Guyana News

The Guyana Police Force is now mourning the death of one of its own after a Special Corporal died following a boating mishap in the Berbice River yesterday morning.

Despite him being released from the Georgetown Public Hospital just over a week ago, eight-year-old Richard Boodram, who was brutally beaten by five of his classmates at the Mon Repos Primary last month, is still experiencing severe headaches and complains that he cannot see from his left eye, according to his mother, Devika Persaud.

The driver of the Route 31 (Georgetown to Wales) minibus that crashed into a car at Nismes, West Bank Demerara, resulting in the deaths of four persons and the injury of several, was on Thursday released on a total of $120,000 bail after he was charged with three traffic offences.

Paws for a Cause-Guyana Inc (PFAC-G) yesterday hosted its first event to raise funds to build a shelter for stray animals.

The University of Guyana (UG) will next month be introducing a mandatory human relations course for its staff and the student body a part of a respect programme that was due to begin this weekend.

Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) has invested some $4 billion into its Tropical Orchard Products Company (TOPCO) expansion project, which will see its demand in 2020 for a total of nearly 2 million pounds of various fruit that local farmers are expected to supply.

Nine farming groups within Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) have received almost $20 million in micro-grants to reduce the impact of natural disasters.

Seeking to increase transparency, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) has introduced the use of portable video recording devices, known as body cameras, during daily operations in several divisions and Regional Commander of Region 4(A) Assistant Commissioner Edgar Thomas is seeking to lead by example to encourage the adoption of their use by members of the force.

Government is upgrading the Close Circuit Television (CCTV) high technology security camera system to support crime prevention efforts by the Joint Services with the addition of 17 camera locations, including in Stabroek Market area, at the Berbice River Bridge and at the Lusignan Prison on the lower East Coast.

Oil traders from Houston, Geneva and London are expected to begin bidding on Monday on some of Guyana’s first oil cargoes, Bloomberg news has reported.

A petition was filed yesterday morning urging Chancellor Yonette Cummings-Edwards to remove Magistrate Alex Moore from presiding over the proceedings against Marcus Bisram, who is accused of masterminding the murder of a Corentyne carpenter Faiyaz Narinedatt.

Foreign Secretary Carl Greenidge yesterday confirmed that Guyana’s ambassador to Venezuela, Cheryl Miles, is among several envoys who have been recalled by President David Granger.

First oil production from ExxonMobil’s Liza-1 field offshore Guyana is still expected this month with the oil major, having completed hookup of the equipment, currently testing it. 

The partially decomposed body of a 31-year-old miner was discovered buried in a shallow grave at Rice Creek, South Rupununi on Sunday, three days after he was allegedly killed, and a teenage suspect has since been arrested.

Several villages on the Essequibo Coast remain flooded as a result of intense rainfall over the previous two days and a temporary pump is being installed at Devonshire Castle to aid in the draining of water from the flooded lands.

General Manager of the Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD) Marcelene Merchant yesterday announced the reopening of the Leguan Stelling, following its closure on Monday to facilitate emergency repairs.

Operations at the Guyana National Industrial Company Incorporated (GNIC) wharf at Lombard Street, Georgetown, resumed on Thursday after a one-day suspension following a chemical spill.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has announced a US$500,000 extractive industries transparency project aimed at promoting transparency and good governance in Guyana’s extractive industries.

Jamal Gilbert, the man who was charged with forging audits reports and giving false information to the police, has been fined a total of $375,000 after pleading guilty to five charges at what was slated to be the commencement of his trial.

An employee of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), who was accused of forging a vehicle registration and licence, was granted his release on bail on Thursday after he denied the charge.