2019 – Page 81 – Guyana Times International

Lucky to be alive!

July 19, 2019July 19, 2019 TIMES INT'L

… young woman reveals harrowing details on the day she was almost killed by her abuser By Kizzy Coleman For two years, she suffered severe beatings at the hands of a man she truly loved and wanted to please. She was battered and bruised for many days but never got the courage to leave because the “love” kept her back. But now when she looks back, she wonders whether it was love or just deeply-rooted fear. Now that he is dead, she does not know if she feels relieved, sad,…

Top Cop says SOCU head to be replaced soon

July 19, 2019July 19, 2019 TIMES INT'L

Police Commissioner Leslie James has made known the administration’s intention to replace Head of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), Sydney James. Speaking on Wednesday on the sidelines of the Police Awards Ceremony held at the Tactical Services Unit’s Drill Square at Eve Leary, the top cop said the Guyana Police Force (GPF) will soon issue a release naming the replacement of Sydney James. “I can say to you that, a little later today, I will make an announcement as regards the replacement of the head of SOCU,” Commissioner James…

Hotelier gets High Court bail, alleged accomplice remains in confinement

July 19, 2019July 19, 2019 TIMES INT'L

Just one day after being further remanded to prison on an indictable charge, 57-year-old Mark Grimmond, the owner of Rockies Hotel, was granted bail by the Demerara High Court. His attorney, Bernard Da Silva was successful in a bail application at the court last week. Grimmond was released on G$500,000 bail, which was granted by Justice Navindra Singh, however, his alleged “hit man” Chatterpaul Singh remains on remand for the allegations they jointly faced. The matter is currently being dealt with at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts and the trial is…

Opposition rebuffs Govt’s attempts to seek nominees for State Boards

July 19, 2019July 19, 2019 TIMES INT'L

The caretaker Government’s efforts to seek nominees to various boards from the parliamentary Opposition have been rebuffed, with the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) reminding it that formulating State Boards when a No-Confidence Motion (NCM) has been passed was illegal. It was only on Friday that the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) reaffirmed its position that the Government should be acting in a caretaker capacity. Its ruling on the NCM was issued since June 18. Article 106 (6) of the Constitution states: “The Cabinet including the President shall resign if the…

Full compliance with the constitution is needed

July 19, 2019July 19, 2019 TIMES INT'L

Dear Editor, I write this letter prompted by the letter entitled: “APNU and PPP/C must use this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for meaningful constitutional reforms” in Stabroek News, Friday, July 12, 2019, and “The prisoner’s dilemma and a call to extend and reform”, in Kaieteur News of the same date, by Terrence R Blackman and Thomas B Singh. I am responding because I think that they are both earnest and well-intended. And, I would say that taking account of the social peace and quiet in our country since the NCM, the overwhelming…

6 weeks after, Cops yet to arrest suspects in Agricola vigilante beating

July 19, 2019July 19, 2019 TIMES INT'L

Over six weeks have passed since the truck driver involved in the Agricola, East Bank Demerara acci-dent, which claimed the life of a seven-year-old girl, was severely beaten by residents from the area and the police are yet to make an arrest. However, the police are still investigating the matter, with the hope of identifying the persons respon-sible for the vigilante beating and burning of the driver’s truck. Last month, A Division (Georgetown-East Bank Demerara) Commander, Marlon Chapman publicly de-clared that those caught for the crimes will face the full…

‘Constitution is clear on what should happen after a no-confidence vote’

July 19, 2019July 19, 2019 TIMES INT'L

… former National Assembly Clerk Prior to the holding of a General and Regional elections, Parliament has to be dissolved by a proclamation from the President with a set date for elections. Despite the passage of a No-Confidence Motion against his government over seven months ago, however, President David Granger has failed to do anything. Longstanding former Clerk of the National Assembly, Frank Narine has asserted that indeed the President was supposed to dissolve Parliament before an election date could be set – if elections are to be held. “Everyone…

Tough times for Skeldon residents due to estate closure

July 19, 2019July 19, 2019 TIMES INT'L

The Skeldon Sugar Estate has been the main source of income in the Upper Corentyne area but since its closure in 2017, the livelihoods of the sacked workers and their families have fallen apart. A recent visit to Skeldon proved that families are still trying to make ends meet as they shared their sentiments on the effect the closure has had on them. A market vendor disclosed that she has not made a profit from her vegetables because people in the area cannot afford to purchase those items. “All my…

Anti-national…

July 19, 2019July 19, 2019 TIMES INT'L

…President Your Eyewitness must confess that whatever regard he had for the now officially “caretaker President” David Granger has been dissipated with his “address to the nation” following the CCJ’s consequential orders. Previously, I’d suggested that Granger might be suffering from “dogmatic subjectivism” – the mental defect in some folks who assume that whatever they believe has to be the “TRUTH”, regardless of contrary FACTS that are presented to them. They tend to carry on with righteous fervour in defending their positions and are invariably dismissive of other views. Remember…

“They are a fisherman’s children”

July 19, 2019July 19, 2019 TIMES INT'L

…Savitri Ramkishun tells the story of her sons’ determination to be fishermen By Lakhram Bhagirat They were on the Atlantic Ocean drifting for five days and had nothing to eat. Their sink was being baked in the sun. They were dehydrated and forced to drink the salted sea water. They had no food but made meals of dried, uncooked macaroni and sun-baked fish. They called and waved to several passing boats in the open water but no one came to their rescue. They had never experienced such hardship since they…