Femi Harris-Smith

Failing to prove its claim of illegal mining on its lands, a case filed by the Isseneru Village Council (IVC) in which it was seeking damages for trespass, was thrown out on Wednesday by a High Court judge.

In what will now be his final bid to evade paying former government Minister Annette Ferguson damages for libel, Vice President (VP) Bharrat Jagdeo has now taken his challenge to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

Two years after being slapped with a $20m default judgment and filing a series of appeals in a bid to evade payment to former government Minister Annette Ferguson whom he had defamed, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo has found himself back to having to honour that initial ruling and whatever award for damages will be imposed against him for libel.

The first of what is expected to be a series of legal actions filed by squatters of CaneView/Mocha,  whose houses were demolished by the Ministry of Housing and Water, is set for hearing in early October before the Chief Justice.

Ranked in the top ten globally, Guyana’s suicide rate is said to have been consistently occupying that position, with pesticide poisoning being the method used by persons whose suicide is described as having been triggered primarily by interpersonal conflict.

Last Thursday, the National Assembly passed the Petroleum Activities Bill 2023 which provides for the exploration, production, storage and transportation of petroleum but  31 amendments by APNU+AFC MP David Patterson were rejected by the government.

The government yesterday approved massive hikes in the external and domestic debt ceilings – the second time in 30 months – signalling an aggressive borrowing campaign for massive infrastructural and other spending.

With the prosecution failing to establish the identity of the person it said they murdered, Ray Yokum, Steffon Campbell and Faisal Moore were yesterday discharged of the crime and set free.

The Guyana Court of Appeal has affirmed the ruling of Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George, SC nullifying the appointments of Vikash Ramkissoon and Sarah Browne as Parliamentary Secretaries.

Raymond O’Selmo has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for the 2019 fatal stabbing of Nadina Kalamadeen, whom he attacked and chopped about the body and face, after she rebuffed his advances for a relationship.

Chanderpaul Persaud, Harilall Ramdan and Jagishwar Ghani have each been sentenced to life in prison for the 2017 stabbing death of Uitspa labourer Dhanpaul Dookie.

Solomon George called ‘Georgie,’ has been able to secure his release from prison over the 2016 killing of tractor operator Rampersaud Rattan, after a judge sentenced him to time-served.

Wesley Bazil called ‘Tappy,’ who was convicted last month for raping a 15-year-old girl who had gone to his shop to make a purchase, has been handed a life sentence without the possibility of parole.

Attorney-at-Law Ronald Burch-Smith, says that Senior Counsel Ralph Ramkarran’s description of the justice system “being on the verge of collapse” is no exaggeration; and credits the deficiencies to the absence of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) which should have been reconstituted some six years ago.

Finding that now former Attorney General Basil Williams SC had slandered his then predecessor Anil Nandlall SC over allegations of law reports being stolen from the AG’s Chambers, a High Court judge has awarded Nandlall damages to the tune of $10m.

Corriverton resident, Durn Hunt, who last month pleaded guilty to murdering his girlfriend Itashia Frank back in October of 2018, has been sentenced to 20 years behind bars for the crime.

For what the State described as “gruesome” treatment unleashed on his victim/survivor, Corentyne resident Broan Luke has been sentenced to 20 years in jail for raping a woman at knife-point after breaking into her house.

Totaram Lalta of Adelphi Village, East Canje Berbice, who had a history of being abusive to his mother, was yesterday sentenced to 12 years behind bars for the woman’s death.

Murder accused Wayne Chester is now awaiting sentencing after being found guilty of the 2017 murder of Guyanese, French Guiana-based clothes vendor, Purcell Moore, who was shot dead during a robbery.

The Guyana Court of Appeal has reserved its ruling regarding whether it will grant an application by the Attorney General to be added as a party in the appeal filed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in its challenge to the High Court order that it enforce the liability clause in permits for ExxonMobil’s offshore oil operations here.