12
GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, September 10, 2015
New EU ambassador pledges continued support to Guyana PRESIDENT David Granger says Guyana’s partnership with the European Union has impacted the local economy to a great extent, especially within the context of trade and development assistance. The President made these comments on Wednesday at the Ministry of the Presidency, as he accepted Letters of Credence from the new European Union, Ambassador to Guyana, Jernej Videtic. “The EU has sought to craft the cooperation agenda to meet new challenges such as climate change, food security, regional integration, state fragility and aid effectiveness. These are all issues that impact on Guyana’s development. We are happy to learn that the EU remains committed to working with Guyana to meet these challenges,” President Granger said. He added that his administration is pleased to continue its cooperation with the European Union with regard to a new UN development agenda for 2015 and beyond. Pillars of development cooperation, economic and trade cooperation, and reinforcement of political
institutions will be crucial to the implementation of such an agenda, President Granger added. Further, Guyana has been visible in this process through its role as co-facilitator for the recently concluded Third International Conference on Financing for Development. However, moving forward, the President said his administration will continue its constructive engagement as the world approaches the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Agreement on Climate Change, later this year. Meanwhile, the Ambassador Videtic, in brief remarks after presenting his credentials conveyed the best wishes of the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, and the President of the European Commission, JeanClaude Juncker, to the representatives and the people of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. “This is of course a very important year for Guyana given the general and regional elections which took place in May. I wish the new Government the very best in furthering the development of Guyana. 2015 is a special
European Union Ambassador, H.E Jernej Videtic as he presented his Letters of Credence to President David Granger, in the presence of, Foreign Affairs Minister, Carl Greenidge and Director General, Ambassador, Ms. Audrey Waddell
year for our relationship for a number of reasons: 2015 is the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the European Union Delegation in Guyana, which ushered in a close and mutually beneficial partnership between Guyana and the EU, based on shared values, which continues to this day and which I intend to build on during my mandate as Ambassador.” He said he found it auspicious that he
is commencing his mandate here in the “European Year for Development”, the motto of which is “Our World, Our Dignity, Our Future”. “Guyana has always played a prominent role in regional and international relations, especially in formulating international development policies. Indeed, this year we mark 40 years since representatives from close to 80 African, Caribbean and
Pacific countries met here in Georgetown to sign an agreement which created the ACP Group of States and became the Group’s fundamental charter,” the new ambassador said. According to him 2015 is also a critical year for the entire planet: in December the COP21 summit takes place in Paris with the objective of securing an ambitious agreement
that will ensure the world remains on track to keep global warming below a 2° C increase limit. He said all countries are affected by climate change, most of all vulnerable states. We, the EU and Guyana, can do a lot by acting together in international fora to bring about change to protect our fragile planet. Another extremely important event is this month’s United Nations Sustainable Development Summit which will decide on the Post-2015 Agenda, the ambassador noted, adding that Guyana has again showed its continuing engagement in shaping international development policies by having played a prominent role in the preparations for this summit, serving as co-facilitator for consultations on the Financing for Development Conference which took place in Addis Ababa in July this year – on which depends the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals of the post-2015 Agenda. “This new Agenda will also influence the new post-Cotonou framework.
Four ferries for dry East Ruimveldt man remanded over – $220M allocated for unlicensed revolver and ammo docking maintenance work By Clestine Juan
PLANS are apace to undertake maintenance works on a number of ferries under the Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD), that would cost the government a total of $220M, according to Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Annette Ferguson. During a press conference at her Kingston office, Minister Ferguson said that Lady Northcote will be dry docked for two months and serviced at a cost of $70M. That ferry was tasked with plying the Georgetown-Port Kaituma route. Meanwhile, the minister said, the ferries MV Kimbia, MV Sandaka and MV Barima will also be dry docked for maintenance and this will cost $150M. The North West ferries will be docked until December for maintenance repairs. Other vessels will be assigned to various districts during the docking. The MV Kimbia is approximately 42 years old and
A MAN from East Ruimveldt, Georgetown, was yesterday remanded to prison by Magistrate Alex Moore when he appeared before her on a charge of having an unlicensed revolver and ammunition in his possession. Devon Garraway of 317 East Ruimveldt pleaded not guilty to the charges which
Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Annette Ferguson
has serviced the North West District for over 20 years but had a torrid history in terms of repairs. Today the steamer service, which has for many years provided an effective and relatively cheap form of transportation, appears to be declining, partly as a result of modernisation and the emergence of smaller and faster, privately-owned vessels that ply the country’s numerous rivers daily.
stated that on Sunday, September 6 at East Ruimveldt, he had in is possession a .32 revolver along with 24 matching live rounds, without being the holder of a firearm licence. Corporal Shawn Gonzales, prosecuting at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, said that the 24-yearold Garraway was arrested by the police during a sting operation, and a subsequent search
of his person unearthed the gun and ammunition. Garraway in his defence said that the gun and ammunition did not belong to him and he was sent by his roommate, who resides with him, to uplift a package on his behalf which he was told contained clothing and some food items. The accused said further that he had been tracked by a police officer, who pounced
on him and innocently charged him when he had no knowledge of what was in the package. The prosecutor objected to bail after the defendant failed to provide a special reason on his behalf for the granting of bail. Garraway was remanded to prison and will make his second court appearance on October 13, for report.
Armed robbery victim admits mistaken ID THE virtual complainant in an armed robbery case avoided a miscarriage of justice yesterday when she informed City Magistrate Judy Latchman that the matter should be discharged against the accused because she was ‘traumatized’ at the time and wrongly identified him as her attacker. Roy Sandiford, 27, of Lot 970 ‘A’ Field, Sophia was charged with robbing Onessa Semple, a receptionist at Modern Hotel, on September 4 in Georgetown. It was alleged that on the day in question Sandiford, be-
ing armed with a gun, robbed Semple at her workplace of two pairs of gold earrings, along with two gold rings, valued $52,000. On the said day also he was accused of stealing from Semple $5,200 in cash, property of Godfrey Raid. Sandiford denied all the allegations. His lawyer, Mr. George Thomas, told the court that Semple had requested the police to drop the charges due to mistaken identity. However, the prosecutor, Corporal Keri Boswick, was quick to present the file against the accused and the victim’s statements. He ex-
plained that according to the file, which had Semple’s statement, she had ample time to see the face of her attacker and had indicated to the police that it was Sandiford. Boswick further disclosed that the accused allegedly held-up the victim at gunpoint and relieved her of the articles while requesting her to empty the fridge before making good his escape from the hotel. The matter was stood down while the magistrate requested the prosecutor to seek the guidance of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). Upon recall, the virtual complainant was made to step
into the witness box to give her sworn testimony. She stated that Sandiford was not the attacker who robbed her at her workplace and expressed regret at the inconvenience. However, she was scolded by Magistrate Latchman who informed her that it is a criminal charge for giving the police wrong information. Cross-examination of the victim was denied by the lawyer. Both armed robbery charges against Sandiford were dismissed and he walked out the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court a free man.