Guyana News

By Oluatoyin Alleyne and Iana Seales St Joseph Mercy Hospital’s main structure was yesterday devastated by an early morning fire of unknown origin, but plans are in train to have it up and running again and its board will meet shortly on this issue.

Government has asked a new developer to construct a Marriott Resort and Casino here, making a “very attractive offer,” according to reports that cite company officials.

After days of acrimony, Bridgette Gangadin’s husband and her relatives yesterday agreed that they will both play a part in her cremation, which is scheduled for today.

– says it will undo damage, restore site Having visited the area and conducted its investigation, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) yesterday ordered BK International to cease all quarry operations in the Barakara Falls area, halting plans by the company to blast the falls site.

-local arms race blamed for ‘significant increase’ in violence There are at least 150,000 persons in possession of illegal guns in Georgetown, General Secretary of the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) Glynis Beaton said yesterday, while pointing out that the local “arms race” has created levels of armed violence at epidemic proportions.

-UK, Sweden pose questions on phantom squad Guyana is today slated to defend its human rights record before the United Nations in Geneva and it faces a barrage of questions on issues such as the phantom squad, torture, capital punishment, violence against women and gay and lesbian rights.

The body of a man was found in the Symth Street drain at the side of the Brickdam Police Station yesterday morning.

Several medical practitioners who ran operated private practices at the hospital were badly affected by yesterday’s blaze as they lost expensive and state-of-the-art modern equipment as well as, in some cases, all their patients’ records.

Charge d’ Affaires of the US Embassy Karen Williams yesterday decided to suspend official business at the embassy’s Duke Street, Kingston offices while the fire was still raging.

President Bharrat Jagdeo on Friday commissioned a $400 million water treatment plant at Cotton Tree which was once an area most affected by water shortages.

The Private Sector Commission (PSC) elected a new executive at its annual general meeting last Friday.

Two men, one armed with a handgun, robbed a salesman of more than half a million in cash at George and D’Urban streets yesterday morning.

The Central Islamic Organisation (CIOG), in a statement yesterday, extended sympathy to the administration of the St Joseph Mercy Hospital at the destruction of the building.

Twenty-year-old Devon Alexander of North Sophia was yesterday remanded to prison when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court accused of having carnal knowledge twice of a girl under the age of 15 years.

A homeless man was yesterday placed on $25,000 bail when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court charged with stealing a quantity of items from a man’s store.

A pending father and son reunion was thwarted when Eze Austin, believed to be in his late 50s, met his tragic death on the Sir David Rose Avenue, Mackenzie, Linden last night.

– cops seeking four others One man was arrested and police are hunting for four others who last travelled in the car that was set on fire while the owner was locked in the trunk, at Palmyra, Canje on Friday night.

BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Bombers and gunmen with suspected links to a battered but still lethal al Qaeda killed more than 100 people yesterday in a wave of attacks on markets, a textile factory, checkpoints and other sites across Iraq.

LONDON (Reuters) – Britain’s two big rival political forces planned to resume wooing the smaller Liberal Democrats today after Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he would step aside to try to keep his Labour Party in power.

A 34-year-old woman, who was involved in a three-way smash-up on Dennis Street, Sophia on Saturday night, succumbed to her injuries at the Georgetown Public Hospital on Sunday afternoon.