October 31, 2007
Airport supervisor charged in guns, drugs find
Trevor Kaioum
Police have charged Trevor Kaioum, 21, a junior supervisor, following the discovery of two suitcases containing compressed cannabis (marijuana), guns, ammunition, grenades and detonators at Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri, last week Friday.
The defendant, of Timehri Squatting Area, East Bank Demerara, appeared before Magistrate Hazel Octave-Hamilton yesterday and pleaded not guilty to charges that said, on October 26, he:
trafficked in narcotics by exporting 38 kilogrammes, 636 grammes of cannabis;
had in his possession two fragmentation grenades and two detonators, all being explosives;
also had 57 rounds of ammunition – fifty-three .38 rounds, one .32 round and three 357 rounds
and had, as well, three firearms - three .38 revolvers without being the holder of licences for them.
Police Corporal Shellon Daniels, prosecuting, successfully objected to bail for Kaioum, on the ground that he is a flight risk. She said Kaioum was working in the baggage area and he put the names that were on two already checked suitcases on a passenger’s bags.
The Prosecutor said Police found the explosives concealed in the compressed cannabis and, with the help of a handwriting expert, detected that Kaioum was the person who wrote on the tags. He was remanded to prison, until November 7 and the case transferred to Providence Court, also on East Bank Demerara.
His lawyer, Mr. Ronald Burch-Smith, in a failed bid to secure pre-trial freedom for Kaioum, said the latter is the sole breadwinner for his family, including his mother and five siblings. Defence Counsel said Kaioum has been employed at the airport for the past three years and was recently promoted to junior supervisor.
The Police find was in the outgoing passengers’ area while a flight to Barbados and Antigua was being processed around midday. (Guyana Cronicle)
Jamaican in airport cocaine bust remanded
Merkin Herman
Magistrate Hazel Octave-Hamilton yesterday remanded to prison the Jamaican who was allegedly found with a suitcase containing blocks of cocaine at Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri, last Sunday.
The defendant, Merkin Chase Herman, of Kingston, Jamaica, pleaded not guilty to the charge which said he trafficked in the narcotic by exporting seven kilogrammes, 262 grammes of it. At the insistence of Police Corporal Shellon Daniels, prosecuting, Herman’s case was transferred to Providence Court, also on East Bank Demerara, for November 7.
The Prosecutor said the luggage with the drug was discovered about noon while an outgoing flight to New York was being processed. Defence Counsel Rexford Jackson requested an early trial date. (Guyana Cronicle)
Man wanted in Sash Sawh murder shot dead
Another killed in Joint Services operation
A man wanted in the probe into the killing of Agriculture Minister Satyadeow `Sash’ Sawh and his siblings last year, was shot dead after a gang fired on Joint Services ranks in Buxton yesterday, police said.
Police said Orlando Andrews, called `Bullet’, of Buxton, was also wanted for the shocking murder of nine-year-old schoolgirl Christine Sukhra during the East Coast Demerara crime wave of 2004. Sukhra died in a robbery attack on her family home at Coldingen on 2004-08-28.
Police said Andrews was charged with the murder of Troy Phillips on 2004-12-05 at Church of God Road, Buxton and inflicting grievous bodily harm on Dennis Daniels at Annandale on 2005-07-11. Arrest warrants were issued for him in both cases.
He was also wanted for questioning by police in relation to the murder of Anson Melville at Friendship on 2004-01-11 and the murder of Davechan Appanna at Section ‘B’, Non Pariel, also on the East Coast Demerara on 2004-08-17, police said.
Noel James called `Baby’ of neighbouring Friendship was identified as the other man who died in the shootout yesterday. Another who was arrested was identified as David Zammett, known as David Leander, and `Biscuit’ of Buxton, police said.
“Wanted bulletins were published by the police for David Zammett and Orlando Andrews…in relation to investigations into the murder of Minister Satyadeow Sawh and his siblings”, police reported.
In addition, Zammett is wanted by the police in relation to investigations into the murder of Anson Melville at Friendship on 2004-01-11; the murder of William Adams called `Grego’ at Friendship on 2004-08-02; and attempted murder on Randy Joseph at Friendship on 2004-10-04.
According to police, the Joint Services ranks came under fire around 10:00 h yesterday from a group of armed men along Brushe Dam, Buxton. The ranks returned fire, fatally wounding Andrews who was hit in his right side chest, while the others managed to escape.
At about 13:30 h, the ranks cordoned off a house at Brushe Dam and while searching it came under fire from James. Police said he was shot about his body when the patrol returned fire. An unlicensed .38 Taurus revolver and five spent shells were recovered by the ranks.
James was recently released from prison after serving a sentence for larceny, police said. Officials at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation said Kenya Headley, one-and-a-half year old, of 156 Friendship, was grazed by a bullet on the side of her neck and treated and sent home. (Guyana Cronicle)
October 30, 2007
Mobile outpost to boost crime fight
The Police Force yesterday received a mobile outpost to help boost its crime fighting capability, compliments of IAMGOLD Corporation and Omai Gold Mines Limited. Acting Police Commissioner
Mr. Henry Greene received the keys to the mobile outpost from Senior Vice President, Corporate Development at IAMGOLD Corporation Mr. Paul Olmsted, at police headquarters, Eve Leary. 
Acting Police Commissioner Mr. Henry Greene says ‘Thank You’ to Senior Vice President, Corporate Development at IAMGOLD Corporation Mr. Paul Olmsted (right) when he was presented with the keys of the Mobile Outpost during yesterday’s ceremony.
Greene said the mobile outpost will be a “vital” component in the Police Force’s capability to fight crime. He also indicated that the mobile outpost will not be stationed at any specific location, but will be “moving around the country” to areas where there are no police stations.
“We are thankful for the offer that has come forward to assist us greatly in the fight against crime,” Greene told IAMGOLD officials at the ceremony.
The mobile outpost has accommodation for police officers and a police inquiry office to assist persons in making their report.
Olmsted said the mobile outpost, which was used as a mobile camp at Omai, comes equipped with two beds, toilet and bath, and an Inquiries Office. (Guyana Cronicle) Police intercept cocaine blocks bound for New York
Ranks of the police narcotics branch intercepted a suitcase containing six blocks of cocaine with a total weight of 7 kgs 262 grams at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport on Sunday.
Police said the suitcase was discovered about noon while an outgoing flight to New York was being processed. A male Jamaican national was arrested and is to be charged, police said. (Guyana Cronicle)
Liverpool man dies after knocked down by brother
Terrence Allen
Tragedy struck a Liverpool Village family on Sunday night when a GDF corporal knocked down and killed a man later identified as his younger brother. Dead is 19-year-old Terrence 'Egg' Allen who was struck down while crossing the road by motorcar number PDD 9187, driven by his brother Corporal Denis Allen.
According to an eyewitness, a group had gone to see the horse race at Crawford Race Track at Alness earlier in the day and were liming at a popular night spot when 'Egg' joined them some time after 6 pm.
Terrence was crossing the road to buy food when a vehicle "come from nowhere and knock this man down, flinging he up in the air" and the body landed some 10 yards away. The witness told this newspaper that the body was badly mangled from the impact. Terrence was pronounced dead at the New Amsterdam Hospital about 15 minutes later.
When Stabroek News spoke with their father, Joseph, the man said when he got a message that his sons had been involved in an accident he never imagined such a tragedy. Joseph, a Special Constable, said Terrence worked as a labourer at the Albion Estate and had slept all day Sunday. He said it was not until late afternoon that the teen left home.
Joseph said, "me nah know why dah boy like fuh eat food so" after hearing that he had gone to purchase food. Joseph said Denis is still in a state of shock as when he called him (Joseph) "fuh know what happen, when we tell he say that he buddy dead, he still can't believe," even though he had been told that Terrence had died on Sunday night after they left the hospital. (Stabroek News)
October 29, 2007
Mother stabbed to death in front of children
Husband, other woman in custody
Kamal Doonwah
Years of being at the receiving end of domestic violence came to a tragic end on Saturday night for a 45-year-old woman who was stabbed to death in front of her three children at Bladen Hall, East Coast Demerara (ECD).
Police have since detained the woman's reputed husband and another woman as investigations into the murder continues. Kamal Doonwah, a domestic worker of Bladen Hall Squatting Area, ECD was repeatedly stabbed in her chest by the attacker, who fled after her children began crying out. A bloody knife with the handle wrapped in cloth was recovered by the police at the home.
According to reports, just around midnight on Saturday, the husband, who was said to be under the influence of alcohol, went home and finding the bedroom-door closed jumped over the wall. He reportedly woke Doonwah and allegedly stabbed her at least seven times in the chest.
The children, two girls age nine and seven years and their five-year-old brother were sleeping with their mother and woke when the incident occurred. After they began screaming the man fled leaving the knife and a hat behind. As her children watched, Doonwah attempted to move towards the door to close it but collapsed before doing so.
It was not until several hours after the incident that neighbours learned of the murder when the nine-year-old girl came to inform them of what had happened. They said that during the night they did not hear anything because there was a wedding nearby and the music drowned out any sound.
The police were called and after arriving at the scene, went to a home close-by, where the other woman was living and caught the husband who was attempting to flee. Stabroek News understands that the man has since claimed that he had not been at home since Friday and was at the other woman's home during the night.
Neighbours and relatives of Doonwah said that she endured years of domestic violence and her husband "used to beat her every night". Relatives said that after linking up with him, ten years ago, repeated beatings forced the woman to turn to alcohol and the couple drank heavily. Shocked neighbours recalled that every night they endured screams of pain and terror as the woman received her blows. "This man cruel bad", one declared recalling that Doonwah's skin almost always bore marks of violence.
According to the neighbours, after turning to alcohol, the children, who do not go to school, were neglected, with the couple using their money to buy rum. They said that with the amount of alcohol consumed and seemingly not caring to eat, they expected the woman to turn up dead someday. A shop-owner recalled the couple daily purchasing alcohol but rarely food "not even a pack tennis roll self".
The children who were left to their own devices did not go to school. A neighbour recalled that at the beginning of the school term, she collected uniforms for them but they only went to school for two weeks and stopped. She said that she provided snacks for them also as the parents seemed not to care.
When Stabroek News visited the house where the couple lived, the condition of the building was deteriorating and it sagged. The door to the white two-story house was open and a glance revealed items scattered throughout and no one had yet started to clean up. One of the rooms upstairs was exposed as a section of a wall was broken up. Weeds took over the yard giving it an untidy appearance.
At Doonwah's relatives' home, her brother, Satnarine recalled that he heard the news at about 7 am yesterday and went to the scene. His sister's body was still lying on the floor and blood was everywhere. The relatives took the children home and stated that they had to find clothes for them as their clothing was filthy.
They said that it was no use trying to retrieve the clothes from the children's home because of the condition. "If you see the condition of the clothes, them thing fit only foh burn", one man said. The children, who were very thin stuck close to one another and appeared bewildered.
The family said that they would look after them, and would each take a child. They noted that the siblings would be close to one another as the relatives they would be living with reside near to each other. (Gaulbert Sutherland/Stabroek News)
Road deaths: 177, Homicides: 94
Unable to calm an unstable crime situation where murder topped the one hundred mark for the past three years, police have reported that 83 more people have died so far this year in road accidents than at the hands of criminals.
Commissioner of Police, Henry Greene on Wednesday disclosed that so far this year there have been 177 deaths on the roadways representing a 52% increase in road fatalities. Of that figure there have been 56 road deaths in 'A' Division, which takes in Georgetown and the East Bank of Demerara, 39 in 'B' division - both West and East Berbice, 27 in 'C' division - East Coast Demerara, 21 in 'D' West Demerara, 26 in E&F divisions - the interior locations and eight in 'G' division- Essequibo.
In an 18-day period 24 persons died on the roadways. Included in that number are the ten persons who perished when the minibus in which they were travelling slammed into a parked lumber truck two weeks ago in Linden. A few days later a car ran off the Liliendaal Public Road, killing six persons including a security guard who was in a watch hut.
Authorities have since signalled their intention to get tough with enforcing the traffic laws, threatening that there will be stiffer fines and zero-tolerance on a host of transgressions including, overloading and boom-boom boxes among other things. "We intend to take drastic measures against persons found in breach of these offences and to ensure they are properly dealt with and placed before the court."
Greene was hosting a press conference on Wednesday afternoon when around nine gunmen transported by a canter truck ambushed a cambio dealer and robbed him of a quantity of US and local currency. The attack on the businessman was an indication that while the attention at the moment is on enforcing traffic regulations the criminals are still at work.
Crime Chief (ag), Seelall Persaud said that the Police Force had recorded 94 homicides up to that point, several being gun-related and others domestic. Among the murders are a number of execution-style killings most of them going unsolved so far. Last year the police recorded over 130 murders - 43 being execution-style murders and 47 domestic-related.
The police lat year complained that the most prevalent crime was armed robbery involving the use of firearms. They continue to lament the upsurge in this type of crime, which is mainly due to the fact that unlicensed firearms are commonplace in the streets. There were over 990 reports of robbery under arms last year and 808 occasions on which firearms were used compared to 836 reports for the same period in 2005 when firearms were used on 649 occasions.
Meanwhile, among the outstanding murders so far this year is the gunning down of 18-year-old Dave Hescott back in April. He was discovered amidst metal behind the furnace in Le Repentir cemetery. The young man had a gunshot wound and a stab wound to the back of his head and was lying face down when he was found.
Dave was the fourth brother of the Hescott family to be killed by gunfire. He had only been released from police custody a few days before along with his brother Ryan and another man after being implicated in a $1.8 million robbery under arms. The following week the body of Sherman Edwards was discovered in Hadfield Street, D'Urban Backlands with his throat slashed and his hands tied behind his back. The man's body was found hidden in the thick grass beside a trench by someone who was walking along the secluded road.
The style of his killing was similar to those over the last few years when men were tortured and murdered execution-style. A number of these killings have been linked to death squads and drug feuds. Edwards was clad in white underpants, both of his hands were tied behind his back, his throat was slit and there were several other marks of violence on his body.
His head was also shaven. Police have made no arrests in these two execution-style killings though they warned in a statement that the force was concerned about the executions and those involved when caught would face the full force of the law. Following those two killings there were several others.
Twenty-seven-year-old Navin Serrao was among the victims. He was shot and killed while driving along Thomas Lands. Police had said that they suspected that a drug deal might have been partly responsible for his brutal killing, but investigators are yet to make any arrests. Security guard Daniel La Rose followed shortly after. He was at his workplace, Saj Rice Group Inc in Bel Air when intruders beat him to death.
A retired police officer of Shell Road, Kitty, La Rose was apparently beaten to death during a robbery at the rice company where he had started working only three weeks before he was killed. When he was found, his shirt was pulled up exposing his chest and there was blood oozing from wounds on his head, indicating that he had been severely beaten.
The abduction and subsequent murder of Khemdat Sukhul is also among the unsolved cases. Sukhul who was taken from his Providence business place by a group of men was found clinging to life in Unity Village, Mahaica with numerous chops about his upper body about a week later. He died shortly after. Relatives had said that a $24M ransom demand was made.
Dirk Simon, a taxi driver who resided at Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo was murdered on the West Coast Berbice back in June. Up to now no one has been arrested for his killing. Reports were that Simon was at his taxi base when a call came in requesting that he make a pick-up. Simon was later found dead.
The murder of Ramrattan Singh, a rice farmer of Hyde Park, Mahaicony is also among the pile of unsolved cases. He had just withdrawn around $500,000 from a bank on Water Street when two bandits riding on a motorcycle stuck him up. He resisted the robbers who shot him in his leg and robbed him of the money. (Nigel Williams/Stabroek News)
Man dies after drunken brawl over magazine
A 58-year-old man died on Saturday night after he was allegedly hit in the head with a piece of wood by his drinking buddy with whom he had an argument over a pornographic magazine. Dead is Naipaul Narsingh called 'Katapin' of Bloomingfield, Corentyne. The alleged killer is now in police custody.
Stabroek News understands that Narsingh, a father of two, was found in a pool of blood at a farm house for which he was the caretaker and he died several hours after even though he was taken to two hospitals.
According to Robindra Persaud, with whom the man worked, he received the news of the man's injury at around 10:30 pm and he took the man to both the Port Mourant and New Amsterdam Hospitals but he was not admitted at any of the institutions and was discovered dead at around 4:30 yesterday morning.
According to Persaud another farmer known as Chandat called 'Bullet' was going down into the back dam to look at his cattle early Saturday evening and he had to pass the farm house where Narsingh stays. This newspaper understands that normally when Chandat passes the home he would call out to Narsingh and Saturday night it was no different.
When he did not receive the usual answer he decided to throw a brick onto the roof of the house but still got no response. Chandat became concerned and decided to enter the house and upon doing so he saw Narsingh lying on the floor in what appeared to be an unconscious state.
Chandat immediately retraced his steps and visited Persaud at home and informed him of what he saw and the two then decided to return to the house. This time they went with some light, since the house Narsingh was in had no electricity. With the aid of the light they were able to see that not only was Narsingh on the ground but he was also bleeding from a wound below his right ear.
A bloody piece of wood was also next to the man's body. Persaud said that Narsingh was down on the ground but he was conscious and they attempted to question him but because he was under the influence of alcohol at the time his answers were incoherent.
He said they dressed the man, since he was clad only in briefs at the time, and took him to the Port Mourant Hospital. At that institution a nurse dressed the wound and informed them that the resident doctor was away at a conference so there was no doctor to see the man.
Persaud said they then decided to take the man to the New Amsterdam Hospital but on their way they stopped at the Albion Police Station and made a report. The police officers inspected Narsingh before sending them on their way to the hospital. At the New Amsterdam hospital a nurse looked at Narsingh and again dressed his wound and told them to wait on the doctor.
When the doctor arrived he examined Narsingh and stated that he could not give the man any injection or saline because he was intoxicated. Persaud said they were given a piece of paper and told to take the man back to the hospital today.
According to Persaud they then returned to his residence where police officers were waiting and they attempted to question Narsingh who was still somewhat incoherent with his answers. They then told Persaud to keep the man until this morning when he could give a more detailed statement about what happened to him.
According to Persaud, Narsingh refused to go upstairs into his house and instead requested a pillow and a sheet and indicated that he would remain at the back of the canter truck, which was used to transport him to the hospitals, until sunlight.
That was around 3:30 and Persaud said he went upstairs and dozed off for about an hour and at around 4:30 am he woke up and called out to Narsingh but got no answer. Upon checking on the man he discovered that he had died.
Later yesterday morning the police arrested a man in the area who attempted to flee when he saw the police officers, and he reportedly confessed to beating Narsingh in the head after the argument over the magazine. He remains in custody as the police continue their investigations. (Adrian Smith /Stabroek News)
October 27, 2007
Bandit shot dead by victim
Delroy Forde
Twenty-three-year-old Delroy Forde of Laing Avenue was shot dead around noon yesterday after he robbed a couple at the corner of Robb Street and Orange Walk, Bourda.
According to reports, the bandit was shot dead by one of his victims who is also a licensed firearm holder. It was another example of the type of desperate measure that members of the public have begun to take in the face of continuing attacks of this sort.
The crowd that gathered at the scene yesterday
According to police reports a man and his wife had just withdrawn some money from the bank and were heading into Bourda market to do some shopping when Forde confronted the man's wife. A police statement said that the man's wife was confronted by Forde who held her at gunpoint.
During the confrontation, Forde was shot in his chest by the licensed firearm holder. After lying at the corner of Robb Street and Orange Walk for almost an hour Forde's body was removed and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Police said an unlicensed .32 Taurus revolver was found on Forde's body along with a matching round and one spent shell. It is still not clear if Forde managed to relieve his victim of any valuables.
Eyewitnesses told Stabroek News that Forde was seen in a confrontation with the man's wife and soon after, gunshots were heard. One eyewitness said after the shots were heard Forde was seen lying next to an egg stand bleeding from wounds about the body.
One eyewitness said it seems as if Forde grabbed something from the woman and while he was walking way he was shot by the woman's husband who quickly jumped into a grey 4x4 pick-up and left the scene.
A large crowd rapidly gathered at the scene. The licensed firearm holder who shot Forde later gave a statement to the Albberttown Police Station. The dead man's mother Wrinte Mc Phoy said her son's death came as a surprise to her. Mc Phoy said her son only had one previous brush with the law and had just spent some time in jail.
The woman told Stabroek News she was at home around 12:30 pm when she received a call from a woman who operates a stall in Bourda market. Mc Phoy said she was informed that her son attempted to rob someone and was shot.
She said when she arrived on the seen she saw her son's lifeless body on the ground being guarded by armed police ranks. According to the woman her son lived with an older sister in Laing Avenue and the sister informed her that Forde left home around 11 am yesterday.
Forde was charged in 2001 with the murder of Andrew Vanvene. Initial reports stated that the two teenagers were involved in a fight in Hadfield Street, Lodge during which Vanvene was clubbed in the head with a piece of wood by Forde.
Vanvene died some two days after the incident. Forde was charged for his murder but the charge was subsequently reduced to the lesser count of manslaughter. After spending five years in prison Forde was released. He was freed in July of last year.
Earlier this week, a gang of nine men attacked a cambio dealer in broad daylight in Subryanville and grabbed a large amount of cash. Another bandit was gunned down the previous week when he and an accomplice attempted to rob a Lamaha Gardens businessman. (Stabroek News/Jenelle Carter)
Soldier shot in Joint Services operation
Army Chief-of-Staff Commodore Gary Best visiting the shot soldier yesterday.
Private Leon Hughes, from Belladrum, West Coast Berbice, was shot in his left chest in the region of the arm pit, the Army said. He was taken to the New Amsterdam Hospital where he underwent surgery and was yesterday reported stable.
Army Chief-of-Staff Commodore Gary Best visited the shot soldier yesterday. Police said the incident occurred around 23:00h Thursday and four men were arrested. Police said they also seized an unlicensed 9mm pistol and 15 matching rounds and a car.
According to Police, Army and Police ranks were on joint operations when they saw three men leave a car which then drove off. Police said Hughes was shot after the patrol challenged the three men who began shooting at the Joint Services ranks. The driver of the car was later arrested. (Guyana Cronicle/Photo, courtesy GDF)
Razac murder case… Arrest warrant withdrawn for late PI witness
The Preliminary Inquiry (PI) into the murder charge against beauty queen Carol Ann Lynch continued before Magistrate Gordon Gilhuys yesterday afternoon, following a morning adjournment because the Special Prosecutor and a witness were absent.
The 33-year-old accused is charged with unlawfully killing her husband, former Swiss House Cambio boss, Farouk Razac, last May 7, in their Lot 107 Ireng Place, Bel Air Park, Georgetown home. Although the magistrate was on the Bench for the 09:00 h start, he did not proceed in the absence of attorney-at-law Mr. Hukumchand and Lynch’s neighbour, David Falconer, who was due to testify again.
One of the Defence Counsel, Mr. Mark Waldron remarked, critically, on the non-attendance or lateness of the Prosecutor and his witness and suggested the charge be dismissed if the other side was not ready. But the case was put down for 13:30 h and, on the resumption at that time, Magistrate Gilhuys informed Hukumchand that the Court was prepared to move forward without him being present earlier in the day.
Magistrate Gilhuys also enquired why no one from the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) nor any witness had been there at 09:00 h. Hukumchand said he was under the impression that the continuation was slated for 10:30 h and he was in the High Court until 10:25 h when a judge stopped an adjudication to facilitate him attending the Magistrate’s Court.
Following that explanation, Falconer, for whom an arrest warrant had been issued, was further cross-examined by other Defence Counsel Roger Yearwood, after the magistrate recalled the authority to apprehend the witness. Falconer explained that he was unaware of the yesterday date until told by Hukumchand and the magistrate admonished Falconer to listen more carefully to Court pronouncements in the future. The pre-trial proceedings will resume on Monday. (Guyana Cronicle)
Cops intercept suitcases with guns, grenades at airport Three held
Intercepted: the grenades, guns, ammunition and marijuana found in the suitcases.
Members of the police Narcotics Branch and Special Constabulary on duty at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport yesterday intercepted two suitcases with compressed cannabis (marijuana), guns, ammunition, grenades and detonators.
The suitcases were found in the outgoing area while a flight for Barbados and Antigua was being processed around mid-day, police said.
Inside were 14 parcels of compressed cannabis (marijuana) with a total weight of 38 kgs 636 grams; three .38 revolvers; 55 rounds .38 ammunition; 2 rounds .357 ammunition; 2 fragmentation grenades; and 2 detonators. Two men and a woman were arrested, police said. (Guyana Cronicle/Photo, courtesy Police Force)
October 26, 2007
Soldier accused of murder cries
MURDER ACCUSED: Lerone Garcia
Lerone Garcia, 26, of Lot 669 East Ruimveldt Georgetown, cried incessantly when he appeared before Magistrate Priya Beharry, at Providence Court yesterday, charged with the murder of Guyana Defence Force (GDF) reservist Gordon Sayers.
Police said the murder was committed at Camp Stephenson, Timehri, also on East Bank Demerara, where Sayers, 53, was found dead in a barrack room on October 20.
Police Inspector Lloyd Thomas, prosecuting, said the reservist was stationed at Camp Ayanganna as an engineer and he and other ranks were travelling to Tacama, Berbice River, when their lorry developed mechanical problems about 17:00 h.
The Prosecutor said they were all forced to stay at Camp Stephenson where Sayers went into the barrack room and started playing loud music which annoyed Garcia. The noise caused an argument and Garcia picked up a piece of iron and hit Sayers in his head, causing him to die, police allege.
Attorney-at-law Mr. Ronald Burch-Smith, representing Garcia, asked for an early hearing and the magistrate, indicating that she must give the Prosecution adequate time to prepare, adjourned the case to November 19. The accused was remanded to prison until then. (Guyana Cronicle)
Four years for trying to throw ganja into prison compound
A man who admitted trying to throw over 500 grammes of ganja into the prison compound was yesterday sentenced to four years in prison by Magistrate Hazel Octive-Hamilton.
Dave Anand pleaded guilty to possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking when he appeared at Court Five at the Georgetown Magistrate's Court.
On October 21 at Georgetown he had 575 grammes of cannabis in his possession. According to the facts of the case, Anand was seen on Bent Street acting in a suspicious manner by ranks of the Guyana Police Force and Guyana Prison Service. He was apprehended by the prison ranks after he attempted to throw the narcotics into the prison compound.
Anand asked the magistrate to be lenient with him. The magistrate sentenced him to four years and also fined him $120,000. (Stabroek News)
October 24, 2007
Calls mount for:
ALL OUT TRAFFIC CLAMPDOWN
Among steps proposed at a meeting called by Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee in the wake of the mounting deaths on the roads are:
** Ban ‘boom-boom’ music in mini-buses
** Ban mag-rims on mini-buses
** Zero-tolerance for drinking and driving
** More radar guns on the roads
** Consider banning the mini-bus as public transportation
** Remove those selling alcoholic beverages at bus parks, pavements
** Make speeding and reckless driving non-bailable offences
** Reduce the tariff on tyres to avoid importation of used tyres
Mr. Rohee assured the proposals will be considered, further discussed and said those agreed on will be urgently implemented where necessary by the Police Force. Among those at the meeting at the Home Affairs Ministry on Brickdam, summoned in the wake of three horrific road accidents which left 24 persons dead in the last 13 days, were representatives of several mini-bus and hire car associations.
Acting Police Commissioner Mr. Henry Greene making a point during yesterday’s traffic stakeholders meeting at the Ministry of Home Affairs. In photo are Minister Clement Rohee (third from right), Minister Robeson Benn (right), Director in the Foreign Affairs Ministry Ambassador Elizabeth Harper and senior officers of the Police Force (left).
Acting Police Commissioner Mr. Henry Greene, Acting Traffic Chief Mr. Neil Semple and other divisional heads within the force were also there. Rohee told those packed in the conference room in the ministry that many of the recommendations put up were made before, some were acted on, some are still in transition and there has been no action on others. He, however, declared that now is the time to move beyond mere declarations to “action”.
Have heard too many declaratory statements already; we have to move beyond that. I don’t think we have a shortage of recommendations in dealing with these issues (but) we have got to move beyond these declarations of good intentions, to determine what specifically can we do to deal with some of these issues,” he declared.
Commissioner Greene appealed to drivers to take cognizance of the carnage they are creating on the roadways. He also lamented the fact that the same citizens who sometimes call for stiffer measures and penalties to be implemented and enforced against errant drivers, also often show no support for those measures when these are actually implemented.
Some of the stakeholders at yesterday’s meeting at the Home Affairs Ministry
Hope this attitude will change because we will be going full out to ensure some level of enforcement and respectability on the roads and we hope we get the support from the public because road safety is everybody’s business,” Greene declared. He warned that the Police Force and its Traffic Department will be going “all out” in its clampdown, and errant drivers and traffic offenders will be dealt with condignly. (Mark Ramotar/Guyana Cronicle).......more.......>
October 23, 2007
Charges likely in missing aircraft case
Police are likely to charge three of the five persons detained in the probe into the small aircraft reported missing earlier this month from an airstrip on the Essequibo Coast, a source said yesterday.
Four of the five have been released on cash bail, while one, who voluntarily went to the police accompanied by a lawyer, was up to mid-morning yesterday still in custody, the source said. Police said the Piper Senca aircraft was reported missing from the Anna Regina airstrip between October 13 and 15.
According to the source, the investigators are still interested in questioning a foreigner with close links to Fenix Airways Inc. which still owes Air Services Limited (ASL) for the Piper Seneca aircraft that has been reported missing. The man was a frequent visitor at the Ogle office of Fenix Airways before the plane disappeared but has not been seen since, the source said.
Investigators believe the man had been using a Guyana travel document which may have been fraudulently obtained. Fenix Airways Inc. operates from an office it rents in the ASL hangar at Ogle, East Coast Demerara and the real owners may be a Brazilian and a Venezuelan.
A senior ASL official told the Guyana Chronicle the company entered into an agreement of sale for the aircraft with Fenix Airways early last month, but documentation for the aircraft remains in the name of ASL, as the financial deal between the two companies is not complete. However, he said, Fenix Airways has full control of the aircraft and its operations.
Police said the pilot who last week Monday last reported the aircraft missing, claimed he had parked and secured it on the airstrip after landing there with his wife, two children and another passenger aboard the day before. He told police he then travelled with his family to Supenaam, several miles from the town of Anna Regina, where they stayed. (Guyana Cronicle)
GDF soldiers detained over murder of reservist
The police have detained five junior ranks of the Guyana Defence Force as investigations into the murder of reservist Gordon Sayers, 53, at Camp Stephenson, Timehri, on Sunday continue. Sayers’ body, bearing marks of violence to the head, was discovered around 01:30 h Sunday in a barrack room at the Timehri base.
A post mortem examination on the body yesterday by Government pathologist Dr Nehaul Singh, found the cause of death to be cerebral haemorrhage due to blunt trauma to head, police said. Sayers worked as a technician attached to the Signals Corps but spent most of his time, even when off duty, at the Camp Ayangana barracks, according to an army official. The Army is making every effort to locate a next of kin, the Guyana Chronicle was told. (Guyana Cronicle)
DEADLY ACCIDENTS
Divisional traffic heads meet today,.........
new traffic measures to be announced
Divisional Traffic Heads meet today to discuss ways of intensifying the fight against “traffic lawlessness”, following three road accidents which left 24 persons dead in the last 12 days.
The Guyana Police Force (GPF) yesterday reiterated that its efforts at enforcement will continue and after the Traffic Heads meeting, will be announcing several additional methods to be implemented to curb fatalities and accidents on the roadways. The force is also calling on members of the public for support.
&The public should not be wary of cautioning speeding drivers of minibuses and other public transportation; it should not be wary of reporting traffic breaches by drivers and conductors of public transportation; it should not be wary of reporting drivers whose licences they know have been suspended and are seen driving, or persons seen driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs; threats or eviction from minibuses should be reported and condign action will be taken against those concerned,” the GPF stated.
&Accidents continue to be of concern to the Police Force as they take lives, and cause injury and damage to property. The economical cost is astronomical.” According to Police Headquarters, it is anticipated that there will be a meeting of owners and drivers of public transportation, and two special seminars will be run for minibus drivers and hire car drivers.
The GPF said a review of the causes of recent motor vehicle accidents has found that in three of the accidents, which claimed a total of 18 lives, “it is clear that the drivers were exceeding the speed limits authorised in law just prior to their demise.”
The Force noted that in the last two instances the drivers died, “adverting to the fact that they had lost control of the motor vehicle as in most cases drivers tend to drive in a self-preserving manner which, more often than not, results in other occupants being injured or killed.”
In the accident at Liliendaal on the East Coast Demerara Sunday, in which six persons died, the Police said there were a number of ranks on traffic duty at Ogle where the driver would have passed just prior to the accident.
The GPF added that in the last accident at Brickery, East Bank Demerara, which is still under investigation, and in which two persons died, the driver of the minibus was unlicensed and “it is not clear how he came in possession of the vehicle.” It is alleged that he was at some social engagement prior to the accident, the Police noted.
The Force said of recent the traffic division improved its operations with regards to speeding by introducing speed radars in various divisions. More radars have been acquired and have now been put in use in the fight against speeding, the Force said.
It also appealed to drivers and conductors of public transportation “to slow down and save lives and limbs; you are also asked to comply with the laws of this country and help to make it safe for all.” (Guyana Cronicle)
October 22, 2007
SIX DEAD
Horror strikes the road 11 days after Linden tragic 10 in Rupert Craig horrible car smash-up
Husband and pregnant wife; his two sisters......
two school-girls and security guard
Sis persons, including an eight-month pregnant woman and two school-girls, had their lives snuffed out in yet another horrific and gruesome road accident yesterday, this time on the Rupert Craig Highway, East Coast Demerara.The pregnant woman along with four other occupants of motor-car, PGG 7348, were all killed instantly when the driver of the vehicle apparently lost control and crashed into a concrete fence and the guard hut of an apartment complex, resulting in the death of the security guard stationed there.
Those dead are Fameeda Bacchus, 24, called ‘Fammy,’ eight months into pregnancy; her reputed husband, Anil Singh, 27, (the driver of the ill-fated vehicle) and his sister, Renika Singh, 25, all of ‘M’ 2 Philopio, Ogle Front, and Block ‘CC’ Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara.Also killed in the accident are 12-year-old Alicia Samaroo, known as ‘Stacy’, of Lot 550 Block 8, Mon Repos, a former student of Annandale Secondary school; and her 11-year-old cousin, Shreeza Pooran, of Lot 444 Block 8, Mon Repos, and former student of Mon Repos Primary school – both of whom were in the rear seat of the car.
Security guard, Mr. Nandram ‘Errol’ Ramgopaul, 57, of Lot 13 Victoria Road, Plaisance, who was employed for the past seven years as a guard at Shivraj’s Oceanic Villas located at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara, died a few hours later at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).
The bodies of the five victims who were traveling in the car at scene of the gruesome accident yesterday on the Rupert Craig Highway
Police, in a statement, said investigations revealed that Singh was driving motor car PGG 7348 west along the southern carriageway of the road “at a fast rate of speed” when he lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a concrete fence and the guard hut of the Oceanic Villas.
As a result of the impact, Singh along with his wife Fameeda, who was in an advanced state of pregnancy; his sister Renika, and two other female relatives – schoolgirls Alicia and Shreeza - “suffered injuries to which they succumbed”.
Police also confirmed that Ramgopaul, who was on-duty as a security guard at the Oceanic Villas at the time of the accident, received injuries when the car slammed into the guard hut he was stationed in around 11:50 h. Ramgopaul was rushed to the GPHC where he later died while receiving medical treatment.
In the wake of yesterday’s tragic accident, which occurred less than two weeks since the shocking Linden carnage when 10 persons were killed after a mini-bus slammed into a parked truck laden with logs, the Guyana Police Force has once again renewed its appeal to drivers of motor vehicles to refrain from speeding on the roadways.
The Police Force is also urging occupants/passengers of motor vehicles to call on drivers to desist from speeding when they are observed to be doing so. Mother of the pregnant woman, 51-year-old Mrs. Bibi Bacchus, wept inconsolably at the Lyken’s Funeral Parlor yesterday afternoon where the bodies were taken after the accident.
She was allowed to identify her daughter’s body and upon coming out of the parlor, continuously begged God to take her life. “How am I gonna live without my daughter…my only daughter?” she lamented. According to family members on the scene, Bacchus was eight months pregnant and was a former teacher of Apex Education – a private school on the East Coast Demerara.
Her reputed husband, relatives said, was a mechanic by profession and was at the time of the accident - the driver of the ill-fated car. This newspaper learnt that the family was on a journey to Parika, East Bank Essequibo when tragedy struck minutes after leaving their Mon Repos home on the East Coast. According to an eyewitness, the driver was “speeding” when the car apparently developed a mechanical problem and as a result he lost control of the vehicle.
One irate eyewitness declared: “Majority of the accidents are due to speeding, I am positive when he got that blow out, he could have controlled that car and avoid the death of himself and family, but it is the speed he was going at that resulted in this. This should now open the eyes of all those who like to speed, especially those bus drivers.”
Reports indicated that when the vehicle made contact with the concrete fence, the impact sent it some 10 to 15 feet in the air, in the process ‘taking-down the sign board’ of the apartment complex and pitching three of the passengers out of the vehicle. All five passengers including the pregnant wife of the driver, died instantly after the car collided into the fence.
When this newspaper arrived on the scene, the mangled remains of the Toyota car suggested that it was virtually impossible for anyone to have survived a crash of that nature.
The vehicle parts, including the engine, were seen scattered along different sections of the roadway. The engine and gear box were dislodged completely from the car upon the impact.
Acting Police Commissioner Mr. Henry Greene, who was at the scene of the accident noted that another disturbing road accident has struck due to a lack of caution and common sense.
Security of life begins with you, especially when there are other people’s lives involved. Common sense and cautiousness should always be exercised when driving, this we have been talking about all the time and people still continue to speed,” Greene chided.
This should be sent out as a message about speeding, we still have to keep working on this,” he emphasised. Greene declared that the total number of road accidents for the month is indeed sad and unfortunate, but that it is a reality.
Meanwhile, the large crowd that gathered on the scene of the accident expressed their concern about the previous accident in Linden which resulted in ten innocent persons meeting their unfortunate death, and adding to that another six yesterday. They all agreed that if something is not done about speeding and cautiousness on the roadways, then road accidents will be the number one cause of death in Guyana.
This is indeed sad, we recently experienced a horrific accident in Linden and now another one on the East Coast, it seems as if death is travelling on all the roadways of the country. It is now us that have to be extremely cautious when driving because everything now is a road accident. The police should really intensify their campaign on speeding,” noted a concerned citizen.
“Security of life begins with you, especially when there are other people’s lives involved. Common sense and cautiousness should always be exercised when driving. This we have been talking about all the time and people still continue to speed.” “This should be sent out as a message about speeding, we still have to keep working on this,” Acting Police Commissioner Henry Greene
Just over a week ago, ten persons were killed in an appalling smash up in Linden. Residents there had indicated that the minibus was speeding when it slammed into the parked truck, ending in perhaps the most tragic accident ever in Linden. The bus was ferrying passengers on the internal route between Mackenzie and Amelia’s Ward when tragedy struck.
Witnesses said the bus was going up the Amelia’s Ward Hill and when it was close to the top, the driver apparently attempted to overtake two other vehicles but was caught in the glare of the headlamps from a vehicle coming in the opposite direction and swerved to avoid a collision. He quickly pulled back into his lane and the bus slammed into the back of the parked truck laden with logs, killing at least four persons instantly.
Those that died in the Linden smash up are; Paul Lewis, Tyrese McClean, Carl McCalmont, Delroy Mitchell, Elaine Evelyn Lashley, Carl Austin, Colleen Bacchus, Karen Evelyn 'Lyn' Adams, Lorraine McCurdy and Florence Cummings. (Nathalene DeFreitas and Telesha Persaud/Guyana Cronicle)
Soldier found dead at base with violence marks
Police
A 53-year-old soldier was early yesterday morning found dead in a barrack room at Camp Stephenson, Timehri with what police said were marks of violence to his head.
The dead man, Gordon Sayers, 53, lived at army Headquarters, Camp Ayanganna, Thomas Lands. Officials at Ayanganna said that most of the reservist soldier's relatives live overseas. Stabroek News was unable to make contact with his relatives.
In a press release issued yesterday afternoon the police said that they are investigating the suspected murder of Sayers whose body was found about 1:30 am yesterday in a barrack room at Camp Stephenson, Timehri, with marks of violence to his head. The army would only say that Sayers was discovered dead in a barrack accommodation at Camp Stephenson yesterday morning.
According to the army, initial investigations conducted by the GDF revealed that at approximately 1 am yesterday one of the security personnel at the base discovered the soldier lying on the floor of the barrack accommodation, with a wound at the top of his head. The army said that police have since been called in and are conducting their own investigations.
Questioned about the incident yesterday a senior army officer who spoke to this newspaper on the condition of anonymity said that no one has been arrested so far but those persons who were around at the time when Sayers was found dead have been interviewed by the police.
Stabroek News was told that Sayers who was stationed at Ayanganna was among a group of soldiers heading to Tacama, another army base located in the Berbice River. According to reports while on their way the men's vehicle developed some mechanical problems and as such they were forced to lodge at Camp Stephenson, Timehri on Saturday night.
Stabroek News was told that blood stains were found on the frame of the upper bunk of a bed in the barrack room in which Sayers was found dead. Investigators also recovered a bottle containing an alcoholic liquid at the scene. Stabroek News was told that Sayers, who was hypertensive, had only recently visited the hospital.
Last year April, two soldiers were charged with the death of GDF Officer Cadet Amar Rajcumar who was at the time undergoing training at Camp Stephenson, Timehri. Christopher Harmon, 29, of 309 Parfait/Harmonie, West Bank Demerara and Kurt Trotman, 30, of 541 Section A, Block 10, South Sophia were charged with murdering the soldier.
Reports were that Rajcumar who had joined the GDF a mere nine days prior to his death, collapsed after a training session. A post-mortem examination later found among other things that he died from a blow to the head. A camp in a southern part of the country was also burnt down after a feud between two soldiers and there have been other cases where soldiers have died via suicide or suspicious circumstances.
Earlier this year an army training officer was dismissed after he allegedly abused recruits while they were undergoing training at Tacama. One of the recruits was a pregnant female. In a press statement two weeks after the recruits walked off the base the GDF said that investigation had confirmed instances of excessive punishment administered by over-enthusiastic training instructors.
Stating that it was committed to providing a secure and safe environment for high intensity training for recruits, Officer Cadets and members of the Force at Tacama and its other training facilities, the GDF stressed that such training will be conducted in consonance with established and time tested training guidelines.
It warned that instructors who are not in compliance with the training standards will continue to be condignly dealt with. Stabroek News was told that the recruits complained about being physically and verbally abused by their instructors. One of the recruits had said that he was beaten while the others said that they were slapped and suffered other forms of physical abuse. (Nigel Williams/Stabroek News)
October 20, 2007
Campbellville bakery bandit shot
Police at the scene of the Campbellville bakery robbery yesterday
One of three men involved in a robbery, at a Campbellville, Georgetown bakery, was shot by Police, another arrested and a third escaped early yesterday morning.
Police said Sherwin Devonish, called `Black Chinee’, 21, of Norton Street, Lodge, also in the city, was shot when he was confronted in an abandoned building near Nedd’s Uplift Bakery, minutes after the place had been robbed.
Devonish underwent surgery, for gunshot wounds to both legs, immediately on arrival at Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) and was under armed guard at the institution where his condition is reported as stable.
Mrs. Parbattie `Babsie’ Nedd, 67, proprietor of the Garnett and Middleton Streets bakery, said the shot man was an employee of hers. Recounting her harrowing experience that left her shaken and bleeding from the nose and mouth, she said it began around 06:30 h.
Nedd said Devonish used his access to her home to allow accomplices into the business place and, after locking the door to it, grabbed her by the neck and manhandled her. She said he threw her to the floor and one of the other two men, armed with a gun, pointed it to her head and demanded that she take them to the upper flat of the building for money and jewellery.
One man was then left guarding her while the other two tried to get into the upper flat. The woman said the heist was aborted, at that stage, after a female employee who was present unknown to the trio, ran through a rear entrance and alerted her son next door. Nedd said the men, becoming aware of people responding to the alarm, fled.
But the man who was guarding her was apprehended by relatives and public-spirited persons while fleeing and held until Police arrived. The third bandit with the gun was still being sought at press time. Police said it was significant to note that the robbery was carried out with the involvement of an employee of the establishment, who apparently gained employment there specifically to arrange the robbery. (Guyana Cronicle)
'Backtrack' back in business After visiting the ports for the Corentyne` backtrack' (illegal migration) crossing to Suriname in vain for almost two weeks, passengers were finally able to get back to their destinations as the service resumed at around 2 pm yesterday.
Suriname authorities had imposed a ban on the semi-legal border crossing with Guyana which facilitates mostly small-scale traders following a dispute between boat operators from the Dutch-speaking country.
Stabroek News learnt that since the closure many persons kept turning up at the landings with the hope of crossing. Local boat owners said they received a call from persons in Suriname that it was ok for them to resume operations.
A dispute among the boat owners forced the authorities in Suriname to close the service on October 4. Five days later it was reopened after the dispute was apparently settled. But the next day a fight erupted among the operators and forced another closure of the service.
This caused the small-scale traders to be seriously affected. Some traders who were "desperate to make a hustle" took the chance to traverse the water at nights. But not all of them got away with it as local police who were patrolling the waterways pulled in a few boats and seized their "goods."
One groceries vendor told this newspaper that even though most of her items were finished, she would not take the chance to travel at nights since it was "dangerous because they don't see where they going and end up in the sandbanks." She said the shortage of a lot of items that are usually bought in Suriname has resulted in persons "hiking" the prices for the little that they have. She feels that if the border is opened the prices would drop.
But she admits that she is still not too confident that the service would remain open for long and said she "would just wait and see..."
But as much as her business is affected, she would not consider using the ferry service. "To use the launch is dead business because you cannot bring what you want to bring and you have to spend three days to shop and get back home. With the speedboat you can go in half day and come back in time to sell," the woman said.
According to her, persons who change money at the landings are also suffering and continue to visit the landings everyday to see if the port was opened.
Boat owner of Aunty Landing, Fezal Mursaline, who runs the service with his parents, was also relieved when he received the news that he could start transporting passengers again. Mursaline said he also learnt that he and the two other local operators would have to attend a meeting with officials in Suriname to "sign up documents."
He had told this newspaper that the disruption of the service would seriously affect the trade between the two countries. Apart from people importing items from Suriname, he said a lot of local products were being exported to that country through this route.
Closing it, he said, would result in a loss of revenue for both countries. According to Mursaline, a customs officer is present at the three landings to inspect goods that are being imported and the necessary duties are charged. The illegal crossing has been in existence for many years and regular travellers prefer to use the faster backtrack route instead of the official border crossing at the ferry terminal at South-Drain/Moleson Creek, since it is much cheaper.
A passenger pays $1500 to travel either way. In order to regulate the backtrack route the authorities in Suriname recently began registering boat operators and laid down minimum safety standards for the vessels. This followed a river mishap in the Corentyne River last year, when two Guyanese women drowned after the propeller of the boat they were travelling in got entangled in a fishing seine and sank.
Guyanese operators are only allowed to transport passengers to Nickerie, but they cannot solicit passengers coming to Guyana. The same system applies for the Surinamese operators who will only transport passengers to Guyana and then leave. (Shabna Ullah/Stabroek News)
Missing small aircraft: Two detainees released on bailTwo habeas corpus applications in the High Court has led to Yacoob Mazaharally and Gladimir Vanzo being released on bail after being detained by Police investigating the disappearance of a small aircraft from an Essequibo airstrip.
The complainants had to each lodge $500,000 surety with the Police, after Court orders, to produce them, were directed to the Commissioner.
Attorney-at-law Mr. Glen Hanoman had approached the judge on behalf of Mazaharally Wednesday, two days after he was taken into custody when he went to Anna Regina Police station to report the plane missing.
Vanzo was represented by Mr. Anil Nandlall and both detainees were eventually freed from Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters, Eve Leary, Georgetown, Mazaharally on Wednesday and Vanzo yesterday, following which the Court actions were withdrawn.
Mazaharally’s brother had moved on his behalf while the affidavit for Vanzo was sworn to by his wife, Indranie Vanzo. The woman said her husband is the owner of guest house on Regent Street, also in the city and a majority shareholder of Fenix Aviation Inc, which owns the small plane at the centre of the probe. Mazaharally and Vanzo were among the persons held by Police probing the mysterious disappearance of the Piper Seneca with red stripes and the marking 8RGAA on the tail.
The aircraft had left Ogle, East Coast Demerara, last Sunday morning and was parked at Anna Regina, Essequibo Coast, where it landed, before disappearing from there. (Guyana Cronicle)
October 19, 2007
U.S. commander warns of Latin America terrorist threat
SAO PAULO, (Reuters) - Islamic terrorist groups have networks in Latin America and the Caribbean and could use the region as a base to launch attacks on the United States, the senior U.S. military commander for the region says.
"For sure, members, facilitators, and sympathizers of Islamic terrorist organizations are present in our hemisphere," Adm. Jim Stavridis, head of the U.S. Southern Command, wrote in an article in the fall edition of Americas Quarterly journal, obtained by Reuters before publication.
"We consider Latin America and the Caribbean as being highly likely bases for future terrorist threats to the U.S. and others."
U.S. officials have warned of a militant presence in Latin America since the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the United States. They have provided little concrete evidence and Brazil, which has a large Arab population, and some other regional governments have played down the threat.
But Stavridis was reiterating U.S. concerns after police said in June they had foiled a plot to sabotage New York's John F. Kennedy airport by suspects linked to the Caribbean. The Lebanon-based Hezbollah was the most prominent group in Latin America, Stavridis said. Most of its activity appeared to be fund-raising but "there are indications of an operational presence and the potential for attacks."
A multi-national task force has been set up in the so-called tri-border where Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay meet, an area reputed to be a hotbed of money-laundering and smuggling. The head of border controls for Brazil's Federal Police disagreed with the admiral's contention. "If I were a terrorist I'd launch an attack from England. Latinos face 10 times the controls that Europeans do at U.S. borders," Mauro Sposito said in an interview.
Brazilian authorities had no indication of terrorist cells in the tri-border region, he said, although they were aware of financial contributions to groups such as Hezbollah, which Brazil does not classify as a terrorist organization. "They legally send money through Paraguay to the Hezbollah - it's a political party," Sposito said.
A senior justice ministry official, Pedro Abramovay, said the United States had not informed Brazil of any concrete case of suspected terrorist cells. (Guyana Cronicle)
October 18, 2007
Drug trade suspected in disappearance of plane
With no sign of the Air Services Limited plane which vanished from the Essequibo coast on Sunday, one senior police officer says that the disappearance may have been the work of drug dealers.
General Manager of Air Services, Fazel Khan is adamant that the plane is not in Guyana, but he refused to speculate as to the motive behind the disappearance.
Speaking to Stabroek News on the condition of anonymity a senior police officer said that there could hardly be any other motive for the disappearance of the plane other than to transport drugs between Guyana and one of the neighbouring countries. Stabroek News was told that local authorities have contacted their counterparts in Venezuela, Brazil and Suriname about the missing plane.
It is widely believed that drug dealers from neighbouring Brazil and Venezuela have routinely dropped off cocaine in Guyana's large and unpatrolled forests. Georgetown is seen as a trans-shipment point for cocaine going to North America and the US over the years has blasted the government here for not doing enough to tackle the scourge.
Meanwhile, the five persons held in connection with the disappearance of the aircraft remained in police custody yesterday and their lawyer, Anil Nandlall has threatened to take court action today to have them released.
Nandlall told Stabroek News that he made repeated pleas to the police yesterday and the day before for the release of his client but the lawmen held firm. "They are not breaking anything and I don't know why they continue to hold on to the people," Nandlall said to Stabroek News. He believes that his clients, one a Brazilian who is a naturalized citizen and three Guyanese have done nothing wrong and instead of them being treated as the victims they are now being accused.
Police held the Brazilian who is one of the directors of Fenix Airways Inc, the company which bought the plane from Air Services Limited, but has not paid off in full, on Tuesday when he and Nandlall visited CID, headquarters, Eve Leary.
Also arrested were two brothers and one of the men's wives. A fifth man is also being held at the Brickdam Police Station.
When contacted by this newspaper late yesterday afternoon Nandlall said that the police have ignored his pleas and as such he was approaching the court with a habeas corpus writ to have them released. "I am preparing it right now so that tomorrow morning (today) I can file it," Nandlall declared. Asked for an update on their investigation a senior police source said that the plane was still missing. The source said that they were questioning the five persons in an effort to "get to the bottom of the story"
Stabroek News was told by a source close to the investigation that there appears to be something amiss. According to a police press release issued on Monday the blue and white Piper Seneca aircraft with red stripes and marking, 8RGAA on the tail disappeared from the airstrip between 8 am on Sunday and 7 am on Monday.
Air Services had sold the plane to Fenix Airways Inc about a month ago, but the company did not pay in full and as such the registration of the aircraft has remained with it pending full payment. Khan told Stabroek News on Tuesday that the aircraft departed the Air Services hangar at Ogle on Sunday with a flight plan to land at Anna Regina. There is speculation that if the aircraft was stolen it may be in the hands of drug dealers operating between Guyana and Venezuela.
Residents had told this newspaper on Monday that they had seen the aircraft circling before touching down on Sunday. According to them, they saw what appeared to be persons refuelling the plane before it took off once again. The Anna Regina airstrip is an open field and is not usually used for commercial flights as those flights normally utilize the Hampton Court airstrip. The airstrip is also surrounded by bush and is not visible from the road.
Nandlall said that one of the pilots of Fenix Airways travelled to Essequibo on Sunday to take his family. The pilot left the aircraft on the airfield to escort his family to the home of a relative and by the time he returned the plane had vanished. It is not the first time that a local aircraft has vanished while in Guyana. Several years ago an aircraft was stolen from an airstrip in the North West district. It was later found in Colombia. (Nigel Williams/Stabroek News/photos webred.)
Police looking for two more personsPolice were yesterday looking for two more persons in their probe into the reported disappearance of a small aircraft from the Anna Regina airstrip on the Essequibo Coast.
The blue and white Piper Seneca aircraft with red stripes and marking 8RGAA on the tail was reported missing from the landing strip Monday morning.
A source said investigators want to question a Guyanese and a Brazilian with links to Fenix Airways Inc. One of them, a senior employee, reportedly functioned as the dispatcher when the plane left Ogle at about 06:30h Sunday with the pilot, his wife and two children and another passenger aboard.
The pilot and his wife are among four persons the Police detained Tuesday to assist them with the investigations. They were still in custody in Georgetown up to late yesterday afternoon. Fenix Airways Inc. and not Phoenix Aviation Limited as was previously reported by this newspaper, operates from an office it rents in the ASL (Air Services Limited) hangars at Ogle, East Coast Demerara. And according to the source, the real owners may be a Brazilian and a Venezuelan.
A senior ASL official told the Guyana Chronicle the company entered into an agreement of sale for the aircraft with Fenix Airways early last month. However, because the payment was not completed, documentation shows that the aircraft is still owned by ASL. It is Fenix Airways which has full control of the aircraft and its operations, the ASL official added.
Police said the pilot had informed them on Monday that after landing at the Anna Regina airstrip early Sunday morning, he parked the plane and left with his family for home, some miles away from the town. He said the aircraft was not there when he returned Monday morning. The airstrip is about four miles aback of the town and is lined by huge bushes on both sides. A derelict building nearby had served as the booking office.
According to residents of the town, although the airstrip is seldom used by aviation officials who prefer the Kayman Sankar hangar at Hampton Court, strange small aircraft are frequently seen landing there or hovering around the area. (Stabroek News/photo: webred.)
October 17, 2007
Special prosecutor in Farouk Razac murder PI....
threatens to give up case
Tempers flared last Friday while a time was being set for the continuation of the Farouk Razac murder PI this week and ended with special prosecutor Hukumchand threatening to give up the case in which beauty queen Carolan Lynch is accused of her husband's murder, saying that his schedule was not taken into consideration when a High Court judge ordered that the case be heard whenever that court sits.
Last Friday the matter, which is being heard by Magistrate Gordon Gilhuys, was fixed for woman Detective Corporal Lillian Scotland to resume her testimony. However she did not get far after the issue of the toxicology report on the samples taken of Razac came up.
It was at this point that Hukumchand asked the court for Thursday to provide an explanation as to why the report was not ready. Attorney-at-law Nigel Hughes then asked if he could begin his cross-examination of the witness but the magistrate indicated that he would prefer if Scotland completes her testimony.
The prosecution asked the court for the matter to be set for 1:30 pm that day because he had other matters to tend to. It was however at this point that Lynch's lawyers Nigel Hughes and Roger Yearwood openly voiced their concerns about the matter being heard then instead of in the morning.
Hughes said that the court must abide by the order made by the High Court, that is, having Lynch in court on every occasion. The counsel then asked for the case to be called during the morning session on the next date that would be set.
Hukumchand said that the court must take into account that he has other matters before the court. "I have engagements in other courts. I can only come in the afternoon," he added. He later said that he was going to hand back the entire case to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) so that someone could be found to replace him.
Hughes asked the court to make an order saying that Hukumchand could be giving back the brief and added that the DPP would have more than enough time to find another prosecutor. Magistrate Gilhuys later announced that the matter would be adjourned to 9 am tomorrow. Razac, the Swiss House Cambio boss was found dead back in May sprawled on the floor of his Ireng Place, Bel Air home. 3 (Stabroek News)
Morgan's lawyer in plea bargain talks on drug charges
Court documents
A lawyer for Guyanese businessman Peter Morgan, who pleaded not guilty to three drug charges in New York and was remanded to prison last month, is in plea bargain negotiations with the prosecution, court documents have said.
Morgan was expected to return to court on October 10. However when the matter was called Judge Edward Korman said that the court having been advised by counsel, in writing, of ongoing plea negotiations, and the counsel having sought an adjournment for the purpose of conducting such negotiations, the application was granted.
According to the judge "because the purpose of the delay is to allow discussions to take place that could eliminate the necessity for a trial, I find that the considerations underlying the Speedy Trial Act are outweighed by the interests of justice and the time is excluded."
Morgan, who was extradited on August 23 from Trinidad is represented by attorney-at-law Chris Mancini. He was extradited after he withdrew the last-ditch appeal he had made in the Port of Spain Appellate Court challenging the order for his extradition to face drug charge
Morgan had initially attempted to have the extradition order made by Trinidad Chief Magistrate Sherman McNicolls on April 30, reversed. His lawyers had appealed but it was dismissed in the High Court and then a new appeal was filed.
Trinidad and Tobago High Court Judge Gregory Smith, in dismissing the first challenge to the extradition order had said the four complaints raised by Morgan were without merit. He had then ordered Morgan to bear the legal costs incurred by the state in defending the action. Morgan, 46, of Oleander Gardens, Georgetown, was given permission to appeal this decision and he took it up.
The drug suspect was arrested at the Piarco International Airport on March 9 while in-transit to Guyana. Trinidad police executed a provisional warrant for his arrest on conspiracy charges to smuggle illegal drugs into New York. He had been denied bail since his arrest.
According to one of the charges, sometime between October 1, 2001 and August 31, 2003, Morgan knowingly and intentionally conspired with David Narine, Susan Narine, Hung-Fung Mar and other persons unknown, to traffic in cocaine by importation. The second charge alleges that sometime between December 1, 2001 and August 31, 2003, he trafficked in cocaine by importation. He faces jail terms of ten years to life imprisonment if convicted.
West had also disclosed that between 2001 and 2003, Morgan was suspected of supplying between 15 and 100 kilogrammes of cocaine to Trinidad, St Martin, Barbados, Canada and the United States. (Stabroek News)
October 15, 2007
'I should have Donna Herod report first'
Police complaints head
Donna Herod
Chairman of the Police Complaints Authority (PCA), former Chancellor of the Judiciary, Cecil Kennard says that the police report into the killing of Buxtonian, Donna Herod should have been sent to his office first before it went to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
Justice Kennard who was out of the jurisdiction when Herod was killed told Stabroek News on Friday that he had not seen any report from the police in connection with the case, neither did the relatives of the deceased lodge any complaint at his office.
He however noted that even if the dead woman's relatives did not lodge a complaint with his office, according to the law, after the police would have completed their investigation a report is to be forwarded to his office.
The police are allowed to recommend what action should be taken in the case, although the PCA could uphold it or recommend another action. The PCA would also peruse the statements submitted by the police and along with its own investigations determine what charge is to be filed or action taken.
Following the PCA's ruling the file is then forwarded to the DPP who will make a final decision. It is unclear whether the DPP has made a final decision in the case more than two weeks after the file was sent to that office.
Commissioner of Police (ag) Henry Greene had told this newspaper two weeks ago that ballistics tests conducted on all of the police weapons used in the Buxton operation in which Donna Herod was killed, concluded that the police did not fire the fatal bullet.
He also noted that the Office of Professional Responsibility of the Police Force had completed an investigation into the incident and the file was sent to the DPP for advice. Stabroek News was unable to solicit a comment from the Police Force as to why the file was not sent to the PCA first. Reports reaching this newspaper state that the OPR after completing its investigation recommended that a Coroner's Inquest be held into the shooting to death of Herod.
Relatives of the dead mother of nine are adamant that the police were responsible for the woman's death, but the force has vehemently denied this, saying that their weapons did not kill her. Police had said in an earlier statement that ballistics tests done so far had not matched the warhead recovered from Herod's body to shells retrieved at previous scenes involving Buxton gunmen.
Greene had told this newspaper previously that the police on the operation were heading in a different direction from where Herod was shot. He said the police were heading south in pursuit of the wanted men when they heard that someone had been shot in the other direction. He said that on hearing this, the policemen retreated, picked the woman up off the road and took her to the hospital.
He also had told this newspaper previously that the most he could say was that Herod was probably shot in the crossfire. Sources have said the bullet that killed Herod could have been fired from a weapon that was not previously used by the gunmen or it could have been the police.
In a statement, police had said that ranks had crossed over the embankment going south when they came under fire and they returned fire. The statement said ranks continued moving towards the identified targets and came under fire again while giving chase behind 11 men who ran into the bushes in the backlands area.
The police said the bullet that struck her could have been fired either from an AK-47 or M-70 rifle. Both of these high-powered weapons are used by the police as well as by gunmen. Greene said the incident was very unfortunate and he had called on those who had witnessed the shooting to come forward and make a statement to the police.
Stabroek News understands that residents who witnessed the shooting gave statements to a lawyer representing the family. The death of Herod had sparked outrage in the Buxton community and several organizations and political parties had issued statements condemning the operation and called for an independent investigation to be conducted.
The Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) in condemning the killing of the 47-year-old mother said that the police operation in the village was ill-conceived, badly executed and poorly led. The association said the Guyana Police Force and the government need to move decisively to erase any impression that they were dissembling or evading responsibility for what it termed a bungled operation. "Nothing which has emerged thus far is encouraging," the GHRA said. (Stabroek News)
Police intercept ganja bus
Police intercepted a minibus with a number of Suriname-bound passengers at Weldaad, West Coast Berbice yesterday morning carrying 10 pounds of compressed marijuana. Around six persons have been arrested, one of them a woman who is currently before the court on a narcotics-related charge.
According to reports reaching this newspaper around 10:45 am yesterday the dark blue route 63 minibus plying the Moleson Creek route was heading to Corentyne with a number of persons who were slated to travel backtrack to Suriname.
Police stopped and searched the vehicle at which time the drug was found in a bag. Up to last night the suspects were being grilled at the Weldaad Police Station and police said that charges are likely to be laid against them before the end of the week. Stabroek News has reported in the past that trafficking in drugs and weapons is rampant across the illegal border crossing at Corentyne. (Stabroek News)
October 14, 2007
Man stoned cameraman after photo appeared on Capitol News
Court told
Brian Headley
A man who allegedly pelted a stone at a Capitol News cameraman resulting in injuries to his forehead, over a news story which carried his photograph, was yesterday placed on $70,000 bail by Principal Magistrate Melissa Robertson-Ogle.
Brian Headley, 40, a businessman who resides at 154 Wayne Street, Enterprise pleaded not guilty to unlawful wounding and threatening language when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrate's Court. It is alleged that on October 9 at Thomas Street, North Cummingsburg, he made use of threatening language to Pearson Renaldo and also unlawfully and maliciously wounded him.
Attorney-at-law Vic Puran represented Headley. He told the court that his client owns a business and sells food on Thomas Street. The attorney said that Renaldo is his client's neighbour and that they have a history of ill will. He added that Renaldo picked up an iron bar and hit his client who in defence pelted him with a brick.
Police prosecutor Sherwin Matthews told the court that the issue stemmed from a photograph that was broadcast on television during a Capitol News segment. He stated that Headley accused Renaldo of having his photo broadcast on television since he works at Capitol News. He added that Renaldo went to Thomas Street and while picking up a file he received a blow to his head with what appeared to be a gun. He was treated at the hospital. Puran responded that no gun was involved.
Renaldo told the court that Headley came to his office and complained about his photo being used in a story. He added that his boss assured him that it would not happen again. Yet, he said, Headley continued threatening him and a number of persons saw when he was dealt the blow to his head by the accused who drove off in a car.
Headley who also opted to speak about what took place stated that the incident had nothing to do with his photograph since he said that issue was settled when he spoke to Renaldo's boss. He stated that Renaldo told him he was finished as a businessman and attacked him with the iron bar and he threw the stone which hit him on his forehead to defend himself. The magistrate placed Headley on $50,000 bail for the unlawful wounding charge and $20,000 bail on the threatening language charge. His case was transferred to Court Three for November 8. (Stabroek News)
Labourer charged with murder of food vendor
A 39-year-old food vendor was allegedly murdered on Sunday last after he reportedly refused to pay the sum of money requested by a man he allegedly had a sexual relationship with and who has now been charged with murder.
A release from the police said that at around 7.30 pm on October 7 last the body of Gopaul Outar of Anchorville, Port Mourant, was found in his home. A post- mortem examination performed on his body on Wednesday last found that he died as a result of manual strangulation.
Investigations led to the arrest of 28-year-old labourer Shameer Sokwat of the same village who appeared in the Albion Magistrate's court on Thursday and was remanded after the charge of murder was read to him.
According to the police release it was revealed that Sokwat and the deceased were allegedly involved in a homosexual relationship during which the suspect was refused a sum of money requested. He became annoyed and allegedly strangled the man. (Stabroek News)
Confirm Top Cop or let him go
Opposition MPs
Confirm him or let him go is the clarion call by some opposition Members of Parliament and leading private sector officials as government continues to prevaricate over the appointment of Henry Greene to the substantive post of Commissioner of Police.
Greene, a lawyer by profession, has been acting in the capacity of Police Commissioner since last year July when Winston Felix demitted office. His tenure at the helm of the force has been marked by the US revocation of both his diplomatic and visitor's visas and a spate of serious, unsolved crime.
Washington had told Greene that he benefited materially from the drugs trade, which is why it revoked his visas to that country, Cabinet Secretary Dr Roger Luncheon disclosed to this newspaper last year July. It is widely believed that this is the reason why President Bharrat Jagdeo has been dithering on appointing him.
Greene, however, had vehemently denied any connections with the drug trade and in a statement he said that it was obvious that unjustified and improperly motivated attempts were being made to besmirch his good name and character. In his statement which was issued a day after it was revealed that the US Embassy had revoked his visitor's visa Greene said the revocation was "a painful event for me" but he noted that it is the prerogative of foreign states to grant visas and to also revoke such visas in their own deliberate judgment, subject to the application of their laws.
"I want to categorically state that I have never been involved in any way with illegal drug operations either locally or abroad, and I have never associated with any drug dealer," Greene stressed in his statement. He added, "I have taken steps, and will continue so to do, to ensure the eradication of the drug scourge in this country."
President Jagdeo said at the time that he found it strange that the US Embassy had revoked the Acting Commissioner's visas. He said that the administration had asked Washington to provide specifics of what led to the action. The President also asserted back then that if there was evidence of wrongdoing on Greene's part, government would have no problem in having him step down. On July 21 last year the same day retired Police Commissioner Felix demitted office it was revealed that Greene's visitor's visa to the US was revoked. Observers had said then that the withdrawal was likely a move to thwart his appointment to the police force top job.
The revocation of the visitor's visa had come months after his diplomatic visa was also rescinded. He said at the time of the first revocation that he did not know what was behind the sudden move and added that he had no problem with the US government or the embassy. His diplomatic visa was issued in 2002 to attend a course on terrorism on behalf of the Guyana Police Force in Washington. The visa was a five-year one and had not expired when it was revoked. At that point he had noted that his US visitor's visa was still intact and as such he could still travel to the US, not knowing that the US was coming for that also.
Negative effects
Questioned about the situation regarding the appointment of Greene, Leader of the Opposition Robert Corbin said that it is certainly unhealthy for the development of any professional organization to have "actors" performing substantive functions. Corbin said that the situation in the police force is just one example of what has been happening in many sectors of the country. "The negative effects of acting appointments can impact on stability, justice and confidence in the institutions that are there with the responsibility to advance certain functions of the state," the PNCR leader declared.
Asked whether he has ever raised the issue of Greene's appointment with the President, Corbin said he has been speaking on the matter as well as other issues on every occasion he meets with Jagdeo. Questioned as to what Jagdeo has been telling him, Corbin shied away from answering, while insisting that he is trying to conform to the norms of a modern democracy by making these matters known. He said if this course fails the dynamics of any situation will generate its own consequences.
On whether he would support Greene becoming the substantive police commissioner, Corbin said that it was not a matter he wished to comment on at the moment, adding that he did not want to be drawn into a discussion on personalities. "I am commenting on the principle of the appointment of a COP, but I do not think it is fair to either him (Greene) or me at this stage to engage in a personality hunt," the Opposition Leader declared. On whether the issue of personality came up during his talks with the President on the appointment of Greene, Corbin said no, adding that he only discussed personality as it relates to the Chancellor of the Judiciary.
According to Article 211 (1) of the Constitution, the Commissioner of Police shall be appointed by the President acting after meaningful consultation with the Leader of the Opposition and Chairperson of the Police Service Commission after the chairperson has consulted with the other members of the commission. At present the Police Service Commission is not fully constituted, although three members were sworn in last week. The life of the previous commission came to an end in March this year several months after Greene was appointed to act.
Let him go
Member of Parliament for the GAP/ROAR alliance, Everall Franklin said that his party is very concerned "since we are in a situation where crime is spiralling and therefore leadership has to take responsibility both at the level of the government and the police force." "We were wondering whether the non-appointment has to do with the US revoking his visas," Franklin said, adding that Guyana continues to beg for assistance from the US, the same country which has withdrawn the commissioner's travel privileges to that country. Franklin said there were many issues stacked against Greene not least the revocation of his visas.
The MP said that the acting commissioner's handling of the recent allegations made against Senior Superintendent Steve Merai, the controversial shooting to death of Buxtonian Donna Herod, among other issues have weighed heavily against him. Stabroek News was also told recently that Greene was warned by a joint services official about the attack on the commercial banks in Rose Hall last year, but he did nothing.
When he was questioned about this subsequently by Stabroek News he declined to comment. Merai had been accused by a businessman who said that the police officer demanded money from him over a drug deal. Greene had announced that an investigation was launched, but he subsequently revealed that they could not move forward with the investigations because the businessman who made the allegations had vanished.
Observers believe that the announcement of an investigation was aimed at appeasing citizens, but no work was actually being done. It was pointed out that it was not what the businessman had to say that was important but whether Merai's story was credible. Merai who was in charge of patrols in Georgetown when the allegations were made was hauled off that duty by Greene and reassigned to coordinate patrols for ministers of government. Franklin asserted that if there are questions about Greene's character then it would be difficult for the government to confirm him.
"But I think the administration should either confirm him or let him go and look for another person," the GAP/ROAR MP declared. He said it is clear that the issue of Greene's appointment is not about natural succession, since he is the next in line to Felix. The MP said it was time the police force got a substantive head, noting that the position is too critical for someone to be acting for so long. The MP noted that the non-appointment of Greene would only weaken his own influence on his charges who would no doubt go along with the popular view that the administration does not have confidence in him.
Asked whether his party would support Greene's candidacy, cognizant of the cloud that hangs over him, Franklin said in the absence of the specific details of the allegations levelled against the Acting Police Chief by the US his party would be hard pressed to make a decision. He said, however, the fact that President Jagdeo has shied away from confirming Greene seems to indicate that government is privy to more information which would backfire on them if they were to go ahead and make such an appointment.
Franklin advanced four possible reasons why there continues to be a delay in the appointment: he said that it is either the government does not have confidence in Greene; they are waiting to see if he could perform; they want to control him or they are afraid that the US would sanction them. Asked why the opposition was not asking questions about the issue, Franklin said the issue was raised on numerous occasions, but they never got a proper answer. He believes the reason why the administration has shied away from this is because they do not want to reveal exactly what the US has said.
On whether he thinks Greene has performed creditably since he took over from Felix, Franklin said he is not impressed with his performance. The MP said there were a lot of outstanding matters that Greene has failed to bring closure to. He said too that the force continues to rate their success on the number of criminals they kill, pointing out that this skewed view of policing was highlighted recently when Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee surprisingly visited the crime scene where two bandits were killed on Main Street two weeks ago. He said at the scene Rohee lauded the police efforts.
"You do not judge success by how many people you kill…if killing is the measuring rod for success then we might as well go back to the days of the death squad," Franklin said. The opposition MP noted too that government likes to boast about how much money it has spent on the police force, yet most of the policemen are still impoverished.
Too many actors
Leader of the Alliance For Change (AFC), Raphael Trotman said that the continued insistence of the administration to have key officials acting has undermined natural justice and the performance of the respective agencies these officers head. He noted that Greene's continued acting in the capacity will certainly affect the morale of the force. Trotman said that it was not only the post of Commissioner of Police he is concerned about but a number of other appointments in the judiciary and the public service.
Trotman said he had raised the issue during the last budget debate, but the government continues to be slothful in addressing it. According to the AFC Leader, the administration's approach to the rule of law is disturbing. "The government should appoint Mr. Greene… unless they don't have confidence in him," Trotman declared. Asked whether he thinks the US allegations were weighing heavily against Greene, Trotman said if that is the case then Jagdeo should tell the nation so. "Let the public know what the reason is for you not confirming the gentleman," Trotman urged.
Asked for his views on Greene's leadership and the performance of the force, Trotman said that from last year before and after Cricket World Cup the security forces performed creditably. He however said that within the past few months there has been a rise in crime and this is worrying. He too chided Greene for his handling of the shooting to death of Donna Herod, the torture of the two Buxtonians and the Steve Merai saga.
Additionally, two leading private sector officials told this newspaper that it was unfortunate that Greene found himself in such a situation. One of the officials insisted that the acting Top Cop was a well-trained professional and it is regrettable he could not be confirmed. "If the government does not want him to be the head then they should move him aside and look for someone else," one of the private sector officials who asked not be named said.
The official asserted that despite the uncertainty surrounding Greene's tenure at the helm of the force his performance was well noted, although admitting that the police force needs to do more to effectively tackle crime. (Nigel Williams/Stabroek News)
October 11, 2007
Seven dead in Linden bus crash Several seriously injured
Seven persons, including a two-year-old boy, died last night when a mini-bus plying the Amelia's Ward to Mackenzie route in Linden crashed into the back of a truck laden with lumber.
Several others were seriously injured and undergoing emergency treatment at the Linden Hospital at press time last night.
Dead are:
Lorraine and Florence McCurdy, from 5-6 South Amelia's Ward;
Nichola Jones known as ‘Skinny Bird’, an employee of Vivian Harris Health Centre;
Carl Austin, conductor of the bus,
two-year-old Teris McClean from Amelia's Ward,
Paul Lewis and Carl McCalmont, an employee of the Linden Economic Advancement Programme.
The injured, up to press time last night were Elaine Lashley; Kanda Lashley; Stacy Fiedtkou; Orel Simon, driver of the bus; Mark Lewis; Jerome Cruickshank, 29; Shurland Daniels, 17, and Delroy Mitchell, 16.
Witnesses said the green bus (licence plate BGG 9112) slammed into the back of the lumber truck (licence plate GFF 464) which had apparently broken down at the top of the Amelia's Ward Hill. The crash took place at about 19:45h. (Joe Chapman/Guyana Cronicle)
October 10, 2007
`We got no police protection from drug dealer'
Guyanese family tells Canada refugee board in successful plea
A Guyanese family of three was last month granted refugee status in Canada under the Canadian Immigration and Protection Act by arguing that the police here provided no protection after they had been threatened by a drug lord.
The decision handed down on September 28, 2007 in Toronto, Canada, by AC Knevel, the tribunal judge acting on behalf of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada said they were accepted as refugees under the UN Convention based on their claims. The case was heard on September 21.
The family was represented by Guyanese immigration barrister and solicitor living and working in Canada, Balwant Persaud who told Stabroek News from Toronto that the family fled Guyana after the head of the family, a former wharf manager of a leading shipping company, was asked to turn a blind eye to shipments of mainly rice, concealing narcotics destined for Europe. Several shipments of products from Guyana - including rice and timber - have been held abroad after cocaine was found hidden in them. Several shipments have also been found at wharves here.
According to the facts of the case, the former manager, was approached on June 16, 2006 by a person, who offered him US$20,000 for each shipment of cocaine that would leave the wharf, where he was manager and security officer.
When the claimant refused, the person making the offer became abusive and threatening. Five days later he received a call on his cell phone telling him that he knew too much and should not be alive.
The business was later robbed and he was interviewed on television. He was told by telephone after the interview that when there was another robbery at the same business he would be the first to die. He reported the offer of money made for him to pass the drugs through the wharf to the owner of the wharf who advised him to make a report to the police.
He made a total of three reports and gave up after they promised to investigate but nothing was done. The claimant said that on making his report to the police the threats began.
In July, 2006 he made a report to the police about being on the seawall with his family when a car pulled up asking for him. The claimant ran and the car followed him and his family and tried running them off the road but they escaped. On August 11, 2006 his windows were "shot out" during the evening. Because of continuing threats and the failure of the police to protect them, the family left for Canada leaving property and their possessions behind.
Knevel's report said that, "Nations should be presumed capable of protecting their citizens. Security of nations is, after all, the essence of sovereignty."
Summing up the case he noted that "the claimant was in a unique position to assist the drug trade in getting drugs in and out of the country. However, he refused to work with them and was subsequently targeted for elimination. Ample evidence has been submitted by way of police reports, newspaper clippings and affidavits with regards to this matter. There is no indication on a balance of probabilities, that the claimant ever received police protection" and as such the panel gave him, his spouse and child, the benefit of the doubt and under the circumstances deemed them persons in need of protection under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
In a telephone interview, Persaud told Stabroek News that his clients had made reports to the Brickdam Police station; and that those making threats had promised to kidnap their daughter, then four years old.
In arguing his clients' case, he said that, he had to show that the government could not protect citizens and he used the case of former minister of home affairs, Ronald Gajraj who had been accused and later cleared of ties to death squads.
He cited, too, the case of the gunning down of former television talk show host and journalist Ronald Waddell and the unsolved cases of murders committed under mysterious circumstances without the police being able to crack the cases. He also referred to the inability of the law enforcement authorities to interdict any major drug trafficker in Guyana. He said that even smaller countries with less capacity have interdicted drug traffickers.
Persaud noted that this was the second case in which he has had to represent a family which was forced to flee Guyana because of drug-related problems. The other involved a family with two children. The facts in that matter stated that the family's car, a white carina, was hijacked and used for a number of criminal activities. This case occurred over two years ago. Persaud said that the family had also been threatened.
This is the second known case reported this year in which Guyanese families have been granted refugee status in Canada because of the failure of the state of Guyana to protect its citizens. In the other case, Guyana-born immigration lawyer in Toronto, Kaishree Chatarpaul successfully represented a family of four - a father, mother and two children from Essequibo, who sought refugee status claiming political persecution and lack of protection from the state. (Stabroek News)
October 09, 2007
Painter had gun under cap at roadblock
Court hears
Shamba Lumumba
A man who was allegedly discovered with a gun hidden under his cap while in a minibus which was stopped by the police at a roadblock was yesterday remanded to prison by Principal Magistrate Melissa Robertson-Ogle.
Shamba Lumumba, 26, a painter who resides at 7 New Market Street, South Cummingsburg pleaded not guilty to two unlawful possession charges when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrate's Court. It is alleged that on October 3 at Georgetown he had in his possession one .38 automatic Taurus pistol and four live rounds of 9 mm ammunition without lawful authority.
Police prosecutor Sherwin Matthews told the court that the police had set up a roadblock and stopped a minibus in which Lumumba was seen acting suspiciously. A search was carried out on his person and the gun was allegedly found under a cap on his lap.
Lumumba told the court that the police stopped the bus at Mandela Avenue and he was in the third seat of the bus. He stated that he does not wear a hat and knew nothing of the weapon. He said that he was beaten by the police who questioned him about the weapon. The case was transferred to Court Two for October 26.(Stabroek News)
At Demerara Assizes…
Girlfriend recalls murder at 2005 ‘Main Big Lime’
His girlfriend, Nanili Arjune yesterday recalled, for Justice Rishi Persaud and a mixed Demerara Assizes jury, the night of the 2005 ‘Main Big Lime’ when Feroze Ali was shot and killed. She said she was standing in a line behind her lover when someone attempted to rob her and she became separated from him in a crowd.
About 10 minutes later, she heard what appeared to be the sounds of gunshots and, subsequently, she saw Ali lying in a pool of blood, bleeding from a head wound and he later died, the witness said. She was testifying at the trial of Kevin Anthony also known as Sean Christian, who is indicted for the unlawful killing.
Arjune admitted, to Defence Counsel Lyndon Amsterdam, that she was in a state of shock and confusion that evening after the incident which happened quickly. State Prosecutor Leron Daly also called Police Lance Corporal Desmond Johnny, who was involved in the investigations that night.
He said he was in a party of policeman searching for the alleged killer and arrested the accused. The witness said he told Anthony he was wanted at the station for questioning in connection with the murder in Main Street, Georgetown. The trial continues today. (Stabroek News)
Judge temporarily halts Annandale murder case for inquiry
Justice Claudette La Bennett yesterday temporarily halted the Annandale murder case at the Demerara Assizes to conduct an inquiry in chambers that could determine the outcome of the trial. The closed door proceedings, reportedly surrounding the selection of the mixed jury, of nine women to three men, also involve State Prosecutor Sonia Joseph and Senior Counsel Bernard De Santos, for the Defence.
In the dock is Khemraj Bhoodoo called ‘Sham’, who is facing an indictment for unlawfully killing Litendra Roopnarine nicknamed ‘Boyo’ on July 5, 2005, at Annandale, East Coast Demerara. (Stabroek News)
Three carnal knowledge accused refused bail
Three men accused of having forced sexual intercourse with different victims were all refused bail yesterday by Principal Magistrate Melissa Robertson-Ogle.
One of the remanded prisoners, Regal Ashby, 26, of Lot 23 Queen Street, Kitty, Georgetown, who is accused of having carnal knowledge of a 17-year-old female without her consent, between July 1 and 31, 2006 and last May 22, is to remain incarcerated until November 1.
Another, Vishal Ramlall alias ‘Coolie Boy’, 19, is alleged to have committed a similar crime on November 18, 2005, at Charity, Essequibo Coast. Police Corporal Sherwin Matthews, prosecuting, said Ramlall was involved in ‘gang-raping’ the virtual complainant nearly two years ago.
But, while three other men were arrested and charged for the offence, Ramlall had been eluding capture, the Prosecutor said. Ramlall will make his next Court appearance as a prisoner on remand October 22.
The third man denied pre-trial freedom, Ranclick Singh, 24, of La Bagatelle, Leguan is charged with a June 23, 2007 carnal knowledge. Particulars of the offence said the virtual complainant is a 16-year-old female who was visited by Singh at her home.
According to Matthews, during their conversation, Singh asked the teen to have sex with him and, when she told him she was not in the mood, he forcefully took off her clothes and had intercourse with her. Singh will be back in Court on October 15. (Stabroek News)
October 08, 2007
Corentyne feeling the squeeze from 'backtrack' ban
Some operators taking the chance at night
While the ban on travel via the semi-legal 'backtrack' route between Guyana and Suriname remained in effect yesterday, desperate Guyanese boat owners were taking their chances in the nights. President of the Upper Corentyne Chamber of Commerce (UCCC), David Subnauth condemned this move by operators, saying that it was "extremely dangerous" and could only further affect the already strained relations between authorities at Nickerie and the speed boat operators.
Suriname since last Wednesday closed down the illegal migration route which is faster but also facilitates the movement of drugs and weapons across the two borders. Nickerie District Commissioner Bhagwatpersad Shankar was quoted in the Suriname Daily, de Ware Tijd (dWT) as saying that the decision to close the route was made because of "the continuing chaos, confusion and anarchy" associated with it, as well as because bitter competition between boat operators was threatening to escalate.
Shankar since Wednesday ordered the police and the army to close the crossing and keep an eye on any illegal movements. DWT has reported that boat operators and taxi-drivers had protested against the closure, claiming significant loss of income, but Shankar insisted that as soon as the operators settled their disagreements they could report to the authorities who would then decide whether and when they could offer the service again.
In an interview with Stabroek News yesterday the UCCC President, Subnauth said that since the closure he has not visited the area to assess the impact it has had on businesses, but he said that any restriction of the service would be dire for the Corentyne and businesses that used the route. "The business community will suffer tremendously because Surinamese come to Guyana and do business, likewise Guyanese go over there to do business," Subnauth told Stabroek News.
The Chamber president noted that not only Berbicians will feel the impact of the closure but also small scale traders from Georgetown, East Coast and West Demerara. Subnauth said that some of the Guyanese traders would usually buy clothing from manufacturers in Georgetown and take it to Suriname for resale. He said similarly Surinamese would come to Guyana on a daily basis to sell various goods. "It is a serious situation especially for the 'small man' because he is looking to make a dollar every day…" Subnauth asserted.
Asked whether the UCCC has ever met with their Surinamese counterparts to discuss the issue of the crossing, Subnauth said it had, adding that last year during a meeting the chamber of commerce in Nickerie promised that they would have petitioned their government to make the route legal. Subnauth said the Corentyne Chamber subsequently met with the then Home Affairs Minister, Gail Teixeira proposing that Guyana agree with Suriname to legalise the port but the minister rejected it.
"I see no point in saying no to making the route legal, but placing a customs officer at the site to collect duties," Subnauth declared. He further stated that as a chamber the situation is a worry to them, admitting that the border was porous as all manner of illegal items were being smuggled across it. He said it was time the crossing be made legal and in addition to the custom officer an immigration official should be placed at the site.
Subnauth said with the presence of an immigration officer smuggling could be reduced. Asked about the presence of the Berbice Anti-Smuggling Squad at the crossing, Subnauth said officers of the unit were often seen at the location, but he said the squad has lost its sting and was bogged down by its own internal problems. Suriname's suspension of the crossing had coincided with a visit to that country by US Secretary of Defence Robert Gates on Friday.
Gates travelled to Paramaribo on the last leg of a five-nation tour of Latin America and was a guest at the closing ceremony of the four-month humanitarian mission of the US Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort moored off Suriname. The vessel had also spent a few days in Guyana's waters.
The illegal crossing has been in existence for many years and regular travellers prefer to use the faster backtrack route instead of the official border crossing at the ferry terminal at South-Drain/Moleson Creek, since it is much cheaper. A passenger pays $1500 to travel either way.
In order to regulate the backtrack route the authorities in Suriname recently began registering boat operators and laid down minimum safety standards for the vessels. This followed a river mishap in the Corentyne River last year, when two Guyanese women drowned after the propeller of the boat they were travelling in got stuck in a fishing seine and sank.
Members of the Suriname Parliament had called for a total shutdown of the crossing, on the grounds that it was very dangerous because of unpredictable conditions at the mouth of the river and a lack of surveillance by the authorities. However, the authorities at Nickerie where the boats were moored did not heed this call.
Stabroek News had spoken to a few of the Guyanese boat operators on Friday and they all complained about the continuing closure of the crossing. However, yesterday two of them said that some boat operators were transporting people early in the morning and late at nights.
Roy Ramdass, one of the operators told this newspaper that since Suriname pulled the plug on the operation scores of Surinamese had been left stranded in Corentyne, and with no travel documents they were unable to board the ferry at Moleson Creek to return home. He said the situation was the same in Nickerie where a number of Guyanese who had gone across to do shopping were left stranded. Ramdass said he was losing up to $30,000 per day as a result of the closure.
Stabroek News was told that the closure had been prompted by a falling out among the operators on the Suriname side. Recently two operators joined four others who operated from one landing at Nickerie. From all indications the four operators who were there before had become annoyed about this and tensions ensued.
On Wednesday morning there was an argument among the men and one of the newcomers allegedly spat upon another, resulting in a fight. It was this in addition to previous transgressions which had caused the Nickerie District Commissioner to shut down the service. "It is unfair for us [Guyanese] because we did not do anything, but we have to suffer like everyone else," Ramdass told this newspaper on Friday. He said he operated two boats in the river and his craft were registered by the Surinamese authorities at Nickerie.
Another operator on the Guyana side, Eno Bharrat said the closure had affected him a great deal. The boat operator complained that whenever Suriname had a problem with the backtrack service it would take unilateral decisions without consulting the Guyanese operators. Guyanese operators are only allowed to transport passengers to Nickerie, but they cannot solicit passengers coming to Guyana. The same system applies for the Surinamese operators who will only transport passengers to Guyana and then leave. (Nigel Williams/Stabroek News)
October 07, 2007
Suriname pulls plug on Corentyne backtrack route
Suriname pulled the plug on the semi-legal backtrack route between the Dutch-speaking country and Guyana on Wednesday, leaving hundreds of travellers, some of whom do not have proper travel documents, stranded on both sides of the border.
It is not clear when, if ever, the ban which was imposed to put an end to disorderly behaviour and illegal activities will be lifted, although boat operators are hopeful it will be, given the losses they have incurred already as a result of the missed working days. Small-scale traders in both countries who used the backtrack route to save time are also 'feeling the squeeze.'
Suriname's suspension of the crossing, believed to be a route for the movement of arms and ammunition across the border, coincided with a visit to that country by US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates on Friday. Gates travelled to Paramaribo on the last leg of a five nation tour of Latin-America and was expected to be a guest at the closing ceremony of the four-month humanitarian mission of the US Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort moored off Suriname. The vessel had also spent a few days in Georgetown.
The illegal crossing has been in existence for years and a number of persons prefer to use the faster backtrack route instead of the official border crossing at the ferry terminal at South-Drain/Moleson Creek, since it is much cheaper. A passenger pays $1500 to travel either way.
The smuggling of goods, including medicines, cigarettes, food items, illegal drugs, small arms and other contraband is rampant on the route, while fugitive criminals use the crossing to seek refuge in either Suriname or Guyana.
The Suriname daily de Ware Tijd reported Nickerie District Commissioner Bhagwatpersad Shankar as saying that the decision to close the backtrack route was made because of "the continuing chaos, confusion and anarchy" associated with it, as well as because bitter competition between boat operators was threatening to escalate.
According to the newspaper Shankar has ordered the police and the National Army to close the semi-legal border crossing and keep an eye on any illegal movements. However, Surinamese boat operators who found themselves stranded on the Guyanese side were allowed to return without passengers.
The dWT has reported that boat operators and taxi-drivers are protesting against the closure, claiming significant loss of income. Shankar told reporters in Nickerie that as soon as the operators settled their disagreements and mutual issues they could report to the authorities which would then decide whether and when they could offer the service again. In addition, the daily quoted an unnamed military commander in Nickerie as saying that the decision to close the route had followed reports about criminal activities.
In order to regulate the backtrack route the authorities in Suriname recently began registering boat operators and laid down minimum safety standards for the vessels. This followed a river mishap in the Corentyne River last year, when two Guyanese women drowned after the propeller of the boat they were travelling in got stuck in a fishing seine and sank.
Members of the Suriname Parliament had called for a total shutdown of the crossing, on the grounds that it was very dangerous because of unpredictable conditions at the mouth of the river and a lack of surveillance by the authorities. However, the authorities at Nickerie where the boats were moored did not heed this call.
Meanwhile, speaking to Stabroek News on Friday Roy Ramdass, one of the Guyanese boat operators, said that since Suriname had banned the backtrack service, scores of Surinamese had been left stranded in Corentyne, and with no travel documents they were unable to board the ferry at Moleson Creek to return home. "Every day a number of people coming here - some waiting all day hoping to get over - but nothing changing," Ramdass who said that he has been losing up to $30,000 per day as a result of the closure declared.
He told Stabroek News that from what he understood the closure had been prompted by a fall-out among the operators on the Suriname side. Recently two operators joined four others who operated from one landing at Nickerie, he said, and that from all indications the four operators who were there before had become annoyed about this and tensions ensued.
Ramdass said that on Wednesday morning there was an argument among the men and one of the newcomers allegedly spat upon on another, resulting in a fight. It was this in addition to previous transgressions which had caused the Nickerie District Commissioner to shut down the illegal backtrack service. He reportedly told the Surinamese operators that until they could become united and work as a team, the landing would remain closed.
Stabroek News was told that since Wednesday the boat owners had been holding meetings with officials at Nickerie, hoping to reverse the decision.
"It is unfair for us [Guyanese] because we did not do anything, but we have to suffer like everyone else," Ramdass told this newspaper on Friday. He said he operated two boats in the river and his craft were registered by the Surinamese authorities at Nickerie. "I have been doing this business a long time ago, but this never happened before," the boat owner said.
He added that just as Surinamese were stranded in Guyana, so several Guyanese along with Surinamese who do business in Guyana were stranded in Nickerie, and he would not be surprised if he heard that some Guyanese operators were transporting passengers across the border at night. However, this was a huge risk since Surinamese soldiers patrol the river every day.
Across at Eno Bharrat Boat Service in Corriverton, an official said the closure had affected them a great deal. According to the official who asked not to be named, whenever Suriname had a problem with the backtrack service it would take unilateral decisions without consulting the Guyanese operators. At present the Guyanese operators are only allowed to transport passengers to Nickerie, but they cannot solicit passengers coming to Guyana. The same system applies for the Surinamese operators who will only transport passengers to Guyana and then leave.
It is not the first time Suriname has shut down the crossing. When Stabroek News visited the boat landings at Corriverton last year we were told that criminals used the backtrack route and arms smuggling was rampant.
According to one report, drug accused Guyanese businessman, Roger Khan and his bodyguards had used the route to travel to Suriname where they were later arrested and charged. While members of the Berbice Anti-Smuggling Squad have a presence at the Guyana end of the border, as well as a customs officer who collects duties, the smuggling of arms and goods has continued over the years.
The authorities in Guyana while maintaining that the only legitimate entry and exit point for Corentyne is at Moleson Creek have never taken any measures to regularize backtrack operations, which are carried on in the open. The operators have well erected landings, waiting rooms and have been advertising their service for years in the telephone directory. (Nigel Williams/Stabroek News)
Woman found in East La Penitence trench identified
The woman whose body was discovered in a trench near the East La Penitence Police Station on Friday was identified as an East Ruimveldt mother of two.
Allison Paul, a security guard attached to Brans Security Service left home around 2 am on the morning of her demise. Relatives at the Lot 650 East Ruimveldt residence said Paul slipped out when they were asleep and jumped the front fence because the gate was locked.
Paul was not scheduled to work at that time, according to the family. It is believed that she was killed some time between then and when her body was found. Relatives said they were watching a nightly newscast later that night and immediately recognized Paul as the woman being fished out of the trench because of the clothes she was wearing.
"We were shocked and we started crying after seeing Allison on the TV. We hurry down to Lyken and identify her right away," a relative related. The family said Paul had no problems with anyone so the murder comes as a shock to them. Paul was described as a hardworking mother who took care of her two children, aged ten and thirteen.
The police are investigating and a post mortem examination is scheduled for tomorrow. Paul is expected to be buried on Wednesday. On Friday someone walking through an alleyway near the trench found Paul's body around 6 am. There were no visible marks of violence on the body but froth was evident in the nose and on the mouth. She was clad in a pair of jeans and a flowered top and a pair of yellow rubber slippers was discovered a few yards away.
Stabroek News spoke to residents in the area and no one recounted hearing or seeing anything strange during the course of the night or early Friday morning. (Stabroek News)
Coast Guard rescues fishing crew held hostage on boat
A five-man crew was on Tuesday rescued by members of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Coast Guard after they were held hostage aboard their fishing vessel, Ashley 11 by another crew member, who became enraged after smoking marijuana. The incident occurred some seven miles north of the Berbice River mouth.
According to a statement from the GDF, the Coast Guard contingent based at New Amsterdam went to the area after they were informed of the hostage situation by the Chairman of the Rosignol Fisheries Complex, Bisram Sumwaru. The contingent, commanded by Sub-Lieutenant David Shamsudeen and Sumwaru boarded the fishing vessel and took command of it.
The statement added that a knife, a cutlass and a four-foot piece of steel pipe were found on the hostage-taker. It was learnt, the statement added, that the hostage-taker had become enraged after smoking marijuana and had ordered the captain of the vessel to stop fishing and to return to the wharf to sell the catch without telling the owner. The captain refused and a scuffle ensued, resulting in the captain sustaining a broken arm and another crew member being cut over his left eye.
The hostage-taker was later handed over to ranks at the Blairmont Police Station while the captain and the injured crew member were taken to the New Amsterdam Hospital for medical attention. The Berbice fishermen praised the Coast Guard for their prompt response and assistance, the statement added. (Stabroek News)
October 06, 2007
Family wants answers on fatal Prass 'shoot-out'
Rashleigh Prass
The family of Rashley Prass who the police said was killed in a shoot-out in the Canje Creek on Wednesday are still pressing for answers on his death. Prass, also known as 'Sickhead', was allegedly involved in the New Amsterdam post office robbery that left postal worker Germin Forde dead.
Police said they had been tipped off about Prass' presence at Bush Nai Nai, Canje Creek. A police source said that when they entered the area at around 4 am there was a confrontation between the Joint Services ranks and 'Sickhead.'
According to the police, Prass was fatally shot in the process. A 9mm pistol with 19 matching rounds, four spent shells, a 16-gauge single barrel shotgun with four matching cartridges, and the apron part of a shotgun were discovered by the ranks at the scene.
A family member who spoke to Stabroek News said there were wounds on Prass' body inconsistent with the report which was issued by the police and they want answers. (Stabroek News)
Owner of pit bulls in attack granted self-bail
Vilton Bourne
A man whose pit bulls allegedly mauled a businessman early Monday morning while he was out jogging at Well Road, North Ruimveldt leaving him with multiple injuries was yesterday placed on self-bail by Magistrate Gordon Gilhuys.
Vilton Bourne pleaded not guilty to suffering ferocious dogs to be at large and not muzzled when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrate's Court. It is alleged that on October 1 at Well Road, North Ruimveldt being the owner of ferocious dogs, he suffered them to be at large and not muzzled and they injured Lennox Wade.
It was reported that the 57-year-old businessman survived a 13-minute mauling by two pit bulls after 5 am on Monday while jogging in the vicinity of Well Road in North Ruimveldt. After calling for help a woman living nearby threw a bucket of water on the ferocious animals. He was later rushed to the Georgetown Hospital where he underwent emergency surgery and was admitted. He also suffered several bite marks, on his legs, feet, neck and back.
The magistrate stated that Bourne is his godson and that no one was at home when the dogs got away. He said that persons should not have those types of dogs and enquired from the prosecutor about the charge. After placing Bourne on self-bail he transferred the matter to Court Six for October 16. (Stabroek News)
Cocaine smuggling beetles nabbed
AMSTERDAM, (Reuters) - Dutch customs officers found 100 dead beetles stuffed with cocaine whilst examining a parcel from Peru, Dutch authorities said on Thursday.
The little drug couriers' bodies had been slit open and filled with a total of 300 grams of cocaine, with an estimated street-value of 8,000 euros ($11,270).
"This is a very striking method of smuggling. We have never seen anything like this before," said government spokesman Kees Nanninga. Officers decided to open the parcel after scanning it and seeing what appeared to be insects inside. (Guyana Cronicle)
October 05, 2007
Revamp of sex offences laws begins
Priya Manickchand
Kicking off the reform of sex offences laws, Human Services Minister Priya Manickchand yesterday said the system is failing victims of sexual violence because the laws in the country are archaic.
In order to strengthen protection against and punishment for sexual violence, the Ministry of Human Services has put out a consultation paper titled 'Stamp it Out' as a first step to reforming the law.
The minister, noting that society has changed over the century since the laws were first drafted, said it was essential for a new piece of legislation to be passed that takes cognizance of such changes.
Her comments came yesterday at the launch of a consultation paper, which deals with a comprehensive review of law and policy on sexual offences, and sets out proposals aimed at reforming the law, strengthening protection and improving support and services for victims.
Emphasizing that sexual violence is the most widespread and unpunished of crimes, Manickchand told reporters that the ministry was committed to ensuring that the reforms are not just made on paper but put into practice. She said stakeholders at every level would be consulted before a Sexual Offences Bill is drafted.
Over the next three months, the ministry will dedicate time to holding countrywide consultations and though no deadline has been set, Manickchand pointed out, "we do not intend to consult forever and are looking at December 31 as a possible deadline".
Some 200 copies of the consultation paper have been sent out and according to the minister, they are hoping to hear from everyone, particularly stakeholders who have worked extensively in the area. She said they want to hear from those involved in criminal justice including police officers; prosecutors; magistrates and judges.
Additionally, they are seeking the views of academics, health and welfare service providers, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and community groups but more importantly, they hope to hear from survivors of sexual violence and their families.
"This is the first step on a long road but sexual violence can be stamped out. It is happening in our homes and in our communities and government action alone is not enough, a collective effort is needed involving all sectors of society," the minister added.
Using data from various studies conducted locally including those done by the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA), the consultation paper covers action against sexual violence. It looks at reforms that relate to child sex abuse, measures to assist child witnesses and prevention strategies; it addresses Amerindian girls and women and also looks at procedures from reports being made, to charges being filed to medical services and court cases.
Background information provided in the paper reveals that approximately one percent of rapes that are reported to the police result in a conviction; 69 percent of victims are 16 years and under; one in five perpetrators are related to the victim and more than two-thirds of sexual offences take place in the home of the victim or the accused.
Issues such as women being ashamed to report sexual assault and that some are judged to be responsible for the violence they have suffered are mentioned in the paper. The research found that a level of male violence is widely tolerated, reducing support for women who might otherwise report the criminal offences against them.
Sexual violence against children locally is recognized in the consultation paper as an area where the numbers are increasing and among the suggestions are better coordination between the services particularly social services, health, education and the police.
Inadequate access to court and to other services in remote areas and issues of discrimination and prejudice are among those to be addressed in Amerindian communities. The ministry said it is hoping for full participation in the consultation by Amerindian communities so that initiatives and proposals for reforms can be developed.
Proposals are made in the paper for the marital rape exemption to be abolished. Additionally it proposes to expand sexual offences to include abuse of a position of trust and seeks to protect boys by including new gender-neutral definitions of rape and child sex offences and an age of consent for boys.
The proposal states that in line with reforms around the world, the definition of rape would be widened to include penetration of the vagina or anus by any body part (including the penis) or an object, including where the victim is not sure what penetrated her/him.
As it relates to reports, investigations and charges, the proposal includes support and discussions where the victim wants to retract a statement; a mandatory charge for child sex offences; the final decision to discontinue investigation resting with the DPP and new, more comprehensive medical certificates for better care and evidence among others.
Further, proposals are made for the country to move to a system of paper committals in sex offence cases quashing the Preliminary Inquiry unless the defence makes no case submissions or the defendant is unrepresented; the establishment of a Sex Offences Court with a specially assigned judge, in the same way as the Commercial Court and many public awareness and education campaigns among others. (Stabroek News)
October 04, 2007
Sanitation worker dies in bee drama
Tashram Singh
An attack by what is believed to be Africanised bees has resulted in the death of a Mayor and City Council worker who sought refuge in a nearby trench. The body of 46-year-old Tashram Singh of 55-56 Independence Street, La Grange, West Bank Demerara was pulled from a trench at the corner of Sandy Babb Street, Kitty and Vlissengen Road.
According to reports, around 8:30 am yesterday Singh who had been employed as a sanitation worker with the Mayor and City Council was cleaning a parapet at the corner of Sandy Babb Street, Kitty and Vlissengen Road when he was attacked by the bees.
An eyewitness told Stabroek News that after Singh was attacked he ran and jumped into the trench. The eyewitness said that the City Council worker after jumping into the trench dived under the water and that was the last time he was seen alive. According to reports, persons who were passing were forced to seek cover at the JR Burgers Building which is located opposite where the incident occurred.
Reports are that after the swarm of bees left the area over the trench where Singh had jumped, a public-spirited citizen went into the trench to find Singh. After searching for a few minutes Singh's lifeless body was pulled from the trench.
Police from the Kitty Police Station were immediately summoned to the scene and Singh's body was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Singh has been employed with the city council for the past seven years. A post-mortem is expected to be performed on Singh's body tomorrow.
The bees were in the casuarina tree at left
Meanwhile, several hours after the incident there was still evidence of live bees. Despite reports from residents in the area that personnel from the Ministry of Agriculture had visited just after the incident and sprayed the tree where the bee hive is, bees were still seen flying around the area.
When contacted on the issue of the removal of the bee hive from the location, Technical Manager, Animal Services of the Ministry of Agriculture, Michael Welch said in yesterday's instance this was not done since it was an emergency. Welch told Stabroek News that the ministry, however, has personnel trained to deal with the removal and relocation of bees.
He added that in yesterday's incident a standard insecticide was used to spray the hive since the area is frequented by people. Welch noted that the ministry has plans to step up its bee awareness campaign.
In addition, he said, the ministry has a unit that responds to such reports almost immediately. According to Welch, on a monthly basis the ministry responds to 200 to 300 calls of bee swarming.
On January 16 this year a Friendship resident, 50-year-old Abdul Hamied lost his life after being stung by Africanised bees while clearing a patch of land on his farm in the Friendship backlands, East Bank Demerara. A few days later an unidentified contractor and 28-year-old Deon Burnette were treated at the Georgetown Public Hospital after being stung by Africanised bees.
Burnette also had to seek treatment for two of her dogs after they too were severely stung. Also in November of 2005 about 30 residents including Keith Massiah and 13-year-old Travis October were stung when a hive on Hadfield Street with about 200,000 Africanised bees was disturbed.
There have been other cases of attacks by bees across the country in recent months. (Jenelle Carter/Stabroek News)
Postal attack suspect dies in shoot-out
A man was killed yesterday after members of the Joint Services went to Bush Nai Nai in the Canje Creek in search of two men they believe may have been involved in the recent armed robbery in which New Amsterdam post office employee Jermaine Forde was shot and killed.
Police say the dead man has been identified as Rashleigh Prass called 'Sickhead' of Angoy's Avenue, New Amsterdam, Berbice. A police press release stated that at about 4 am yesterday, acting on information received, ranks went to the area, which is located about 40 miles up the Canje Creek, Berbice in search of the two suspects.
The police said that during the search there was an armed confrontation between the ranks and Prass who opened fire, and was later fatally shot.
Police said they recovered a 9mm pistol with 19 live rounds and four spent shells; a 16-gauge single barrel shotgun with four matching cartridges; and the apron part of a shotgun at the scene. The body of Prass is at the New Amsterdam Hospital mortuary awaiting a post- mortem examination. (Stabroek News)
October 03, 2007
Jogger attacked by pit bulls says they should be put down
The injured Lennox Wade in the Georgetown Hospital yesterday
A businessman who survived a 13-minute mauling by two pit bulls early Monday morning says that the animals should be put to sleep immediately since they are a threat to anyone who goes near them.
Legal action is a route that the injured man is planning to take, but at present he is hospitalized and has to undergo a second operation to repair the wounds on both hands.
Just after 5 am 57-year-old Lennox Wade, who is a gold miner and a furniture manufacturer of 3051 North Ruimveldt, was attacked by two pit bulls while jogging in the vicinity of Well Road in North Ruimveldt.
After about fifteen minutes of calling for help a woman living nearby threw a bucket of water on the ferocious animals. He was later rushed to the Georgetown Hospital where he underwent emergency surgery and was admitted.
Yesterday when Stabroek News visited, Wade was lying in pain. Both of his hands were bandaged and still bleeding. He had countless bite marks, some huge, on his legs, feet, neck and back. Family members and friends flocked his bedside and some of them stared at him in utter disbelief.
His wife Sharon Wade told Stabroek News that the owners of the dogs have accepted responsibility for the animals. She said that when she spoke with them, they said they would put in an appearance at the hospital but up to when this newspaper left the persons had not shown up.
The attack
Wade said that he jogs regularly and on Monday morning he got up early to do just that. Wade recounted that he was running along Sloth Street approaching Well Road when he observed two pit bulls on the road in front of a yard. He said that he thought nothing of it, nor was he scared but as he was passing the animals pounced on him.
"First one came at me and I snatched him and started to choke but the other one started mauling at my hand so I had no alternative but to loose the one that I was choking," Wade recounted. According to the injured man, the dogs were between 50-60 pounds each. He said that the dogs snapped at both of his hands as he tried his best to fight them off.
Wade said that at the time no one was around. "I attempted to get away from them. I was kicking, cuffing, doing everything possible," he recalled. Bleeding, Wade managed to reach a gate nearby and he started shouting for help. He said that two persons looked out and in urgency he pleaded with them to let him in. He said that he even tried jumping over but the dogs held onto his legs and feet.
He said that the persons refused to open the gate for him because they were probably scared. Wade said that he managed to shout out his telephone number and his wife was called and informed about what was taking place.
He added that after three minutes of pleading for the gate to be opened, a woman came and threw a bucket of water on the animals who then ran off. Wade said that he was under attack for about 13 minutes. He said that while he was being attacked another jogger passed him and said "is good for you. They should kill ya s..." The man said that his wife and niece came shortly after and took him to the hospital.
Wade told this newspaper that he believes that the animals should be put to sleep because the incident could have been worse if he hadn't put up a fight. He said who knows what would have happened if a child had been attacked. The owner of the animals, this newspaper understands, lives a stone's throw away from where the incident occurred but was not at home at the time.
Stabroek News was told that the bones on both of Wade's hands are exposed. His right hand is lifeless. The newspaper was also told that police visited the injured man yesterday afternoon and spoke with him but no statement was taken. (Zoisa Fraser/Stabroek News)
Police in shoot-out with wanted men
One injured
Police and two wanted men on Monday morning traded gunshots in Tucville and when the shooting subsided it was found that one of the gunmen had sustained wounds to his foot and mouth, while the other escaped.
In a press release yesterday police said that about 2 am on Monday ranks responded to a report of gunshots being discharged at Tucville Squatting Area, Georgetown. Upon arrival at the scene there was an exchange of gunfire between the police and two men who were in an abandoned building in the area.
During the armed confrontation one of the men, Junior Bourne called `Glamorous', 28 years, was shot in his left foot and mouth.
The other man, who is suspected to have been hit also, managed to escape by jumping over a fence, the police statement said. Bourne, the police said and the man who escaped, but who has been identified, are wanted by the police for questioning in a number of robberies. Bourne was admitted under guard to the Georgetown Hospital. (Stabroek News)
October 02, 2007
Hundreds demonstrate against Suriname government
Desi Bouterse addressing the crowd in the blistering sun in downtown Paramaribo.
PARAMARIBO, Suriname: Several hundred people braved the blistering sun on Monday to demonstrate against the government when President Ronald Venetiaan presented the budget for the fiscal year 2008 to parliament.
Protesters called upon the president and his government to resign, while most demonstrators voiced their anger over the way the government handled the border dispute with Guyana. According to the opposition the award of the UN Tribunal which handled the boundary issue is not in favour of Suriname.
Addressing this matter during his speech, Venetiaan stated that the boundary dispute settlement opens the way for Suriname to implement economic activities in the sea area awarded to the country. The president noted that although the government is disappointed over the consequences of the award the people are urged to accept this and move on.
Housing, health, employment and education were also amongst issues protesters see as very critical which need to be addressed. The joint opposition boycotted the budget presentation, but followed the speech of the president in chambers. Opposition leader Desi Bouterse (NDP) halfway through the president's presentation left the chamber and led the demonstrators away from the National Assembly for a march through the city.
Carrying protest signs and chanting slogans demonstrators voiced their frustrations with the government. At the end of the march Bouterse addressed the crowd, promising that the joint opposition will take over their initiative and plan future actions to ultimately force the government to resign. He maintained that the protests will continue until the government has resigned. Officially the next general elections are to be held no later than May 25, 2010.
Under very strict security measures, Venetiaan presented the 2008 budget in parliament. About 125 police officers, including riot police and the anti-terror squad, were deployed around the National Assembly, to keep the crowd at bay. Demonstrators were very distraught on seeing the numbers of the security personnel.
“I am very sad that this government is positioning police forces to crackdown on its own citizens. Why did he (the president) not send police to fight the Guyanese when we had to fight and defend our territory,” said a protester.
Carrying protest signs and chanting slogans several hundred demonstrators marched through the Surinamese capital Monday calling on the Venetiaan government to resign
Opposition members of parliament Jiwan Sital (A1) and Jules Wijdenbosch (VVV) were disappointed in the speech of the Head of State. Sital noted that the president didn’t put enough emphasis on critical issues as housing and job creation, while Wijdenbosch during an interview argued that the president noted “only desirabilities”, without outlining concrete steps how to address the serious socio-economic problems in the country.
Responding to the criticism of the opposition, Venetiaan said he didn’t expect a different attitude from the opposition. “Every year it is the same song. I am not surprised. We don’t downplay this, but we take note of it,” he said. In his address to the National Assembly the Head of State disclosed an expected budget deficit of 5.4 percent (US$145 million) of the GDP for 2008. (Ivan Cairo/Caribbean Net News Suriname Correspondent)
Gunmen kill two MMC guards in ambush
Wound two others, escape with cash, guns
Rodwell Clarke
Two MMC Security Force guards were killed and two injured after they were ambushed by eight gunmen, who also hijacked their vehicle, at Sheribana Bridge in the Essequibo yesterday.
Dead are Rodwell Clarke, 41, of 154 'D' Field South Turkeyen and Warren Hutson of Buxton. Glenmore Reeves, 48, of 10 Edun Street, Tucville and Dalton Walcott, 28, of Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara were injured during the attack.
The gunmen made off with the guards' four shotguns and an undisclosed amount of cash during the incident, which occurred around noon. According to a police statement, Clarke and Hutson were hit about their bodies during the ambush and subsequently died.
The police report stated that Reeves was shot in the head, while Walcott was shot in the right arm. Both men were brought to the Georgetown Public Hospital where they are being treated.
One of Reeves's relatives told Stabroek News last evening that his condition was listed as stable. Reeves has been employed with MMC for some two years, the relative said.
According to reports, around noon yesterday the men were on the MMC Security Force vehicle, escorting cash to the city when they came under attack.
Chief Executive Officer of MMC Carl Morgan told Stabroek News that the four men, all constables employed with the firm, had just uplifted canisters with cash from the company's ferry location in the interior when the incident occurred. According to Morgan, just as the men approached the Sheribana area, they were ambushed by eight heavily armed men dressed in allover black outfits. The gunmen, Stabroek News was told, using the element of surprise, opened fire on the guards and removed the canisters with cash. They then disarmed the bleeding guards and tossed them out of their vehicle.
Reports are that the gunmen made good their escape with the MMC vehicle, which was later found abandoned some two miles away from where the incident occurred. According to the statement issued by the police, it is believed that the gunmen may have used the waterways to continue their escape bid.
The police said they are combing the area for clues and have set up roadblocks at strategic locations. Meanwhile Cheryl Clarke, widow of Rodwell Clarke, told Stabroek News that her husband had been working with the security company for just one year. According to Clarke's widow, prior to him being employed at MMC he served for 21 years in the Guyana Defence Force before retiring.
Mrs Clarke said her husband left their Turkeyen home around 4 am yesterday, telling her that he was heading to the interior. The grieving woman said that around 10 am yesterday she received a call from her husband. "He called to say that he was in Tiperu heading back to town and he just reminded me that my father worked at the quarry. And that was the last time I heard from my husband."
According to the woman, around 16:30 hrs yesterday she was heading out for bible study when two of her husband's work colleagues went to her and related what had happened. "Sergeant Murray came in the yard and asked how I was doing. And I told him I am okay.
"And he told me there was an incident in the bush and my husband didn't make it. So I asked if he was serious that my husband was dead and he said yes," she recounted tearfully. Clarke is survived by his wife and three children aged, 15, 13 and eight years old. (Stabroek News)
Pitbulls attack gold miner
A popular gold miner was yesterday rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) for emergency surgery after being viciously attacked by two pit bulls on Well Road, North Ruimveldt, Georgetown.
Lennox Wade, 55, also called ‘Boards’ or Papa ‘B’ of 3051 North Ruimveldt, and owner of a gold mining operation at Aranka, Cuyuni, Region Seven for more than 25 years, arrived at the Accident and Emergency Unit of the GPH, bleeding profusely and literally “chewed” by the animals. He suffered injury to his neck, face, hands, and legs.
Wade said around 05:30 h yesterday he was on his routine jogging around North Ruimveldt before starting his day’s work. He recalled that as he approached a shop in Well Street he saw two pit bulls on the road, but kept going. Wade said as he was about passing the dogs, they pounced on him, aiming first for his neck.
Realising that they were aiming for the neck, he tried blocking with his hands, but they had already tasted the blood and began tearing away at his flesh, wherever they could reach it. Wade in the meantime began screaming and shouting for help, but the dogs threw him to the ground and were all over him.
He said the more he bled, the more they devoured at him, and finally persons in the area looked out, saw what was happening and threw water at the dogs. Following the ordeal, he gave the neighbours his telephone number and asked them to telephone his family.
His wife Sharon and other family members quickly arrived on the scene and rushed him to hospital where, even after coming out of the theatre, he was still dripping blood. They said he was due for a blood transfusion later in the day.
However, what was most disheartening the injured man said was that while he was on the ground being attacked by the dogs, another jogger who did not recognise him, passed by, and feeling he had been a thief under attack, callously remarked: “They should kill you ..., al yuh like thief.”
Wade said it was the most inhumane encounter he has ever had, but thanked the families who came to his rescue. (Shirley Thomas)
October 01, 2007
Slain postal worker may have recognized bandit
Abandoned car seized
Germin Forde
Postal worker, Germin Forde, who was shot dead early Friday morning in New Amsterdam by bandits, may have been killed because he recognised one of the attackers and called the person by name, a police source said yesterday.
The source told Stabroek News that they have received reports that the man called out a name which was apparently that of one of the bandits and as a result he was killed.
Meanwhile, the source said all of the persons, including the driver of the car Forde was in and a security guard who was also a passenger in the car, have been released. The police said they have three main suspects on their radar but reports have indicated that the men have fled to the Canje Creek area.
And in other developments the police have taken a silver Toyota Carina into custody after it had been parked on the No 2 Canje Public Road since around 11 am on Friday morning. According to reports residents saw the car parked on the roadway on Friday morning and since it was still there the following day they alerted the police.
Police yesterday said they are investigating whether the car may have been linked to the robbery. It is understood that the car is owned by the driver of an ambulance who also lives somewhere in the Canje area. When police visited the man's house on Saturday morning no one was home and neighbours indicated that the man and his family left for neighbouring Suriname sometime on Friday.
A police source yesterday said that they found it strange that someone would just park their vehicle on a public roadway and leave it unattended for such a long period. Forde, a Postal and Telegraph Clerk employed with the Guyana Post Office Corporation at its New Amsterdam branch, was slain when bandits in a car forced a vehicle hired by the post office to stop and demanded cash.
Police on Friday had stated that the Chief Postmaster, the Postmaster, a private security guard and Forde had travelled by a hired motor car to Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited at Strand, New Amsterdam to transact business. They were unable to complete the transaction.
"While returning to the Post office and travelling along Alexander Street, a metallic beige coloured AT 192 Toyota Carina motor car travelling in the opposite direction with four men inside, forced the car with the postal workers to stop," the release had said.
Two gunmen emerged and held the workers and the driver at gun-point and demanded cash while two other armed bandits forced the security guard, the postmaster and Forde to the ground and took away the mail bag that was empty and an amount of money made up of coins in a money bag. It was during this process Forde was shot in his left side and they then escaped in the waiting vehicle. Forde was later pronounced dead at the New Amsterdam Hospital. (Stabroek News)