January 2019 – Page 10 – Guyana Times International

Ali moves to High Court over fraud charges

January 11, 2019January 11, 2019 TIMES INT'L

…says SOCU charges discriminatory, abuse of court’s process After being handed 19 fraud-related charges in November 2018 by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU); Magistrates’ Courts proceedings against former Housing Minister Irfaan Ali have been put on hold as he moved to challenge the merit of the State’s case at the High Court. Ali in his writ filed, among several citations, contends that the case, related to the sale of lands at Plantation Sparendaam (Pradoville Two), East Coast Demerara is tantamount to an abuse of the court’s process. He is…

Minibus driver to face Judge, jury over rape of 14-year-old girl

January 11, 2019January 11, 2019 TIMES INT'L

After being charged in October of 2018 for the rape of a 14-year-old schoolgirl, 41-year-old minibus operator Sherwayne Brant, also known as “Brave”, was on Monday committed to stand in the High Court by Georgetown Magistrate Faith McGusty. Magistrate McGusty, in handing down her ruling, said that a prima facie case has been made out against Brant. The minibus driver was charged for engaging in sexual penetration with a child under the age of 16 at Plum Park, Sophia, Greater Georgetown, on October 7, 2015. During the Preliminary Inquiry, the…

Cuban charged with forging visa appointment letter remanded

January 11, 2019January 11, 2019 TIMES INT'L

A Cuban citizen was on Thursday slapped with three counts of fraud when he stood before a city magistrate in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts after being arraigned on a series of charges ranging from defrauding the Ministry of Citizenship to forgery. Lazaro Pereira Alanzo’s denied the charges when it was read to him on Thursday by Principal Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs –Marcus, through an interpreter. The first charge against the 52-year-old man stated that on December 17, 2018, at Georgetown, with intent to defraud, he uttered to Ayana Harris, a General…

PPP commissioners say extension of GECOM Chairman’s medical leave a ploy to delay elections

January 11, 2019January 11, 2019 TIMES INT'L

While acknowledging that any illness of the Guyana Elections Chairman (GECOM), retired Justice James Patterson is regrettable, Commissioners representing the Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) claim it is a ploy designed to delay the holding of elections. In a joint statement, the Commissioners – Bibi Shadick, Sase Gunraj and Robeson Benn – therefore urged that GECOM be alert to its duty and responsibilities as mandated by the Constitution and that no action be undertaken to subvert these intentionally. “…we do wish him a speedy and a full recovery, we cannot…

Preserving our literary heritage

January 11, 2019January 11, 2019 TIMES INT'L

2018 Year in Review: Books (part one) by Petamber Persaud We, lovers of literature, can say goodbye to 2018 with satisfaction, knowing that some of the books published in this year will follow us into 2019 while others will stay, will not leave us during 2019 and decades beyond, such is this remarkable gift to man. From its inception, the book was treated with respect, even with awe, for man valued the book very highly with regards to its potential as a tool of education and instruction, as a repository…

ExxonMobil begins drilling at Haimara-1

January 11, 2019January 11, 2019 TIMES INT'L

ExxonMobil Monday announced that it has begun drilling one of the two wells planned for January, known as the Haimara-1. In a release on Business Wire, the oil giant confirmed it has begun drilling the offshore well. The well is being drilled by the Stena Carron Drillship and is located 19 miles (31 kilometres) east of the Pluma-1 discovery in the southeast Stabroek Block. In the online release, ExxonMobil President Steve Greenlee said of the company, “We continue to prioritise high-potential prospects in close proximity to previous discoveries in order…

Citizens demand that APNU/AFC Government resign immediately

January 11, 2019January 11, 2019 TIMES INT'L

Dear Editor, As Guyana heralds 2019, the cries of citizens through the passage of the Opposition Leader’s No-Confidence Motion and the ‘Charrandas Persaud effect’ in the National Assembly, has finally gotten the attention of the haughty ‘bring it on’ Ministers in this failed and fallen President Granger-led coalition Government. The reverberating effects of the carried motion, has, and is now further woefully exposing the high level of unpreparedness and lack of intent of the APNU/AFC regime to operate in a manner that would truly improve the lives of our citizens.…

New mall to open in Guyana in 2020

January 11, 2019January 11, 2019 TIMES INT'L

The East Bank of Demerara landscape is set to undergo a major transformation with the establishment of the United States (US) based Amazonia Mall, a state-of-the-art facility that will offer new experiences to locals and visitors. The project is currently under construction at Providence, EBD; a stone’s throw from the National Stadium. It is being spearheaded by one of Guyana’s most successful sportsmen, Ramnaresh Sarwan, and is expected to be completed in 2020. The 38-year-old former Guyana and West Indies cricketer turned entrepreneur said this is phase two of a…

“Son” charged for killing soldier

January 11, 2019January 11, 2019 TIMES INT'L

The accused in the Philippi Village, Corentyne, Berbice murder of a Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Lieutenant was on Monday remanded to prison when he appeared at the Whim Magistrate’s Court. Kamal Matthews, also called “Son”, 26, of Mibicuri South, Black Bush Polder, was not required to plead to the indictable charge which stated that on December 23, 2018 at Philippi, Corentyne, he unlawfully killed Mark Bagot. Matthews is being represented by Attorney Chandra Sohan. Magistrate Renita Singh adjourned the case to January 21, 2019. In court on Monday, a large…

Salary increases do not lead to decline in corruption

January 11, 2019January 11, 2019 TIMES INT'L

Dear Editor, “I would rather eat salt and rice” is a phrase from my formative years that speaks to personal integrity; it is a core value of many Guyanese who refuse to give into the daily temptations. Head of the Environmental Protection Agency, Dr Vincent Adams is attributed to calling for better salaries for his employees with the rationale “concerns from local and international transparency advocates that the poor salaries of EPA officers make them more susceptible to the influence of corrupt oil companies,” a section of the media on…