots succumbed at the Georgetown Public Hospital around 10.30 am the next day. Since then, Mc Cammon has been under police guard at the New Amsterdam Hospital.

Several weeks prior to the killing, Mc Cammon was shot in his jaw while at a wake in New Amsterdam in what is believed to have been an execution attempt. The subsequent shooting is believed to be linked to that incident. (Stabroek News)

Securtity guard accused of theft from Dalip’s Trading

A seccuruty guard at Dalip’s Trading Enterprises, in Broad Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, has been charged with theft from the business place.

Conrad Norton, 37, of Anna Catherina, West Coast Demerara, pleaded not guilty to simple larceny when he appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Cecil Sullivan yesterday. Particulars of the offence said, between February 15 and 19, he stole 30 steel rods, six lengths of carbonised pipe and other articles, all valued $243,000, property of Mohanswardatt Dalip.

Dalip had secured his belongings on the premises and left them in the care of Norton who was the security guard but returned the following day to find them missing, Police said. Norton was refused bail and the case has been transferred to another court for March 14. (Guyana Cronicle)

Bandits armed with guns and cutlasses terrorized two families at Williamsburg Squatting Area, Corentyne on Monday at 9 pm and at 1:45 yesterday morning and made off with almost $3M in jewellery and cash.

Six gunmen stormed the home of Kawalpattie Persaud, 57, called Indra and beat her about her head and body with a gun and carted off $2.5M worth in gold jewellery and almost $100,000 cash. The woman's head was burst in the process and she had to be treated by a doctor the same night.

Her daughter Parbattie Sukhra, 33, also known as Navita who was visiting from Dundee, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara, said she was relaxing in a hammock in the yard when she saw the six men. The men also cut the phone line.

She said two of them kept watch at the gate while the other four entered the yard. One of the bandits said to her "don't scream, we din come to kill, just do as we say." She said they stripped her of her two gold chains, two gold rings, and one anklet, all worth $120,000, $47,000 cash, one Nokia cell phone valued $5,000 and a $5,000 Casio watch. She is surprised that they did not rip off her four pairs of gold "baree" earrings from her ears.

According to Sukra, her sister Ramdai Sukra, 31, who lives a few houses away, was about to go home when the bandits entered. But one of the men ordered Ramdai and their 13-year-old nephew Naresh Mohabir along with a friend, Nandkumar Guman, 31, to lie on their stomach as he stood over them with a gun.

Meantime, two other bandits ran upstairs and beat her mother, Kawalpattie Persaud with a gun butt, kicked her in her back and stomach and demanded money. Persaud who had gone to put three grandchildren, who are below 10 years of age, to sleep, handed over $27,000 cash and gold jewellery worth over $2.5M.

The bandits were still not satisfied and kept kicking her while demanding more money. They ransacked the wardrobes, drawers and suitcases but when they did not get any more money they fled. As they were leaving they asked, "Is you name Indra?" She responded yes and they left.

Sukra said the neighbours telephoned the police at the Albion and Whim Stations but none of them responded. She said when they visited the Rose Hall Police Outpost to make a report not a policeman was there. Residents reported that earlier that afternoon they saw a few strange men walking around the area but they did not suspect they were bandits.

In another attack, two masked bandits riding a bicycle barged into the yard of Mahalachme, 60, called Kisten or Chino at around 1:45 am as the family was celebrating a "nine-day". The woman said she was resting in her hammock under the house with two male relatives when the men entered. She said they dragged her out of the hammock and put her to sit in a chair and started to beat her about her body with a cutlass.

The men tried to rip a pair of gold jingles worth $60,000 off her hand but she told them she would do it herself. They demanded money but she told them she is a pensioner and did not have any money. Mahalachme said the music was playing "low" but when the bandits arrived they ordered that it be turned up loud. Residents told this newspaper they awoke to the loud music but thought the occupants had turned up the volume.

The bandits then pushed one of the male relatives who is slightly retarded into a car under the house and told him to stay there. After that they started to beat the other relative, Arjune Ramjattan, 23, called "Bullu" and stripped him of gold and silver jewellery valued $80,000, including three silver bands, a silver chain and a five pennyweight gold ring.

The men chopped him above his eyes and fired a shot in his direction because he was not getting the ring off his finger fast enough. "Yuh neck gon come off" Ramjattan's sister said the bandits dealt him several blows with a cutlass and held the weapon to his neck and told him "if the ring don't come off, yuh neck gon come off." He was forced to bite his finger until it was badly injured just to get the ring off.

While beating him they kept telling him they would take the old woman into the home where four other occupants were hiding. But his sister felt he used a delaying tactic to prevent them from entering the home. Ramjattan had gone to seek treatment at the doctor when this newspaper visited. His sister said they beat him so much that he lost consciousness. They removed an 800-watt amplifier worth $90,000. They then fled on their bicycle and fired another shot in the air.

Meantime a woman named Chandra said the men entered her yard and started to shake a window on her daughter's room in the lower flat. But the window did not open. They then broke two light bulbs and left the place in darkness as they stood on the woman's bridge for about five minutes.

Her neighbour Babita said when she awoke yesterday morning she saw that her back fence had been broken down by the bandits and a hammock and a pair of slippers were missing from the yard. (Shabna Ullah/Stabroek News)

Engine down, fire rages

Some said `Satanic forces’ were out in full force when fire erupted in a house at Melanie Damishana, East Coast Demerara yesterday afternoon and bad luck bedevilled firefighters racing to help.

As the flames raged in the two-flat building, a fire tender responding to the fire call collided with another vehicle, a water pump blew out as firemen hustled to douse the flames, and a backup tender dispatched to the scene overturned on the road.

The fire destroyed the two-flat building at 374 Area “A” Melanie Damishana, leaving five persons homeless and millions of dollars in losses. No one was injured in the fire and investigators are looking into reports that the cause of the blaze was not electrical.

Witnesses said the fire started around 15:30h–16:00h in the front, bottom section of the building that housed Odetta Martin, 31, a Sociology student at the University of Guyana; her sister, Roxanne Greene, 28; Greene’s 14-year old daughter Natasha and two boys aged 4 and 5. They saved absolutely nothing.

The Fire Service was summoned but in their attempt to respond, nothing seemed to go well. The first tender racing to the scene collided with another vehicle on the East Coast Demerara Highway. Residents said that when the tender eventually arrived, its water supply was used up within one minute, causing the fire fighters to set up a connection to pump water from a nearby trench.

However, as they were about starting up the pump, it blew out, thwarting that effort. Unable to proceed, the fire fighters radioed base, reported the problem and requested that a backup engine be dispatched to the scene. There was more misfortune in store for the fire fighters.

Around 17:15h, as the backup fire engine was negotiating the Coldingen/Melanie Damishana turn, it skidded and ended up in the middle of the road upturned.

By then, the fire was raging, and emotions were high among the crowd, upset at a remark by a fireman that the place seemed cursed.

Some villagers claimed that after the firemen’s attempt to secure water from the trench failed, one fireman shouted to his colleagues: “This place is a cross man; loose off the hose and leh we go.”

With the crowd berating the fire fighters as the house continued to burn, within half an hour they found a solution to the problem and managed to get water through the hoses from a nearby trench. But by then the building was destroyed.

Residents also helped to get the overturned tender back on its wheels. An elderly neighbour, Mr. McRae, who lives on the northern side of the house destroyed, said he was home when he heard a loud screaming. He said he immediately assumed that the neighbour had received a death message, but when he looked out, the house was on fire.

McRae said he called the Fire Service and the unit at the Enmore sugar estate. Then he called Guyana Power and Light who responded by disconnecting power to the location.

Residents said the owner of the house, Suzie Duncan, lives in Antigua. They said she spent much time and money developing and modifying the building, and only left Guyana about two weeks ago, after making her home what she wanted it to be. Greene said Duncan had left the house in Odetta Martin’s care, and the two sisters and their children occupied the front section.

At the time of the fire, Martin was at UG, but her relatives said they dared not go there to tell her about the disaster. They said they anticipated that her reaction would not have been good. (Guyana Cronicle)

An inmate of the New Amsterdam Prison was yesterday morning discovered by prison officials hanging from the ceiling of his cell. Jarrel Patha, 21, a Surinamese national, according to Director of Prisons Dale Erskine, was admitted to the prison on November 16, 2006 charged with unlawful possession of ammunition.

He was also charged on January 24 this year for escaping from lawful custody when he attempted to escape from prison officers while attending a medical clinic outside the prison. Erskine said in a statement yesterday that on admission Patha's age was recorded as 21 years, and reports indicated that he had not exhibited suicidal tendencies prior to this tragic incident.

The prisons chief said too that the prisoner had last been seen alive in his one-man cell around 05:00hrs yesterday when a security check was made in the confinement area where he was located. "At 06:20 hrs yesterday during the checking of the prisoners' tally, the prisoner was found hanging from the ceiling of his cell with a piece of his bedding tied around his neck," the statement continued.

The police at New Amsterdam station were immediately summoned to investigate the prisoner's death, an investigation which is still in progress and in which prison personnel were also involved.

However the man's attorney Murseline Bacchus when contacted by this newspaper yesterday had not yet been made aware of the incident, but said that Patha's trial had been set for March 2 before Magistrate Chandra Sohan at the New Amsterdam magistrate's court. Bacchus said his client had been charged with three others with the same offence but he had no idea what had happened to them.

He had managed to secure bail in the sum of $250,000 but Patha had not been aware of this while for his part, he (Bacchus) had not been aware that his client had escaped from lawful custody. Bacchus went on to tell this newspaper that during his negotiations with Magistrate Sohan he had been told, "While you are busy seeking bail for your client, he is busy escaping."

When the possession charges were laid against his client, he said, the magistrate had ordered that his passport be lodged with the police, but after the bail was recalled a decision was taken for the travel document to be returned to his family. Bacchus said in his estimation, "it seemed as though Patha's case was going nowhere."

Stabroek News has since learnt that the police were also working on a theory that the Surinamese might have been involved in illegally bringing ammunition to these shores.

Meanwhile, this newspaper was able to make contact with a young woman who said she was Patha's girlfriend and that prior to his arrest he had come to Guyana regularly to see her. Nesha Sulkar, 19, said that during Patha's visit he stayed with her at her 82 Angoy's Avenue, New Amsterdam residence.

Sulkar told this newspaper that before his imprisonment, Patha had been attending an institution equivalent to a technical institute in French Guiana and had been employed there as a part-time electrician. She said too that while the man had been born in Suriname, he lived in French Guiana, and came frequently to this country via the illegal Guyana/Suriname crossing, so his passport was never really used.

Sulkar said she last spoke with Patha on Monday last and he repeatedly complained about being ill-treated by prison officers which he was convinced was because of his non-Guyanese status. She said too that the man had told her he was fed only bread and water and was becoming frustrated about the treatment meted out to him.

This allegation was put to Erskine who said he doubted whether such a situation existed, noting that Patha was not under punishment but had been secluded for security reasons. However he said investigations would be conducted to ascertain what the man's diet was and exactly what he was frustrated about before he was found hanging from the ceiling.

The man's girlfriend said too that he would always tell her to "hold it up" since he felt he was going to be freed soon. Sulkar alleged that there were times when monies were given to prisoner officers to put in the tuck shop so her boyfriend could be provided with snacks on a daily basis, but when he made requests for the same, he would be told that there was no money available.

To this Erskine responded that once monies were lodged in the tuck shops the legal way, a receipt was provided to whoever had done so. He added that once the official procedure was followed it was impossible for the man not to have received what was due to him. However he promised to investigate this allegation as well.

Sulkar said she had made contact with the man's family and his relatives were scheduled to arrive in Guyana today. (Stabroek News/Heppilena Ferguson and Shabna Ullah)

Surinamese prisoner found hanging in New Amsterdam cell

A Surinamese remanded to the New Amsterdam Prison on a charge of unlawful possession of ammunition, was found hanging in his cell yesterday morning, the Guyana Prison Service reported. It said Jarrel Patha allegedly committed suicide by hanging while in a one man cell.

The prisoner was last seen alive in his cell at about 05:00h yesterday when a security check was made in the confinement area in which he was located, the Prison Service said. “At 06:20h, during the checking of the prisoners’ tally, the prisoner was found hanging from the ceiling of his cell with a piece of his bedding tied around his neck.”

The Prison Service said Police at the New Amsterdam Station were immediately summoned to investigate the prisoner’s death. Patha, a national from Paramaribo, Suriname, was placed in the New Amsterdam Prison on November 16, 2006 charged with unlawful possession of ammunition.

He was also charged on January 24 with escaping from lawful custody when he attempted to escape from prison officers while attending a medical clinic outside of the prison. When he was remanded, his age was given as 21 years old.

The Prison Service said it was reported that the prisoner never exhibited any suicidal tendencies prior to this tragic incident. He last attended court last Wednesday and was due to return on February 21. Efforts are being made to contact Patha’s next of kin, the Prison Service said. Guyana Cronicle)

Two Guyanese sailors on a BK International ship delivering rice in Jamaica were on Tuesday morning busted with J$32M (US$536,000) worth of compressed ganja. The two Guyanese, Reuben Reagan Rodney and Vernon Mc Garrell appeared in the Half Way Tree Magistrate's Court yesterday and pleaded guilty to four charges.

They will know their fates on February 19. The men were charged with possession, taking steps to export and dealing and trafficking in ganja after Marine Police boarded the 250-foot Guyanese ship MV Alexis T, which was delivering a shipment of rice from Guyana at the Flour Mills terminal in Rockfort, East Kingston.

Rodney and McGarrell were found in their cabins, each with three bags containing a total of 335-pounds of compressed ganja, reports out of Kingston said. The vessel was scheduled to depart for Trinidad. The captain of the vessel, which is owned by BK Marine International of Guyana, told a Jamaica Gleaner reporter that the incident was the first of its kind in his five years at the company.

Contacted yesterday, Neville Kissoon, Public Relations Officer of BK. International said that the company was not ready to comment on the matter.

He said that the managing director is still assessing the situation. Meanwhile, the wife of one of the Guyanese crew members on the ship told Stabroek News yesterday that after hearing the reports she visited the company and sought clarifications as to whether her husband was involved. The woman said an official told her that they were yet to ascertain the names of the persons who were found with the ganja.

A report in yesterday's Gleaner said that Marine police seized the shipment and it was the second such incident within a week.

According to the Gleaner, the police were carrying out a routine patrol and boarded the 250-foot Guyanese ship between 11:30 am and midday on Tuesday when they discovered the contraband. The vessel was delivering a shipment of rice from Guyana at the Flour Mills terminal in Rockfort, East Kingston, after which it would depart for Trinidad, the Gleaner report said.

The newspaper added that the two Guyanese crew members were arrested, after both of them were found with three bags estimated to contain 335 pounds of compressed ganja. Both were served with four charges: possession, taking steps to export, dealing and trafficking, in ganja.

"Lately, we've been discovering that vessels leaving here for Trinidad are being targeted by persons smuggling drugs like the ganja found on the vessel behind Petrojam which was destined for Trinidad ... so apparently they have ways of getting it from Trinidad to the States," said Superintendent Marlon Dietrich of the Marine division of the Jamaica Constabu-lary Force, the Gleaner reported.

The newspaper said in the bust last week two canisters containing 300 pounds of ganja were found attached to the hull of a tanker, which was delivering crude oil from Trinidad to the Petrojam refinery on Marcus Garvey Drive.

Following that bust Superintendent Dietrich, the Gleaner reported, had promised to increase coastal surveillance as traffickers, forced by tighter port and airport security, had begun returning to such traditional methods. According to Dietrich the Marine Division is becoming more successful, thanks to the provision of new boats, enabling them to check more vessels. (Stabroek News)

Gang rape accused remanded in public interest

Two men implicated in the gang rape of a 14-year old girl were refused bail and remanded to prison Tuesday by Magistrate Chandra Sohan at the Albion Court, Corentyne, Berbice. The duo, mini-bus conductor Rajin Macoon called Rajin and Narayan Zaman nicknamed ‘Bones’ are charged indictably.

The bail refusal followed a successful objection by Police Inspector Fazil Karimbaksh, prosecuting, who said the girl’s father is a cane harvester who can cause industrial action within the sugar industry.

The Prosecutor said other cane harvesters intend to injure Macoon and Zaman if they are released from custody and it is in the interest of the public for them to be incarcerated. Macoon faces three counts of rape committed on February 5, 6 and 7 while Zaman, who is charged separately, faced one count each of rape and buggery, alleged on February 8, this year, too.

The case for the Prosecution is that the teenager was taken in a mini-bus from Skeldon to New Amsterdam, then to a house at Fyrish, at Corentyne, too, where she was sexually violated. The prisoners will make their next appearance at the Albion Court on February 20. (Guyana Cronicle)

A policeman died yesterday after being shot several times during the Carib Soca Monarch contest in New Amsterdam causing panic and pandemonium and his alleged assailant was hit several times by a licensed firearm holder while attempting to flee.

Police constable #17890 Michael Cort, 27, of Eldorado, West Coast Berbice succumbed at the Georgetown Hospital at around 10.30 am yesterday after being rushed there from the New Amsterdam Hospital.

His alleged assailant, Dorset McCammon is now under police guard at the New Amsterdam Hospital. Several weeks ago McCammon was shot in his jaw while at a wake in New Amsterdam in what is believed to have been an execution attempt. Yesterday's fatal confrontation is believed to be linked to this incident.

In a statement, the police said that at 1.30 am yesterday Cort was shot by the suspect who is now in police custody.

"Cort was at the (soca) semi finals when the suspect approached him and fired several rounds in his direction. He sustained injuries to his neck, left thigh and shin. The suspect, while attempting to flee, was shot in his chest, abdomen, and left arm by a (licensed) firearm holder who was nearby". The police said that investigators recovered one .32 revolver containing one .32 live round and four spent shells.

The shooting brought the competition to an abrupt end. It occurred minutes after the performance of a song by artiste Lucky B, 'Rred', in a red superman costume, which included the chorus 'stop the violence'.

The shooting at the Esplanade Ground, New Amsterdam occurred during one of the final breaks in the soca show and with two of the fifteen contestants left to be judged. Shots began to ring out in the southwestern section of the crowd and people began running and screaming in all directions as chaos erupted on the ball field.

It is alleged that McCammon, 26, who was shot in the jaw a little over two weeks ago, approached Cort and shot him at close range. The officer, who was on duty at the time, was working at the gate but had left his post to get something at the bar when he was accosted.

In his bid to escape however, an armed civilian saw him and began to fire at him. McCammon ran behind a parked truck but the civilian pursued him and shot him in the upper body, his stomach and hands, according to his mother, Marilyn. McCammon fell and police shortly afterward removed a small handgun which was lying on the ground next to him.

As the crowd gathered around and persons recognized McCammon as one of the injured men many of them began to express disbelief and wondered how he could have been back in the area so soon after having been shot in the jaw. Shortly afterward persons began to scatter again as it seemed the man was going to be shot at again.

However, he was eventually put into the back of a canter truck from where he was placed in a dark blue police van in the ground which took him to the New Amsterdam Hospital. Reports are that he was placed on the lawns of the hospital until his family arrived and raised objections.

After the incident the MC Mondale Smith advised patrons that all 15 of the contestants who had qualified for the semifinals would go through to the final event in Georgetown next Saturday. The patrons who were left in the ground following the eruption of gunshots then made their way out of the ground.

Sources informed this newspaper that McCammon, who was in the Georgetown Hospital after being shot, had identified Cort as one of the individuals responsible for him being shot in the jaw.

Persons close to McCammon indicated that some others who wanted him dead for a previous incident, which he was suspected to be a part of, contracted the first shooting incident. McCammon, the last of four children and his mother's only son, has been described as a notorious individual in the New Amsterdam area. It was related that the man is frequently in and out of the hospital and has had run-ins with the law.

Stabroek News understands the man was staying with his sister in Georgetown. He had been left at her home while the rest of the family went to Berbice for a funeral. McCammon apparently decided to head to the Esplanade Ground instead where during a break he allegedly made a move on the policeman. Last evening McCammon was conscious but he was in a lot of pain and could not move his feet without help. Marilyn said that her son was badly beaten and had undergone an operation at the hospital.

Cort was taken to the New Amsterdam Hospital from where he was transported in a police vehicle to the Georgetown Public Hospital. Cort leaves to mourn his mother, wife Bernadette McKenzie and four-year-old son Kurtel Cort. Described as a friendly and quiet individual Cort was a ten-year veteran in the police force and was recently transferred to the New Amsterdam central police station.

McCammon was shot around 11:40 pm on January 25. Stabroek News had been told at the time that the man was playing a game of dominoes when a lone gunman who had a cap pulled over his face walked up and pointed a gun to his head. McCammon who apparently did not notice the gun, raised his head at the same time the gunman pulled the trigger. The bullet ended up hitting the left temple.

A woman who travelled from Georgetown for the wake that was kept in honour of her mother said the man fell to the ground unconscious and bleeding while the gunman calmly escaped. She said everyone thought McCammon was dead but a few minutes later he got up and walked out of the yard.

The woman said at first when she heard the gunshot she thought it was a robbery.

Cort is the latest law enforcement officer to die from a bullet. Prior to yesterday's killing, Kwesi Lawrence died on July 30 last year after a member of the joint services shot him accidentally while cleaning his gun. Around that time, the joint services had been engaged in a ferocious battle with gunmen at the back of Victoria.

Between 2002 - when a bloody crime wave was launched by the prison escapees - and now, around 30 policemen have lost their lives at the hands of criminals or violently. (Stabroek News)

Police constable shot dead at Soca Monarch semi-finals

Tragedy struck at the Carib Soca Monarch Semi-finals show at the Esplanade Ground, New Amsterdam, early yesterday morning, when a shooting incident erupted, leaving a policeman dead and his assailant wounded.

Dead is Constable 17890 Michau Cort, 27, of 65 Armsville Housing Scheme, New Amsterdam, and El Dorado Berbice. He was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital around 6:00 hours yesterday, nursing gunshot wounds to his neck, groin and knee, and died two hours later in the Intensive Care Unit.

Meanwhile, his alleged assailant, Dorset Mc Cammon, 26, of Lot 43 Stanleytown, is under police guard at the New Amsterdam Hospital, nursing wounds to the chest and right arm.

Police said that Constable Cort, who was attached to the Central Police Station, New Amsterdam, was on duty at the 2007 Soca Monarchy Show, when around 1:45 hours the suspect approached him and fired several rounds in his direction. He sustained injuries to his neck, left thigh and left shin.

And one of the promoters of the show, who preferred anonymity, told the Guyana Chronicle that shortly before 1: 45hrs, an argument was heard between the alleged assailant and the policeman. Minute’s later gunshots were heard.

After the policeman was shot, the suspect attempted to flee, but was shot in his chest, abdomen, and left arm by a public spirited licensed firearm holder who was nearby and witnessed the attack on the policeman. Both the injured policeman and the suspect were taken to the New Amsterdam Hospital for medical attention. Cort was later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he died about 8:30 hours.

The shooting brought the Carib Soca Monarch semi finals to an abrupt end as pandemonium broke out at the Esplanade Ground, and patrons began running helter skelter, diving for cover.

Saturday night’s Soca Semi-finals got off to a late start, since Sweet Kendingo who performed at the National Calypso Semi-finals in Linden, had to travel all the way to Berbice for the Soca Monarchy semi-finals. For this reason, the New Amsterdam show did not get going until after 22:00 hours. The shooting incident took place less than three hours after the show had started.

This newspaper was reliably informed that due to the incident , only 13 of the 15 contestants were able to perform. Reports said that two of the judges had requested a short break and were just making their way back to the judges’ table when the gunshots rang out. The incident was said to have taken place about 40-50 seats away from the judges’table and amidst a packed crowd of about 2,000 persons. The judges had decided that they would all go through to the finals as part of the score was allotted to crowd response, but following the incident , the crowd had fled the scene.

Police yesterday said that Investigators found one .32 revolver containing .32 live round and four spent shells. Police are investigating the homicide.

Meanwhile, Mark Cort, youngest brother of the slain policeman, related of being at his brother’s side after he was shot. The sibling said after his brother was shot, his colleagues had related that all will be well. However he observed that his older brother was not responding as he lifted him into the waiting police vehicle which transported him to the hospital. Mark recalled seeing blood all over his brother’s body although he was told he was shot in the thigh.

Constable Cort’s sorrowing mother, Veronica Cort, said she was at home when she received the message of her son’s injury and rushed down to the New Amsterdam Hospital where she saw him – unconscious and bleeding. She and other family members accompanied him to the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Cort, a father of one, was the fifth of seven children for his parents. At the time of his death, he had been a member of the Guyana Police for about ten years. His distraught mother recalls that on leaving school he commenced apprentice work at the Mechanical Deparment within the Police Force. He later became a member of the Police Traffic Department where he was a driver for several years.

Meanwhile the alleged assailant was a few weeks ago involved in another shooting incident. He was recently discharged from the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was a patient nursing a gunshot wound to the face. On January 25 last Mc Cammon was shot while playing dominoes at a wake at Lot 45 Stanleytown, New Amsterdam.

According to reports, a lone identifiable gun man had walked up to and pointed a gun to his head, but Mc Cammon apparently did not notice the weapon, raised his head at the said time when the trigger was pulled . The bullet pierced his left temple and was lodged in his jaw. He was discharged from the hospital on February 2, last. (Shirley Thomas and Jeune van Keric / Guyana Cronicle)

Khemraj Ramdeo

A non pariel, East Coast Demerara businessman was shot several times in the body by two men who walked into his yard about midday yesterday.

Relatives said that around 12:30h, the two men walked into the yard, shot Ramdeo, who was supervising the washing of his yard, and ran off.

Ramdeo’s twelve-year-old son Surendra told this newspaper he was upstairs when he heard three gunshots in quick succession and his father shout `Bandits!’

He said he peeped through a window and saw the men running away. Ramdeo collapsed and was rushed to the hospital by Patrick Daniels, his neighbour.

Daniels said he was in his house when he heard the gunshots and on checking, saw Ramdeo lying in the yard. He said he quickly got his car keys and with another neighbour, took the wounded man to the hospital. (Guyana Cronicle)

Police going after illegal guns

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) has resolved to aggressively pursue measures to reduce the number of illegal guns in the country and to pursue wanted persons, it said yesterday at the conclusion of its annual conference.

In addition, the Force said it would intensify targeted patrols to reduce crimes through intelligence and improve on Police response and build public confidence. “It was emphasised that the Force must be servants and not masters of the public,” the GPF said in a statement.

The conference also endorsed the initiative with the Guyana Telephone & Telegraph Company in the creation of an emergency short messaging service [E-SMS], which will become operational from March 1, 2007. This is in order to alleviate the present difficulties with the 911 system.

The statement was issued after the Force completed the third day of deliberations of its conference, which was convened under the theme “Enhancing Community Safety and Security through Partnership, Professionalism and Reform”.

One hundred and thirty-nine officers, including thirty-five first timers, attended the conference. Focal in the deliberations were issues raised by President Bharrat Jagdeo in his address on the opening of the conference.

These issues, the Force said, included the current crime trends, the traffic situation, Community and Neighbourhood Policing, Cricket World Cup 2007, key issues and concerns in divisions and branches, reform and the Rio Summit.

Acting Police Commissioner Henry Greene, addressed officers on the President’s initiative on the reform of the Force including the special firearms unit, human resource development , intelligence gathering, forensic capability, and investigative capability. (Guyana Cronicle)

Labourer jailed for marijuana trafficking

A twenty-eight year old labourer of Jonestown, Mahaica, was yesterday sentenced to three years imprisonment after he confessed to trafficking 8.5 kilogrammes of cannabis sativa (marijuana).

The illegal drug with a street value of $200,000 was found in a bag Clifton Rutherford was carrying as he walked along Matthew Allen Road in New Amsterdam on February 1, last.

Magistrate Chandra Sohan, before whom he appeared at the New Amsterdam Court, imposed the sentence after he pleaded guilty to the charge.

In addition to the jail term, Rutherford will have to pay $100,000 fine, half the cost of the narcotic, or serve an additional 12 weeks imprisonment. (Guyana Cronicle)

Top Cop reports: Crime down

President notes growing sense of security

Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Bharrat Jagdeo inspects the Guard of Honour prior to the formal opening of the annual Police Officers’ Conference at Eve Leary yesterday.

Acting Police Commissioner Henry Greene yesterday reported that crime dropped by some seven per cent last year, and said law enforcement agencies are committed to ensuring there is a further reduction this year.

He noted that this success, which came on the heels of the spiralling crime wave that plagued Guyana during the period 2002 to 2005 and which continued last year, was due to partnership and professionalism between the Police Force and the Army, along with public support in the provision of confidential and useful information.

“Last year was a year of serious challenges but I think we rose to the challenge because of two significant words – partnership and professionalism,” he said at the opening of the annual three-day Police Officers’ Conference at Eve Leary, Georgetown yesterday.

“We worked hand in hand with the Joint Services to ensure that we could maintain law and order in this land, against all the negative views, both locally and abroad,” he said, adding that every effort must be made to maintain that partnership and to ensure that it continues to be done in a professional manner.

President Bharrat Jagdeo, in his feature address at the conference, lauded the Joint Services for what he described as a “job well done” over the past several months with regards to the maintenance of law and order and battling the crime and drug scourge that was plaguing and eating away at the very fabric of the Guyanese society.

“I speak to you here with a sense of optimism that over the past several months, because of the efforts of the police and the army, there is a growing sense of security in our nation,” the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces told those gathered at the conference.

On this note, the President commended both Greene and Chief-of-Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Brigadier General Edward Collins (who was seated in the audience) for jobs well done in leading their respective organizations, and in their collaborative Joint Services efforts at battling lawlessness and crime in the country and maintaining peace and stability.

“The nation owes the Joint Services a debt of gratitude for the work that they did, especially around the elections time.” “We entered into the elections period with a sense of misgivings and fear in many quarters that the cycle of violence around elections - that this country has grown accustomed to - would once again take place…”

He said this was because of many reasons, “but most importantly for me, it was the preparation done by the Joint Services and their presence in the streets which was a significant deterrent to anyone who may have had in their minds, the breaking of the laws of our country.”

Mr. Jagdeo noted that many times people speak about the recent elections, but do not give true recognition of the role the Joint Services played in successfully maintaining law and order and peace. “We also broke tradition and had the army on the streets on elections day…and everyone was pleased with the performance of the Joint Services to take us through that period in the manner they did.”

“I am very pleased with your hard work. I have seen a dramatic change in the way the police have been operating. I see more energy within the Police Force and I want all of you to be infected with that enthusiasm,” the President lauded. “We must take the same enthusiasm and the zeal for reforms back into the communities and the areas that you manage as we create a more modern and relevant Police Force.”

Mr. Jagdeo noted that there was some unease in many quarters on hearing that reforms will be taking place in the Police Force with persons wondering and speculating as to what roles they will be playing in those reforms.

He, however, assured that these reforms will be led by indigenous authorities (consultants) and the leadership of the Police Force. He also warned that there will be many consultants coming here to help but not all will be useful since some of them will be useless.

“I am very pleased with the pace of the reforms but there is much, much, more work that still needs to be done if we are going to achieve the desired results”, he said.

Greene said, “Last year we reduced crime by seven per cent and I don’t want to tell you the figures right now but for this year I want to feel that crime is significantly down…but I don’t want to make too much noise about that.”

“…but we are maintaining a posture in the Joint Services aimed at ensuring that those out there who want to be unlawful will be met with the full force of the law,” Greene warned.

Greene noted that despite the challenges, the Joint Services – through hard work, dedication and commitment - ensured that successes were achieved in stemming the crime wave and bringing things under control.

He recalled that some of the “serious challenges” the force was confronted with last year were the brutal killings of a number of persons, especially in and around the Agricola, East Bank Demerara area, the slaying of Agriculture Minister Satyadeow Sawh and his siblings, the missing AK-47s from the army storage bond, the interdiction of (suspected) drug lords such as Roger Khan, and the scandals surrounding the purported taped conversations of former Police Commissioner Winston Felix.

He also noted the high-profile bank robbery in Berbice last year where, for the first time in Guyana, two banks were raided at one time; and the general and regional elections in August. “I think we have managed to discharge our stewardship to some extent and while there is still a lot more work to be done, success can be achieved with the continued partnership and professionalism (by the Joint Services),” Greene said.

He also thanked President Jagdeo for advocating all efforts at modernizing, training and equipping the force. “We know that once we have your support we will make serious headway,” he told the President.

He assured the President that the Police Force continues to remain steadfast in carrying out its mandate to serve and protect, and fighting crime and traffic lawlessness as is necessary to maintain peace and harmony.

President Jagdeo also promised that before the three-day conference is over, he would return to speak to the officers and ranks again. The annual Police Officers’ Conference is being held at the Police Officers’ Mess, Eve Leary under the theme – ‘Enhancing community safety and security through partnership, professionalism and reform’.

Among those at the opening were Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr. Roger Luncheon, Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee, Chancellor of the Judiciary Carl Singh, Chairman of the Police Complaints Authority and former Chancellor Mr. Cecil Kennard, former Police Commissioners Balram Raghubir, Laurie Lewis and Floyd McDonald, and senior functionaries from the public service and private sector.

Most of those on that wanted list were members of a feared gang with links in Agricola, including its then reputed leader Rondell Rawlins, widely known as `Fineman’, of Titus Street, Agricola and Buxton. (Mark Ramotar/Guyana Cronicle)

Two officers attending the annual police officers' conference perusing materials to be used during the sessions.

Commissioner of Police (ag), Henry Greene yesterday told a gathering including President Bharrat Jagdeo that the police force was prepared to do the work of serving and protecting citizens, but they must be given the resources to do it effectively.

And he announced that they were still looking for Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras to be installed in specific areas. He did not elaborate on this nor did he give any indication as to how soon the cameras were expected.

Government had publicized the planned acquisition of the CCTV cameras last year announcing that $50 million was set aside for this. The cameras were to be installed at the end of last year.

In his opening address at the annual police officers' conference held at the Police Officers' Mess, Eve Leary, Greene declared: "We are here to do it, we are prepared to do it, give us the resources to do it," the Acting Commissioner said.

Jagdeo, who delivered the feature address at the opening session of the conference, has argued that his government continues to invest in the security forces pointing out that the budgetary allocation to the police and army have increased over the years.

The conference, which will run for three days, is being held under the theme 'Enhancing Community Safety and Security Through Partnership, Professionalism and Reform.' Greene told his officers that if they cannot help change the attitudes of citizens by helping them to uphold the laws, then as a force they would have failed.

Speaking to the theme of this year's conference, Greene mentioned the many sensational murders that gripped the country last year. He recalled the February 28 slaying of eight people in Agricola by gunmen connected to the Buxton criminal gang.

Following that massacre, Greene said, there was the assassination of Agriculture Minister Satyadeow Sawh and his family, the killing of five pressmen from Kaieteur News, the theft of 30 AK-47 rifles from the army along with the mysterious tapping of retired police commissioner, Winston Felix's telephone. Greene told the audience that all these things and others made their work very challenging, but they persevered and were able to reap some success.

He said robberies at the two commercial banks in Berbice and the raiding of several properties of drug dealers were also challenging tasks, but at the end the joint services came out on top. He said they were able to do all of this through partnership. Greene said the police continue to value the support of their partners, namely the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) as well as the various community policing groups in the fight against crime.

Highlighting some of their successes, Greene pointed to the slaying of eight of the bank robbers and the recovery of a number of the stolen AK-47s. He said too that they were able to make a severe dent in the criminal enterprise at Agricola, by interdicting some of the gang members.

Further, Greene said that Anthony Charles called 'Kussum', who was killed late last year during a confrontation with the joint services at Bachelor's Adventure was another success for the force. He said Charles was wanted in connection with the missing AK-47s, but after he decided to challenge the lawmen, he was killed.

Neil Bovell who terrorized citizens along the West Bank Demerara for three years was also on the commissioner's success list. Bovell was killed last year December during an armed confrontation with the police. He was wanted for a number of rapes and also two murders.

Greene said the police will continue to work along with the GDF, which he said has been supporting the force tremendously in its work. The commissioner said ranks must at all times behave professionally in the discharge of their duties. "We will not countenance wrong-doing by any rank," Greene warned.

He credited most of the force's success to date to hard work, which was intelligence-led, adding that there was a seven per cent reduction in crime for last year and so far this year crime is relatively under control. He said the joint services would continue to maintain a posture to deter criminals and maintained that the presence of armed policemen on the streets will continue.

In the area of forensics, Greene said efforts are being made to improve the forensic capabilities of the force. He said under the reform component a modern laboratory would be established, which will enhance their ability to conduct DNA testing among other things.

Greene mentioned that work on the reforms has begun, noting that in the area of traffic an advisory board has already been established and its members met recently. He said the Special Firearms Unit or SWAT team has received training already. Some 140 officers are attending the three-day conference, 35 of whom are doing so for the first time having been promoted recently.

In his address to the officers, Jagdeo said that he has become more optimistic over the last several months as a result of the work of the joint services. According to the Head of State there is a growing sense of security for all and for this he was very proud of the work of the servicemen.

The President however said that whenever the conduct and the work of the police warrant criticism his administration would criticise, but cautioned the officers not to feel that government was not in support of them. "I have tremendous confidence in Mr Greene and the Chief-of-Staff (of the Guyana Defence Force) Edward Collins," the President said to thunderous applause from the officers.

The President said the nation owed the joint services a debt of gratitude for the tremendous work they did during and after last year's general elections to maintain the peace. "We entered those elections with a lot of misgivings that the growing security threat would have continued.

But we were able to reverse that cycle," the Head of State said. He noted that the Joint Services' success during the elections could also be credited to their decision to patrol the streets months before the elections. Jagdeo said the country broke with tradition, allowing the army to be on the streets on elections day.

The President told the officers that in trying to address crime they must also look at development and noted this is why it was so necessary for the reforms in the police force. The President said he was pleased with the pace with which the reforms were moving, but he asserted that much more work needs to be done. Only last week the government signed the agreement with the Inter-American-Development Bank for the US$22 million, some of which would be used for the police reforms.

On the issue of crime, Jagdeo charged the officers to take a zero-tolerance approach to all transgressions whether serious or petty crimes. He said it bothers him to see policemen ignoring the commission of petty crimes such as littering and some traffic infractions. Jagdeo said because of the policemen's attitudes to some of these things he was sometimes forced to get involved. He said whenever he does he is accused of micro-managing.

The President called on the officers to read widely, encouraging them to keep abreast with world events as well as domestic issues. "For you to succeed and give good leadership you have to have a broad vision of the world and the challenges it faces as well as your own country," Jagdeo said.

The President also expressed confidence in the security forces' ability to provide the necessary security and protection to citizens as well as visitors during the upcoming Rio Group Summit as well as the Cricket World Cup. The conference opening was attended by a number of top public and private officials, including, the heads of disciplined forces, Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon and several other prominent individuals. (Stabroek News/ Nigel Williams / Ken Moore photo)

Agricola resident Richard 'Chucky' Daniels, wanted in connection with the assassination of Agriculture Minister Satyadeow `Sash' Sawh, is believed to have been arrested in Suriname last week along with another Guyanese, Acting Police Commissioner, Henry Greene has said.

Greene said that the Guyana Police Force learnt about the arrest of Daniels and has since requested details from Suriname. He said that they have also asked Suriname to send a photograph of the man in custody, which would assist them in confirming whether it is indeed Daniels.

The Acting commissioner could not provide any more details on the arrest of the Guyanese when pressed by the media. He said that the police force was in the process of gathering more information with regards how Daniels and the other man were captured. Additionally, Greene told the media that from all reports the man who was arrested with Daniels is also wanted here in relation to several robberies.

Several Guyanese wanted back home are allegedly hiding out in Suriname and French Guiana. The men have been able to dodge the police by crossing over to the neighbouring countries via the backtrack route at Number 78 Village Corriverton. Many of them are also involved in criminal activities in the neighbouring countries.

Police on January 6 had published a wanted bulletin for seven persons including Daniels for the April 21, 2006 murders of Sawh, two of his siblings and a security guard.

The police are offering a reward of $2 million for information leading to the arrests of the seven men. The police said that the men are wanted in connection with the investigation into the murder of Minister Sawh, other murders and serious offences.

In addition to Daniels the other wanted men are Rondell Rawlins called 'Fineman' of Agricola and Buxton; Orlando Andrews called 'Biscuit' or 'Jeffrey' of Buxton; David Zammett called David Leander or 'Bullet' of Buxton; 'Cash' of Buxton; 'Not Nice' of Buxton and 'Sonny' of Agricola. (Stabroek News)

‘Taps’ sentenced to death for wife’s murder

Justice Claudette La Bennett last evening sentenced 30-year-old Royston Alfred, called ‘Taps’, to death for the murder of his wife, Cathedra Parris, nicknamed ‘Chiney’, 27.

The killing took place at the woman’s Lot 84 D’Urban Street, Georgetown home on the night of March 12, 2004 when Alfred said the two of them were playing with a knife and she was accidentally stabbed in the chest. The unanimous verdict was reported after the mixed jury had deliberated for two hours and the convict took it calmly.

In a statement to the Police, Alfred had also said they were in bed when his wife accused him of having several women and suddenly became enraged. He said she wounded him with a knife in his chest but then jokingly began to play with the weapon and was stabbed by accident.

Alfred had said, too, that he left the house after replacing the woman’s underwear. She was found with the knife stuck in her neck, Police Detective Sergeant Troy Whittaker testified. In keeping with tradition, spectators in the courtroom were ordered to stand as the judge passed the death sentence.

“May the Lord have mercy on your soul,” Justice La Bennett told Alfred after ordering that the convicted man be taken from the dock to a lawful prison, then to a place of execution, where he would be hanged by the neck until dead. (Guyana Cronicle)

Thirteen motorcycles for Police Traffic Department

Minister of Home Affairs, Mr Clement Rohee (backing camera) shakes hands with an officer in the presence of others at the handing over of the motorcycles yesterday.

The machines were acquired through a US$45M Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) loan for the Ministry of Public Works and Communication to improve traffic safety and build bridges, Public Works Minister, Mr. Robeson Benn said.

The motorbikes were handed over to Home Affairs Minister, Mr. Clement Rohee who accepted them on behalf of the GPF at a simple ceremony on the Tactical Services Unit (TSU) Square, Eve Leary, Georgetown.

Minister Rohee said the receipt is timely because of upcoming events such as Cricket World Cup (CWC) and the Rio Summit. He said they are basically to enhance the capability and mobility of ranks to deal with traffic and admonished the users to care for and ensure the bikes are serviced regularly. (Guyana Cronicle)

Two brazen gun-toting bandits yesterday afternoon forced the driver of a Wieting & Richter Ltd vehicle to crash into another vehicle, after firing a shot at the vehicle, and then grabbed an undisclosed sum of money belonging to the company, at the corner of Lamaha and Parade streets.

The incident happened around 4 pm yesterday, shortly after two accounts clerks had left the company's Water Street location to take the day's sales of both Wieting & Richter and Harris Paints to Scotia Bank. Only their last names, Hussain and Persaud, were given to this newspaper.

When Stabroek News visited the scene, the vehicle the men were in, PFF 1083, was there with its windscreen damaged as a result of the shot fired by the bandits. The other car, PHH 7802, which was involved in the accident, was parked some distance away, as according to the female driver, the police instructed her to drive if off the scene. Both vehicles were damaged in front.

This newspaper was told by a manager of the company that while the men were driving along Lamaha Street the driver realised he was being followed by two men on a motorcycle.

The driver accelerated with the intention of driving straight to Eve Leary, and the motorcycle also picked up speed. The manager said he was told that as his employee attempted to turn into Parade Street, he collided head-on with the other car.

The pillion rider then got off the motorcycle, entered the vehicle and took the bag of money before rejoining his partner in crime and the two rode off up Lamaha Street.

The female driver of the other vehicle said she was also heading into Parade Street from Lamaha, but from the opposite direction when she observed the other vehicle approaching her at a very fast rate. She said another car turned before her and as she waited her turn the vehicle slammed into hers. The young woman said she heard a shot about the same time and when she looked up she saw a man exiting the vehicle with a gun; he joined another man on a motorcycle and rode away.

The traumatised young woman was standing at the scene long after the incident waiting for the investigators to take a statement from her. Wieting & Richter's manager said that after the incident occurred someone in the area called the office and informed them that their vehicle was just robbed as the company's logo was on the vehicle.

"As we were coming one of the clerks was entering the compound. He did not even know how he reached the office so fast, but he ran all the way," the manger said. The two clerks were taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital for a check up since they were very shaken.

When Stabroek News left the scene police investigators had just arrived even though the incident happened just a stone's throw away from traffic headquarters. Just one traffic officer was on the scene when this newspaper arrived and when the investigators arrived children in the area were already playing around the car and touching it even as the fingerprint expert arrived with his kit.

An adult on the scene warned one of the children that his prints would be found all over the vehicle when it was dusted. (Stabroek News / Oluatoyin Alleyne photo)

Sex offender jailed for 10 years

Justice Rishi Persaud, at the Berbice Assizes, yesterday sentenced a convicted sex offender to 10 years imprisonment on each of three counts. The judge, however, ordered the sentences to run concurrently after the jury, following two hours of deliberations, returned a majority guilty verdict in the proportion of 10 to two.

The prisoner, Ray Castello maintained his innocence when Justice Persaud asked him if he had anything to say before penalty was meted out. Earlier, the judge, in his one hour summation, told the jurors the case was based on uncorroborated evidence and warned them that it was dangerous to convict under such circumstances. But he added: “If you are satisfied that the virtual complainant was speaking the truth, then you can convict for the offence of rape.”

Justice Persaud observed that there were discrepancies in the testimony presented by the Prosecution, including the date of the incident but advised the jury to consider the background of the witnesses, indigenous people who might not have placed priority on time and dates.

Before the summing-up, Carla Castello, sister of the convict had testified that her sibling was in her company on April 12, 2005. She said he was with her from 08:00h to 12:00h on the day when it was stated that he had been with the victim.

Castello himself said he was a poor farmer who was not versed in legal arguments and alleged that he was a victim of circumstances because relatives of the victim are incarcerated for the murder of a member of his family.

The case for the Prosecution, presented by State Counsel Leron Daly, was that the girl had left her home to visit an aunt when Castello restrained, gagged and took her to Cashew Island where he raped and sodomised her. (Guyana Cronicle)

Body of river tragedy victim found

The body of Cheryl Peters, missing since last Friday’s tragedy on the border Corentyne River between Guyana and Suriname, was yesterday found at Number 74, Corentyne, Berbice. Residents said that around 09:00h, children playing in the area noticed what turned out to be the body of the woman.

Peter, 44, a mother of five, and a trader in haberdashery, left her home at Nelson Street, Mocha/Arcadia, East Bank Demerara early Friday and with others, departed Corentyne en route to Nickerie in Suriname in a small vessel. She was due to return home the following day.

However, tragedy struck when the propeller of the boat in which they were travelling became entangled with a fisherman’s seine and boat went down, taking two persons with it. No one on board the vessel was wearing a life jacket.

The body of the first victim, Hansrani, called “Buck” of Annandale, East Coast Demerara, was found on the Number 63 foreshore, Corentyne hours later Friday. Peters leaves to mourn her father Claude Peters, children, Godfrey, Claudius, Claudine, Leonardo, Linden, sister Grace and others. (Guyana Cronicle)

The safety of passengers using the `backtrack' speedboat service to Suriname at Number 78 Village is of concern to the government but citizens cannot continue to do the wrong thing and still expect to be protected, Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee says.

And Suriname police investigators were in Guyana on Sunday to conduct investigations into the mishap.

On Friday a speedboat carrying ten passengers capsized in the Corentyne River. One woman drowned and another is missing and feared dead. The eight other passengers dramatically survived the rough waters by clinging on to bags and other objects.

Rohee told Stabroek News in an interview yesterday that although this practice has been going on for some time now it was illegal. He noted that the only legitimate river transport operating between Guyana and Suriname was the one at Moleson Creek.

The Home Affairs Minister however could say whether the administration would regulate the backtrack operations, but is admonishing citizens to use the legal ferry service and desist from crossing via the illegal speedboats.

Meanwhile, the search continued yesterday in the Corentyne River for Cheryl Peters, who is missing and feared dead following Friday's accident. Police from Suriname and local boat captains searched the river yesterday again for the Mocha Arcadia mother of five. Relatives of the 44-year-old have begun to lose hope.

Another woman, Ashrani Hardat called 'Buck' of Annandale, East Coast Demerara drowned during the mishap and her body was found in a fishing net in the Corentyne River aback of Number 65 Village on Friday.

Reports are that the boat, belonging to a Surinamese known only as `Amit' left 'Aunty's Boat Landing' at Number 78 Village, Corriverton just after 5.15 am on Friday with nine passengers on board heading for Nickerie, Suriname.

Shortly after it set off, however, the boat became entangled with a fishing seine, reports said. Quick thinking by Hardat's daughter, Samantha Mohan, 26, who survived the mishap, led to the other speedboats going to their rescue some 15 minutes later.

Mohan had told this newspaper that after the boat started taking in water, she used her cellular phone to call the minibus driver called `Dougla', who had taken her and her mother to Corriverton from Annandale earlier in the morning. She told him of the accident but before she was finished talking to him the boat went down and she started screaming.

The woman said she and her mother as well as another woman and her two children held onto a bag containing cigarettes and were floating in the water until help came. The other passengers held onto other objects in the water, as well. Mohan disclosed that before the boat left Corriverton her mother kept asking for a lifejacket but none was given to her. None of the other passengers had lifejackets and the captain left in a hurry, she said.

Many persons prefer to use the 'backtrack' system instead of the legitimate ferry that plies the Moleson Creek to Suriname route. Passengers who frequently use the backtrack vessels have argued that although it takes only 25 minutes to get across from Guyana to Suriname the drive to Nickerie and then to Paramaribo takes more than eight hours.

Persons have also bemoaned the deplorable state of the road, which they said has been the case for many years. The cost of a return ticket, which is valid for one month, is $3,000 on the legal ferry service. With the 'backtrack' arrangement at Number 78 Village, Corriverton, a one-way trip costs $1,000. The boats go to Nickerie and passengers travel less than three hours by road to get to Paramaribo.

Mostly traders use the 'backtrack' route as it allows them quick access to and from Suriname. On the Guyana side of the border officers of the Berbice Anti-Smuggling Squad (BASS) usually maintain a presence there along with a custom official who would normally collect duties from passengers importing goods.

Asked why government has not made any move to regularize the situation existing at the backtrack crossings, Rohee said that some of operators do not want this, while others are bent on breaking the laws. "Passengers are well aware that they are travelling on an illegal ferry but yet they go ahead," the minister said.

He encouraged citizens to use the legitimate service, acknowledging that in any system there would always be shortcomings. The owner of 'Aunty's Boat Landing' where the capsized boat operated from said that they have been registered in Suriname to ply their trade.

Apart from 'Aunty's Landing' two other speedboat operators, Eno Bharrat and Roy Ramdass operate the same route. Government has signally failed to regulate the backtrack operation which is being done in the open with the operators publicly advertising their service. The backtrack route is also a getaway point for criminals operating out of Suriname and French Guyana. (Stabroek News)

Bandits target: Dhanraj Kurmiah and his wife Niroajnie pondering their fate yesterday.

Police were yesterday questioning two porters working with the Kurmiahs, who own a fishing business and retail fish at Linden on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The porters who had travelled from Linden with the couple Friday night, were with them when the armed and masked bandits pounced, the couple said yesterday.

After spending more than fifteen minutes terrorising the couple and ransacking their bedroom on the upper floor of the two-flat building, the men escaped on foot with their booty. The beleaguered couple told the Sunday Chronicle they had just returned home from Linden, tired after being out of the home since Thursday night and selling fish all day Friday.

Dhanraj said that it was around 21:00h when they got out of the truck and his wife, who had the proceeds from the day’s sales in a bag strapped around her waist, opened the door and entered the house.

He said he was behind her, and as he was about entering, a man, masked and armed with a gun, pounced on him while another, armed with a cutlass, thrust himself against the door and used the weapon to keep the door open.

Dhanraj said he then observed that there were four of them – three armed with guns and the fourth with a cutlass. The men started beating him and his wife on their heads with gun butts, asking “Whey de money deh?” and demanding that they hand over all the cash. He said he and his wife fell to the ground under the blows but the men continued to terrorise them.

They trampled the woman with their feet, instructing them to be quiet, or they would kill them, the husband said. Bleeding from the head, and fearful for their lives, the nervous couple said they complied and handed over the money which Niroajnie had in the bag strapped around her waist.

On collecting her bag with cash, the men enquired how much was in it. When told that it was about $6,000, the bandits demanded more cash, and pointing a gun at Dhanraj’s neck, again insisted that they be quiet or be killed, since they (the armed men) had come to kill.

The two said they begged for their lives, telling the men to take whatever they wanted and leave. To this, they ordered Dhanraj to hand over the keys for the truck to them. He did so, and the men opened it up and found more money, he said.

Dhanraj said it was after this discovery that two of the men with big guns went upstairs; one with a smaller gun held the couple and one of their porters hostage in the bottom flat of the house, while the other kept guard outside.

The Kurmiahs reasoned there was a strong likelihood that some person or persons who knew the home and family’s whereabouts very well might have orchestrated the attack, or otherwise acted in league with the bandits who did not ransack anywhere else in the home.

After making a haul of about $2 million, the bandits made off and the couple raised an alarm. They said they made a report at the Vigilance Police Station, and since the bandits had left them penniless, later sought medical treatment at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

The two said they have in recent years been constantly stalked and robbed. They said that in February 2005 bandits, at Blueberry Hill, Wismar, robbed them of $180,000, stabbing their son in the region of his lungs.

Later that same year, bandits broke into the home of their daughter at Courbane Park, also on the East Coast Demerara, and shot her brother in an arm as he and his father intervened. Luckily, they said, the daughter was not at home. Before the year was out, pirates hijacked three of the Kurmiahs’ fishing boats at sea, they related.

In February, 2006, bandits again attacked the business at Linden, this time robbing Dhanraj of his firearm, $250,000, a gold chain and ring and a cellular phone. Before making off, he said, they stripped him naked and left him on a road in Linden.

Out of caution, the couple said they had their two children migrate. But now, they claim it has gotten so much to them the children are urging them to sell the home and business and migrate also. Dhanraj said they have been living at their Annandale home for about 20 years and worked hard to acquire what they now have. It would really be hard for them to give it all up, he said.

He said he was due to travel out of the country today for a short period, but all that has been thwarted. (Shirley Thomas/Guyana Cronicle/Quacy Sampson photo)

Tragedy on trip to Suriname

Mom drowns as daughter calls for help on cell phone

The body of Hansrani also called `Buck’, 46, a housewife of Annandale, East Coast Demerara, was found on the Number 63, Corentyne foreshore later in the day and positively identified by relatives.

Still missing was Cheryl Peters, 35, a mother of five and businesswoman of Nelson Street Mocha, East Bank Demerara, who was among the 10 aboard the ill-fated vessel.

Those rescued were Melanie Mohan, 29, also known as Samantha, of Nabaclis, East Coast Demerara, Hansrani’s only daughter; the Surinamese captain of the boat; and a Surinamese woman who was accompanied by two children.

As news of the tragedy spread yesterday, relatives of Cayenne-based Donna Abrams, also of Nabaclis, who left for Suriname early yesterday morning, were anxiously awaiting information on her. They said they did not know if she was on the same boat but she would normally call them when she got to the neighbouring country, and they had not heard from her up to late yesterday.

Police in East Berbice were up to late yesterday afternoon still seeking information on the identities of the others survivors, according to Commander `B’ Division (Berbice), Assistant Commissioner Clinton Conway. He assured that they have a good working relationship with their counterparts in Suriname and had been in touch with them since the incident.

SURVIVOR: Melanie Mohan

It was still dark and in the vicinity of Clara Polder, when the propeller of the engine got entangled with a fishing seine, causing it to capsize and sink at about 05:00h, he said.

Some of those thrown overboard swam to safety while others had to be rescued. It was later discovered that Peters and Hansranie were not with them.

A source in Suriname told the Guyana Chronicle the Surinamese Police said they had rescued six of the passengers. A tearful Mohan last night recounted the horror at her home, recalling the agony of being dragged from her mother as they both desperately clung to a black bag hoping to keep afloat in the murky waters.

She said she later learnt that it was a bag of cigarettes, and what hurt her even more, was as a boat came and attempted to get people inside, she begged them to save her mother, but they saved the black bag instead of saving her.

It’s my mother, it’s my mother”, she remembered shouting, but said “they just grabbed me by my waist and pulled me out of the water, and jerked her away from the bag.” She said it was only then that she was separated from her mother who immediately went under the boat.

The driver of the mini-bus which had taken Mohan and her mother along the Corentyne to board the vessel bound for Suriname, told of having received a call on his cellular phone less than half an hour after the boat had taken off. On answering the phone, he said he heard someone’s desperate plea: “Send wan boat fuh awe! Awe in problems!”

Next, he said he heard agonizing screams in the background and then nothing more. He later learnt it was the voice of Mohan who was still holding tenaciously to her mother as death stared them in the face.

Mohan recalled that the first thing her mother did as she was about to enter the boat, was ask the operators for a life jacket. She said that as her mother insisted, the captain convinced her that she should go into the boat and that he would go for the jackets.

But instead of returning with jackets, Mohan said, the captain came with another passenger in tow and hurriedly started the boat engine. She recalled that throughout the time her mom seemed uneasy.

According to the young woman, soon after, they detected that the boat had stopped and enquired what had gone wrong. Thereupon the captain asked if anyone had a knife, saying the propeller had become entangled with a fisherman’s seine.

But by then, water had started coming into the boat and it was clear that they were in grave danger, Mohan said. She said she immediately used her cell phone to call the mini-bus driver who was still at the wharf. Mohan said her mother had arranged for the two of them to travel to Suriname yesterday morning to visit an uncle and it was around 03:00h when the bus went to pick them up at home.

Relatives of Peters were yesterday experiencing moments of great anxiety. They said that even though her business takes her to Suriname from time to time, she was not scheduled to travel yesterday, but tomorrow.

It was late Thursday that Peters made a last minute decision to bring forward her travel date to yesterday, the woman’s grieving relatives said, adding that her best friend and neighbour Jane tried discouraging her from travelling but she did not heed her pleas and went ahead.

Mohan recalled having seen two other women in the boat with them, but said she was sure that they did not return to Guyana in the boat that rescued them. Hansrani is survived by her husband Harry Narine Mohan, daughter Melanie, and son Rocky.

The relatives are outraged that the operators of the boat would risk transporting passengers across the river without life jackets. (Wendella Davidson and Shirley Thomas/Guyana Cronicle)

Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards imposed the sentence on Nankumar Singh, 25, also called ‘Chow Pakar’, who shot and killed his 14-year old reputed wife Natasha, and her lover Surujpaul Stanley, nicknamed ‘Laloo Boy’, 19, after the girl rejected him.

The two were shot dead at Enterprise Squatting Area, East Coast Demerara, on the night of August 20, 2003.

A Demerara Assize jury by unanimous verdict Monday found ‘Chow Pakar’ not guilty of murder, but guilty on each of the lesser counts of manslaughter, by a majority 11 to one verdict.

Sentence was postponed to yesterday on an application from defence counsel Mr. James Bond to enable him to prepare his plea in mitigation. On the resumption yesterday, Bond confirmed that ‘Chow Pakar’ had indeed shot the couple while in a state of drunkenness following the loss of his reputed wife who had chosen another lover.

The lawyer had strenuously defended the accused, who had led an alibi defence, by arguing, among other things, that his client was not the killer.

He yesterday said the man was penitent, was sorry for what had happened and claimed that had Singh been given the opportunity from the outset, he would have pleaded guilty to manslaughter instead of wasting the court’s time.

Singh, addressing the judge from the dock, said “I am sorry for what had happened and I wish to apologise to the relatives of the deceased…I had fired a shot at the house. I did not intend to kill anyone.”

State Prosecutor Miss Judy Latchman, asked by the judge whether she had anything to say, pointed out that while sentencing is a matter for the judge, she would like to refer the court to a decision on sentencing which requires that in passing sentence, the court should take into consideration the question of the public interest and the prevention of crime, to serve as a deterrent to others who are minded to commit similar crimes.

She said it should also be a notice to would-be criminals to turn to honest lives, especially young men. Directing her remarks to Singh, the judge noted he had said that he did not go to kill but, according to the judge, such behaviour was reckless.

The judge noted too, that from the evidence, the prisoner was associated with Natasha since she was 12 years old, which should not have happened. She said she was happy that the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security had taken the important step to increase the age of consent to sixteen.

The judge believed that if such a law was in force in 2003, perhaps the present case might not have come about. Pointing out that the court has to protect the children and to look into the interest of the public and society, the judge declared that the prisoner was reckless and sentenced him to 18 years imprisonment on each count.

She ordered that the sentences should run consecutively, meaning that ‘Chow Pakar’ will have to serve 36 years in prison. (George Barclay/Guyana Cronicle)