Year: 2013

GDF officer sacked over robbery attempt

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Lieutenant Madainey Humphrey has been dismissed from the Guyana Defence Force, following the conclusion of court martial proceedings against him, which concluded on Friday, May 10. Lieutenant Humphrey was implicated in an attempted robbery at the Julian Ross Landing in January this year. The GDF, upon investigating the matter, took the decision to court martial the lieutenant who was found to have disobeyed a lawful command, and to have been in breach of the force’s standing orders, charges to which he pleaded guilty. The sentence to dismiss Lieutenant Humphrey was…

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Murdered cambio dealer was burnt alive – post mortem

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Four days after popular cambio dealer Totaram Mootoo and his wife Basmattie Mootoo were killed in their posh Turkeyen home, police said on Monday that the couple died from smoke inhalation and might have been alive after a homemade bomb exploded. To date, no arrest has been made for the couple’s death. Autopsies on Monday proved that Basmattie Mootoo died as a result of blunt trauma to the back, compounded with burn trauma, while her husband’s death was given as smoke inhalation and burn trauma. The post-mortem examinations were performed…

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WWF plugs Gy$12M into environmental management for Guyana’s gold sector

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The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry signed a grant agreement for the release of Gy$12 million to support capacity building in environment management in Guyana’s gold mining sector. On Monday, at the ministry’s Brickdam office, WWF Grants Manager Tonia Newton handed over a cheque to the tune of Gy$5.83 million to the Natural Resources Ministry in the presence of subject minister Robert Persaud. The money is the first tranche of the Gy$12 million grant. WWF Guianas Country Manager Dr Patrick Williams said the project,…

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CN Sharma for High Court trial on carnal knowledge charge

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Carnal knowledge-accused Chandra Narine Sharma was on Wednesday committed to stand trial in the High Court for allegedly raping a 13-year-old girl back in 2010. The decision was made by Magistrate Sueanna Lovell at the end of a preliminary inquiry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. The magistrate informed the court that a prima facie case had been made out against the popular television owner and talk show host. Sharma is also the leader of the Justice For All Party, which is part of the A Partnership for National Unity coalition.…

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President’s veto of bills grounded in Constitution

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By Whitney Persaud – Attorney General Anil Nandlall said the president has acted within the constitutional parameters when he withheld his assent to two opposition bills last Tuesday. The decision by President Donald Ramotar to withhold his assent to two bills which emanated from the opposition benches in Parliament has received much criticism. The two bills are the Former President’s Benefits and Other Facilities Bill 2012 and the Fiscal Management and Accountability Bill 2012. The joint opposition has accused the president of precipitating a constitutional crisis. This, according to Nandlall…

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Road safety

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According to World Bank statistics, every year the lives of almost 1.24 million people are cut short as a result of road accidents. Between 20 and 50 million more people suffer non-fatal injuries, with many incurring a disability as a result of their injury. The Caribbean is no exception. This region has suffered its fair share of disasters on the road resulting in a number of its citizens losing their lives or becoming disabled at a very young age. Almost every week there is some news that someone was killed…

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Relatives blame each other for young couple’s murder/ suicide

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Twenty-four-year-old Vijay Arjune called “Kevin” of Land of Canaan, East Bank Demerara, who allegedly shot his pregnant teenage fiancée then took his own life last Thursday evening, might have premeditated the act. Dhanwantie Raghoo, eldest sister of the now dead Parbattie Raghoo called “Priya”, told this newspaper that she accompanied the couple to Suriname where they were supposed to spend two days, but instead they spent eight. During the trip, she added that he treated both of them with a lot of love but more importantly, he confided in her…

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AFC stands alone in opposition to anti-money laundering bill – govt deems move ‘vulgar abuse’, APNU signals support

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The Alliance For Change (AFC) said it will not support the recently tabled Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (Amendment) Bill, citing President Donald Ramotar’s veto of two opposition bills as its reason, a move which government has deemed an example of “vulgar abuse” on the part of the minority party. But, from all appearances, the AFC will be standing alone, as its main parliamentary ally, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), said it has already given its commitment in the House that once the bill is fine…

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New U.S. immigration bill could benefit Caribbean nationals

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Washington, US (CMC) – The United States Congress has started formal consideration of a sweeping immigration reform bill that creates a “path to citizenship” for an estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants, including Caribbean nationals. The Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to finish work on the bill, this week, adopting Republican amendments aimed at stronger border security. The immigration bill requires the US federal government to gain almost total control of the border, authorising money for drones, Customs and Border Protection officers and prosecution of illegal entries. Under the bill, new…

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