EXCLUSIVE: Berbice Carpenter’s murder: “They will finish me and my son because of Marcus story” – mother fearful of mastermind’s next move (VIDEO)

The mother of the key witness in the murder of Carpenter, Faiaz Narinedatt has broken her silence regarding the shooting incident which took place at her home over the weekend, allegedly by a relative of the mastermind.

Chardwattie Latchman, showed a brave face on Monday as she spoke on camera exclusively to this online news entity. At the time of the interview, she was visiting her hospitalised 16-year-old son who was allegedly poisoned by the said relative.

The lad had to be hospitalised days before he was set to testify against the alleged mastermind, Marcus Brian Bisram who ordered the killing of his childhood friend, Narinedatt in 2016.

The teen was given “something to eat” by persons associated with the case since they are all known to each other.

Bisram, 27, was recently nabbed in the US for the crime after being on Interpol’s wanted list for months.

He was refused bail and remanded by a US Judge, citing him as a flight risk. The matter is now set for mid-August in the US.

Detectives from the Criminal Investigations Department were sent to Berbice to obtain statements from several persons, regarding the teen’s reported poisoning. The alleged shooter is now in police custody and ballistics tests are being carried out for gun powder residue on the suspect.

Intense manhunt underway for escaped inmates who tunnel out of Lusignan prison – Minister Ramjattan

The Joint Services have intensified efforts to apprehend a total of seventeen prisoners, following the escape last evening of an additional 13, from the open holding area at the Lusignan Prison.

The 13 fugitives, burrowed their way out of the holding area via a 5 ft deep tunnel. The tunnel was disguised as a makeshift pit latrine, next to the fence. The escape tunnel exited approximately 5 ft away from the outer fence on the extreme northeast section of the facility.

According to the minister, arrangements are being intensified to remove the remaining 86 prisoners, from the afore mentioned holding area to the Brick Prison at Camp Street.

The other prisons at New Amsterdam, Timehri and Mazaruni are “saturated”, according to the Minister and he explained that the Brick Prison building at Camp Street has been sufficiently completed to house the prisoners.

It was noted that there are three levels of security, comprising Prison Service ranks responsible for the inner section, the Guyana Police Force next and the outer perimeter, secured by ranks of the Guyana Defense Force. Minister Ramjattan, declined to apportion any blame at this time, as to who was directly responsible, saying, “later on there will be a time for that”. The focus, right now, he emphasised is on the need to apprehend those who are at large, and “every effort is being made to catch them.”

Guyana Police Force Commissioner (ag) David Ramnarine stated that ranks are working on “double quick time” and patrols and security checks have been further intensified particularly in the East Coast and East Bank Demerara corridors. He urged the public to cooperate, be patient and extra vigilant. Farmers in the backlands of the coast, Ramnarine added, needed to take extra precaution as they go about their business.

The difficulty of searching and sanitizing prisoners was highlighted by Director of Prisons Gladwin Samuels. He pointed out the difficulty of searching prisoners and the need to ensure the staff’s safety. Asked about the use of cellular phones by some inmates to access social media, Samuels said that 22 devices were discovered, during the first sanitation exercise and 27, the second time.

Samuels said that adequate security measures will be put in place at the Georgetown Prisons where the 86 prisoners have been relocated and the security at the Lusignan Prison will be further beefed up.

The officials sternly warned members of the public not to aid the fugitives and that anyone caught doing so will be dealt with to the fullest extent of the law. They urged citizens to report any suspicious activity to the police on telephone numbers 59256411, 2258196, 2252227, 2271149, 22260765 and 911.

Dr. Roopnarine withdraws resignation

Dr. Rupert Roopnarine has withdrawn his registration after ‘fruitful’ discussions were held with President David Granger on Thursday (July 20).

Minister of State Joseph Harmon announced Thursday Dr. Roopnarine will continue to serve as a minister in the Ministry of the Presidency and as a Member of Parliament.

The President told reporters earlier this week that even though Dr. Roopnarine offered his resignation, it has not been accepted.

His resignation followed his transfer from the Ministry of Education.

Main witness in murder case reportedly poisoned

A 16-year-old boy has been hospitalized for suspected poisoning days before he was set to testify in a murder trial which is ongoing at the Springlands Magistrates’ Court.

The lad was set to testify against the alleged mastermind, Marcus Brian Bisram who is charged with ordering the killing of his childhood friend, Carpenter, Faiaz Narinedatt.

The boy is currently a patient at a public Hospital and is said to be vomiting green. Doctors suspect that the boy was poisoned based on his symptoms.

He is being treated and relatives are hoping for the best. This has left Narinedatt’s family more concerned for their safety and that of the teen and his family.

Capitol News understands that a few days ago, the teen was given “something to eat” by persons associated with the case.

This morning he was rushed to the hospital from home.

Bisram, 27, was recently nabbed in the US for the crime after being on Interpol’s wanted list for months.

He was refused bail and remanded by a US Judge, citing him as a flight risk. The matter was set to be called in the US last week, but Bisram’s attorneys requested the case be postponed pending the outcome of today’s hearing in Guyana.

The matter is now set for mid-August in the US.

Capitol News understands that detectives from the Criminal Investigations Department have been sent to Berbice to obtain statements from several persons, regarding the teen’s reported poisoning.

Miner sentenced to 5 years for illegal gun possession; fisherman in custody in separate incidents

Police ranks acting on information went to a house at Annandale, East Coast Demerara, on Wednesday and conducted a search during which they found 218 live rounds of .45 and 9mm ammunition.

A 46-year fisherman is in custody assisting with the investigation.

In an unrelated report, Kellon Mc Leod, called ‘Pinny’, 29 years, a miner of Victory Valley, Wismar, Linden who was found in possession of a .38 revolver and seven matching rounds was charged and placed before the court.

He appeared before Magistrate Clive Nurse at the Wales Magistrate’s Court Wednesday (July 20) and pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of firearm and ammunition without license.

He was sentenced to five years imprisonment on each charge which will run concurrently.

VIDEO: Three miners murdered during robbery

Vernon Eudoxie, one of the deceased miners

Three Guyanese miners were shot dead during a robbery close to Guyana’s border with Venezuela on Wednesday, according to relatives. They have been identified as Vernon Eudoxie,55, ex-policeman Cologne Solomon,23, and 19-year old Samuel Moses, all of Port Kaituma.

Solomon’s sister Clair Richards related to reporters what the family was told regarding the incident.

There are two survivors and so far only 23-year old Joel Pattan of Supenaam has been identified.

Body of elderly man fished out of trench

The body of a man said to be in his 80’s was on Wednesday (July 19) pulled from a trench in the village of Vergenogen, East Bank Essequibo. He has been identified as Herman Benjamin.

Benjamin reportedly left his home earlier today to uplift his pension, but never reported home.

The discovery was made by persons who were weeding in the area. A crowd gathered after the news spread of the discovery.

Cocaine found on vessel on Essequibo river

Over 95 killograms of what is suspected to be cocaine was discovered when Guyana Defence Force Coast Guard ranks intercepted a boat in the Pomeroon River, on Monday.

The Custom Anti Narcotics Unit (CANU) in a release to the media revealed that two male occupants of the vessel are currently in custody pending investigation.

Over time many have used Guyana’s porous borders as a transshipment point for the illicit substance. Guyana over the years, has stepped up the fight against drug trafficking through its ports.

Canu said no charges have yet been filed against the two men arrested.