News

Alana Seebarran, who was mistakenly pursued in a high speed car chase by an army intelligence officer during a bungled operation that resulted in three deaths, has told police that she and her brother fled during an attempt to detain her outside her home because none of the officials properly identified themselves.

The godbrother of missing British teen Dominic Michael Lloyd Bernard is one of two persons now wanted by police, who are also investigating whether a badly decomposed body found buried in a shallow grave in Berbice yesterday afternoon is the youth.

Amidst a probe into whether Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) Commissioner-General Khurshid Sattaur leaked private taxpayer information, the governing board of the agency has authorised several policy changes which are intended to protect taxpayer data.

The Private Sector Commission (PSC) yesterday said that it was shocked to learn that the State Assets Recovery Unit (SARU) is apparently involved in a money laundering investigation of a financial institution since its responsibility is to recover state assets.

Against the backdrop of a noticeable increase in crimes and continued concerns at the many shortfalls in the court system, 75 police officers and state prosecutors have begun training under a Canadian-funded project intended to improve conviction rates.

A child is dead and 60 persons have had to seek medical attention for gastroenteritis-like symptoms at Baramita, Region One, but Public Minister Dr George Norton says the situation is “under control.”

Businessman Stanley Ming is tipped to be the new Board Chairman of the strife-ridden Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), sources say.

A recaptured prison escapee is being questioned about his possible involvement in the fatal attack on Corentyne businessman Patrick Mohabir, who was shot and chopped during a home invasion on Wednesday night.

Political activist Mark Benschop, who has indicated his intention to contest for a seat on the Georgetown city council at the March 18 local government elections, says “inefficiencies” at the Guyana Elections Commission (Gecom) are stymieing his campaign.

Minister of Public Health Dr George Norton yesterday visited the Leonora Cottage Hospital to discuss the remodeling required for the maternity ward so it can be functional again.

The government has advertised for consultancy services for a finalised opt-in mechanism for indigenous communities wishing to benefit from the Guyana-Norway forest protection scheme.

Murchy Noorhan was yesterday sentenced to 40 years in prison after being found guilty of engaging in sexual activities with a family member, who was also a minor.

A Linden miner was yesterday remanded to prison after being charged with trying to kill another man.

A La Penitence man maintained his innocence yesterday when he appeared in a city court charged with stealing almost $3 million in goods during two break-ins at an Industrial Site bond.

Route 56 (Rosignol-New Amsterdam) minibus operators yesterday appealed to the Public Infrastructure Ministers to put measures in place to mitigate their losses since the introduction of the Berbice River water taxi service.

Abuse of the Contingen-cies Fund needs to be nipped in the bud by putting concrete measures in place, former Auditor-General Anand Goolsarran says.

Five months after it was presented to Cabinet, a Code of Conduct for ministers is still to be finalised.

The European Union (EU) has inked an agreement to provide $75.7 million in funding for a new national advocacy project being spearheaded by local child rights non-governmental organisation ChildLinK.

(Reuters) – U.S. stocks closed lower yesterday, ending a volatile week with their worst five-day start to a year ever, as sliding oil prices and lingering worries about the global economy offset upbeat U.S.

WASHINGTON/CHICAGO, (Reuters) – Democrats in the U.S. Congress, outraged over the Obama administration’s pursuit of Central American migrant families for deportation, yesterday called for a halt and new protections for undocumented people from three crime-infested countries.