Sara Bharrat

The new Miss Guyana Universe is no wallflower. She is perhaps the most self-confident holder of the title in recent times, a quality that she will certainly need in the Bahamas next month.

‘…if standing for one hour in pain outside a big meeting for important people will get me help then I am prepared to do that.

– judge slams police over suppressed evidence Ashanti Schultz, who was accused of murdering a man during a shooting on Main Street in September 2007, was yesterday freed of the charge.

– boyfriend missing A 14-year-old, who succumbed to burn injuries at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) on Monday, had reportedly set herself ablaze two Fridays ago after an argument with her boyfriend.

Handle of knife found by relatives Relatives of Sharmin McKay, who died on Monday after being stabbed, said the suspect boasted before the attack about how he could `get off for murder’ and questions are being raised about the quality of the police probe as the handle of the knife used was found during a clean-up of the house.

-husband taken into custody A 50-year-old Cornelia Ida (CI) woman, after suffering more than a decade of abuse at the hands of her reputed husband, was stabbed to death yesterday afternoon.

“I can’t remember is wha happen,” Sharmin McKay whispered from her High Dependency Unit (HDU) bed yesterday.

Desiree Thomas’  wails were the only greeting at her Lot 7 Prince William Street home yesterday as she mourned the death of her son, Marlon Britton who died yesterday about three hours after being shot in the face.

Kurt Christopher Wong, a father of four who stabbed his wife to death in March 2005, was handed a 15-year sentence yesterday.

– TV, microwave, fridge stolen A 43-year-old female security guard attached to RK Security Service was tied, gagged, beaten and then strangled while on duty at Uncle Eddie’s Home early yesterday morning.

Almost 50 workers of the Bauxite Company of Guyana (BCG), a subsidiary of Russian bauxite giant United Company (UC) RUSAL at Aroaima, have been on strike since Saturday morning following the hospitalization of a colleague.

Their first drink of alcohol By Sara Bharrat and Tiffny Rhodius This week we asked the man/woman in the street at what age they took their first drink, if they thought underage drinking is a problem in Guyana and how they recommend the issue be addressed.

– slams cops over sloth in prosecuting her attacker “Cut and run.

– Persaud confirms Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud on Thursday confirmed that a controversial farmer was among the group of investors from the State of Roraima who recently visited Guyana.

By Sarah Bharrat with photos by Jules Gibson This week we asked the man/woman in the street how they felt about dress codes instituted by public and private organizations and if those codes were too strict.

The man who died shortly after being shot by police at an empty Anira Street lot, was identified yesterday morning as Keith Mitchell, by his relatives.

–has already handed over $16M, returned transformers Owner of Buddy’s Inter-national Hotel, Omprakash Shivraj was yesterday ordered to pay Guyana Power and Light Incorporated (GPL) just over $35 million owed to the power company for the supply of electricity.

– after illegal connection row The Chief Security Officer of the Guyana Power and Light Incorporated (GPL) was shot dead yesterday during an illegal connection raid at the Lamaha Park squatting area, in Georgetown.

-Cars lost control, smashed into house One man is dead and another in serious condition at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) after two cars, reportedly speeding, lost control along the Ruby Public Road, East Bank Essequibo early yesterday morning.

-Suspect detained Morasi, a quiet East Bank Essequibo farming community, remains flooded with unspoken fears even after police apprehended the man suspected to have murdered a 20-year-old woman.