Boat Captain missing following river accident 

Boat captain Claude Pollard is missing, while four passengers have been injured following a boat accident on Saturday (January 30th 2021)

That accident involved a Bartica Public Hospital boat ambulance and a passenger boat.

According to a police report, their enquiries disclosed at around 19:15 hrs the boat ambulance was proceeding from Parika to Bartica along the Essequibo river while the other boat was traveling from Bartica enroute to Parika and while in the vicinity of Stampa Point the two boats collided causing four of the seven passengers to receive injuries. The captain of the vessel fell into the river and was not seen again.

The police report noted that efforts to retrieve his body proved futile. The injured passengers were taken to the Bartica Public Hospital where they were seen and examined by a Doctor on duty.

The ambulance was captained by 59yr old Bernard Singh of Housing Scheme Bartica.

Investigations are in progress.

“We pick fights with no one, but we will resist threats from anyone.” President Irfaan Ali on Venezuela’s aggression

President Irfaan Ali is adamant that Guyana will not bend to threats to the country’s national security. The Head of State gave an address to the Nation on Saturday on the aggression by Venezuela in Guyana’s waters. He noted that “We may be a small country, but we are a proud people”. We have no military might, but we have moral and legal rights. “We pick fights with no one, but we will resist threats from anyone.”

The President stated that outside of the border, there were several issues to discuss, including the increasing number of Venezuelans now seeking refuge in Guyana, as well as how the two neighbouring states can deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. These issues, according to the President, can only be discussed if Venezuela can desist from any further acts of aggression against Guyana, starting with the release of the Guyanese fishermen and their vessels, which were seized in Guyana’s waters last week.

The President said that the country has the support of the international community and will continue to look for a peaceful solution to Venezuela’s aggression.
President Ali said his Government is doing all in its power to vigorously protect Guyana’s territorial integrity and is fully committed to the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) process.

He added that his Government will follow the legal process in addressing the border issue, which will be dealt with by the ICJ.
According to the President, he last night received a letter from the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Antonio Guterres, in which he (Mr. Guterres) reaffirmed that on January 30th, 2018 he chose the ICJ as the means “to be used for the solution of the controversy” as he was empowered to do under an agreement signed in Geneva by all parties in 1966.

President Ali added that the Secretary-General acknowledged that the Court is proceeding to adjudicate the merits of the case.
The President said that he believes that international law and independent international jurists of the highest caliber offer the most credible and definitive way in which to put an end to the Venezuelan contention.
Mr. Guterres told the President that he would make his office available if Guyana and Venezuela wish to address other important issues.

“We are a peaceful nation. We always choose the path of peace and the rule of international law to resolve our issues. We will remain firmly on that path, while we pursue justice for our country.”

The President was joined by Prime Minister, Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips, Ministers of Government and Members of the Armed Forces, among other officials.

Mother of two remanded for cocaine busted in snacks, two others wanted in relation to the seizure.

Pathrina Pilgrim, a 30-year-old mother of two was today remanded to prison after she pleaded not guilty to trafficking in narcotics.

The woman was arrested and charged after 534 grams of cocaine which was concealed in a box of snacks was busted at the Eugene F. Correia International Airport, Ogle on January 27th, 2021. The flight was destined for Brooklyn, New York. Pilgrim of Lot 2’C North Road appeared before Magistrate Leron Daly in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court this morning and was remanded to prison until February 19th.
According to a release from the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit, the box was loaded on a flight destined for Brooklyn New York.

CANU said the suspected cocaine was found in two parcels, each wrapped in carbon and concealed in a false wall at the bottom of the said box. The box contained a quantity of packets of local snacks, notably: coconut biscuit, mittai, chicken foot, and one packet of uncooked vermicelli.
Meanwhile, CANU has issued a wanted Bulletin for two South Ruimveldt residents in connection with the drug bust.
The male and female were identified as Chelsea Collins of 10 David Rose Street, South Ruimveldt and Edinho Lewis of 25 Shopping Plaza South Ruimveldt.
 CANU is asking anyone knowing the whereabouts of the two individuals to make contact with them on 2273507 or 2260431

Prison officers and more prisoners test positive for COVID-19, says Minister of Health.

Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony today confirmed that a number of prisoners and prison officers have tested positive for COVID-19. 

“Today we have a few cases at Lusignan, but those cases having been tested and identified we have not isolated them in a special part of the prison.

Dr. Anthony also said that four prisoners officers at the New Amsterdam Prison are in isolation after testing positive for the infectious disease. 

“We have also had one prisoner in New Amsterdam, who has tested positive and that person has been placed in isolation as well. We have had a number of cases at Timehri, we have 33 prisoners who tested positive at Timehri, and those persons have also been put in a special area where they are isolated from the rest of the prison population”. 

The Health Minister has said that the medical staff of the prison service is monitoring the cases. Anthony said most of the cases are Asymptomatic as such once they clear the ten-day period then they will be released from isolation.

Last year riots broke out at the Lusignan prison resulting in the deaths of two prisoners and injuries to others and prison officers over the handling of those infected with the disease at the facility. 

Meanwhile, Guyana’s active COVID-19 cases now stand at 754, an increase of 90 new cases. The Ministry of Health in its daily dashboard has 710 people on approved home isolation and 44 in institutional isolation. Seven persons are in the COVID-19 ICU. The total COVID-19 cases recorded from March of Last year now stand at 7,470.

Woman in custody after CANU busts over 1 Pound of cocaine in local snacks

A woman busted with cocaine concealed in snacks destined for Brooklyn, New York. The two parcels of drugs weighed 534 grams, (1 pound).
The drug was intercepted at the Eugene F. Correia International Airport, Ogle on Wednesday (January 27th, 2021).

According to a release from the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit, the box was loaded on a flight destined for Brooklyn New York.


CANU said the suspected cocaine was found in two parcels, each wrapped in carbon and concealed in a false wall at the bottom of the said box. The box contained a quantity of packets of local snacks, notably: coconut biscuit, mittai, chicken foot, and one packet of uncooked vermicelli.
The suspect Pathrina Pilgrim, who posted the box in question is currently in custody.
The 30-year-old woman is from  2 C North Road Bourda. CANU said several persons have since been contacted in the ensuing investigation.

 

 

 

Man beaten to death while he slept

A destitute man is now dead after he was smashed with a brick to his head while he slept at the corners of Camp and Robb Streets. The incident occurred just after 3:00 this morning. Reports are that the suspect first attacked another destitute who was also asleep outside the Tele-performance Building and after that man managed to escape he then pounced on the other man where he dealt him the fatal blows. The dead man is still to be identified.

The suspect is in custody. details emerging.

Policeman in custody following the death of a pensioner.

A Sergeant of Police is now under close arrest for the death of a 73-year-old man. Police Public Relations Officer, Assistant Commissioner Royston Andries-Junor in a press statement this afternoon said the incident occurred yesterday at Onderneeming on the Essequibo Coast.

The deceased has been identified as Patrick George.

According to Andries-Junor initial investigations found that the Police Sergeant was cleaning his yard when George entered by removing a zinc sheet which separated the yard. The man according to reports then attacked the police officer with a cutlass and piece of metal.

The Police in retaliation chopped George, who then dropped his cutlass and piece of metal and escaped through the fence.

However, at approximately 10:00hrs this morning police acting on information went to George’s home where the pensioner was observed laying on his step motionless with chop wounds to his forehead, wrist and chest.

The man was pronounced dead at the Suddie Hospital and the Police Sergeant placed under close arrest as the matter is under investigation.

Pensioner beaten and allegedly sexually assaulted

Pensioner beaten and allegedly sexually assaulted

Pensioner beaten and reportedly sexually assaulted by bandits who invaded her Rose Hall Town Corentyne Berbice home this morning.

The 98 year old woman was beaten to her face and mouth which were swollen. A relative told reporters that further examination of the woman revealed that she was sexually assaulted by the suspect and blood was seen on her underwear.The woman said the pensioner related to her that the suspect choked her and put a hand down her throat.
The relative said the police arrived but left shortly after and indicated to family that if they have knowledge of who committed the act  to get unto them. The police have since launched an investigation into the matter. Two suspects were arrested.