Justice Sandil Kissoon on Tuesday handed a life sentence to Shivanand Roopnarine of School Street, Grove, East a Demerara, who brutally stabbed his 18-year-old girlfriend Alissa McPherson to death in April 2015. Roopnarine, 26, pleaded guilty to a murder indictment presented against him by State Prosecutors Tiffini Lyken, Tuanna Hardy and Nafeeza Baig. He could be eligible for parole after serving 20 years’ imprisonment. Attorney Siand Dhurjon pleaded with the Judge for a lesser sentence for his client. He highlighted that Roopnarine was under the influence of alcohol when he…
Read MoreMonth: January 2020
Guyana’s sugar workers wait in vain for pay hike
It has been over two months since an estimated 3500 sugar workers from fields and factories of Albion, Blairmont, and Uitvlugt estates have petitioned the caretaker President for him to intervene in an anticipated pay rise to sugar workers and to date no word is forthcoming. The workers’ bargaining agent, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) noted that the President has committed that he would send the petition to the GuySuCo to receive their advice before offering a response. But GAWU is contending that the President has received…
Read More‘Not interested in any ministerial posts’ – Jaipaul Sharma
Current Junior Public Infrastructure Minister, Jaipaul Sharma has confirmed his exit from the Justice For All Party (JFAP) that was started by his father CN Sharma, while noting that he will also turn down any future ministerial roles should the incumbent Government be reelected. Sharma made this public statement in response to reports in sections of the media that his name was submitted by President David Granger as a People’s National Congress (PNC) candidate for the National Top up list, rather than a JFAP candidate. “It should be noted that…
Read MoreRuling on matter will violate Constitution – lawyer tells Appeal Court
Senior Counsel (SC) Ralph Ramkarran is contending that the electoral process was triggered last month when President David Granger issued the election proclamation and further argues that once the “elections train” has left the station, then any issue relating to this process should be dealt with via an election petition. Ramkarran was at the time rebutting final submissions made by Attorney General Basil Williams in the appeal case filed by the State to challenge the August 2019 decision by acting Chief Justice Roxane George, who blocked the removal of persons…
Read MoreState media should not be used for political propaganda purposes
Dear Editor, In responding to both Tony Vieira and myself on the subject of broadcast coverage of the political parties contesting the elections, Mr Enrico Woolford has indulged in ad hominem attacks on Vieira and myself, attacking the messenger rather than the message. I suppose that this will impress the party faithful but it does not address the issue at hand. Tony Vieira, Kit Nascimento and Enrico Woolford are not the issues. The issue is that both of the State-owned and operated media, the National Communications Network (NCN) and the…
Read MoreGuyana working to strengthen legislative framework on children’s rights
As Guyana works to strengthen its legislative framework on children’s rights, focus is being placed on the changing economic conditions as a result of the country’s petroleum sector. This was highlighted at a stock-taking meeting organised by the Legal Affairs Ministry in partnership with the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH) and the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) Guyana. The meeting featured key representatives from the Government and civil society bodies who engaged in critical discussions on shaping the way forward to improve local legislative framework for children.…
Read MoreGuyana celebrates 167 years of Chinese arrival
…memorial to be erected in Region 3 January 12, 2020, marked 167 years since Chinese arrived in Guyana as part of the indentureship programme. They have, ever since, been making tremendous contributions to the diversity of Guyana. In commemoration of this event, a Chinese Memorial will be commissioned at Windsor Forest in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara). The sod was turned for the beginning of construction. On Monday, to commemorate the anniversary, a simple ceremony was hosted at Windsor Forest, where Chinese first settled in Guyana. During the ceremony, Ambassador…
Read More‘I pleaded with him not to stab her, but it was too late’
…woman recalls horrifying details of daughter’s brutal murder Accusations of infidelity ended in murder on Wednesday when a Crane, West Coast Demerara (WCD) man stabbed his reputed wife to death and then attempted to take his own life by ingesting a poisonous substance. Dead is Bibi Zameena Ali of Lot 15 Old Road, Crane, WCD, who was accused by the suspect of being unfaithful to him. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, the dead woman’s mother, Rashpattie Persaud, recounted that she was awakened by her daughter’s screams on Wednesday. The woman…
Read MoreBullyism…
…and the PNC While the incident might appear small, it has great significance in what it reveals about the fundamental nature of the PNC, which has unfortunately remained true since the 1960s. Knowing that it’s been the tradition in Guyana for parties to register on Nomination Day on a “first come, first served” basis, three small parties camped out in front of the Umana Yana overnight, to ensure they wouldn’t be lost in the circus to come later in the day. But as was plaintively recorded by a member of…
Read MoreGranger faces heat over comments on removal of no-confidence motion from Constitution
President David Granger’s recent rhetoric on the campaign trail, which hinted at the possible removal of the No-Confidence Motion from the Constitution of Guyana, continues to raise opposition in many quarters. In an invited comment, Private Sector Commission (PSC) Chairman retired Captain Gerry Gouveia informed this publication that he was shocked when he heard the President’s statement which hinted at intentions to remove the provision. “The President had always struck me as a man who believed in democracy and who doesn’t change the rules of the game, in the middle…
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