Keeping you updated on current events... ONLINE DAILY NEWSPAPER
Tuesday Febuary. 1, 2022
MAGISTRATE TOSSES CHARGE OF ILLEGAL PROCESSION AGAINST APNU+AFC MPS
NADIR DISMISSES OPPOSITION MOTION
MAN WHO TRIED TO ROB BAGOTVILLE POST OFFICE CAUGHT IN THE ACT, ARRESTED
Pg4 TWO ARMED ROBBERY SUSPECTS REMANDED
Tuesday Feb., 1, 2022
MAGISTRATE TOSSES CHARGE OF ILLEGAL PROCESSION AGAINST APNU+AFC MPS
Eleven months after APNU-AFC Member of Parliament Christopher Jones and Annette Ferguson along with eight others, were charged for the illegal procession, all of them walked free of the charge following a nocase submission by the defendant’s lawyers. The six were charged back in May last year after it was alleged, during the ruling of the Election Petitions outside of the high court, they were all a part of an illegal protest. Separately, MP Ferguson was also charged for obstructing the duties of an officer. They were each
granted their release on $20,000 bail on the illegal possession charge, while Ferguson was placed on an additional $10,000 bail for the obstruction charge. The matter was before Magistrate Rondell
Weaver. Jones was represented by Attorney at law, Ronald Daniels. Ferguson was at the time represented by Linden Amsterdam. In the submission to the court, Mr. Daniel said, during an interview,
he submitted to the court that while the charge was an illegal procession, the fact stated that they protested, obstructed traffic, and littered, all of which should have come under various charges and not the one placed.
Mr. Daniels contended that both Jones and Annette Ferguson were never part of the procession since at the time the two were just inquiring with the police why one of the person around was arrested. There was no evidence pointed toward them being anywhere between Croal and King Streets. The only evidence was that they were on the pavement at Household Plus. Mr. Daniels said that even when a person was in front of the court, the police did not make any attempt to arrest anyone since even in their testimony, they admitted that nothing was done
illegally. Those arguments were upheld by Magistrate Weaver and charges were later dismissed against all the defendants. Mr. Daniels pointed out that it could only be seen as a charge that was politically motivated. “Those charges were frivolous and vexatious. We are of the view that those charges were really politically motivated and probably should not have been brought. So, we feel vindicated and I’m certain that all of the defendants feel vindicated by the court’s ruling that those charges in effect did not have any substance.”
NADIR DISMISSES OPPOSITION MOTION The APNU-AFC Opposition motion to have 22 members of the Government side sent to the Privileges Committee was dismissed by the Speaker of the National Assembly Manzoor Nadir during the start of the debates on Budget 2022 at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC). The Motion was summited by the Former Leader of the PNC and the Leader of the Opposition, along with Chief Whip Christopher Jones. They submitted the motion following the alleged acts committed by the
Government Members during the night of the passing of the Natural Resource Fund Bill(NRF). During that night, the
APNU-AFC protested as the Bill was about to be passed. With the blowing of Whistles, the thumping of the tables, and the use
of placards, the APNUAFC Opposition protested calling for the bill not to be passed. In protest, the Mace,
which is deemed the most significant Symbol in the Parliament, was snatched causing some level of pandemonium in parliament. This move came after the opposition questioned the new bill being introduced for the Government to have greater access to the oil funds and truncate the oversight committee. The Bill was, however, passed due to the Government Majority. Eight members of the Opposition were referred to the Privileged Committee. They were Chief Whip, Christopher Jones, and other
Opposition MPs, Sherod Duncan, Natasha SinghLewis, Annette Ferguson, Vinceroy Jordan, Tabitha Sarabo-Halley, Ganesh Mahipaul, and Maureen Philadelphia. Since then a motion for 22 members of the Government to the Privileges Committee was submitted to the house, and in response, Speaker Nadir said that the motion was dismissed due to the fact that a prima facie case was not made out against the government parliamentarians. Another reason is that government lawmakers cannot be liable for illegal actions.
TWO ARMED ROBBERY SUSPECTS REMANDED Two men who have been fingered in robbing a man of his firearm and many other items worth over $600,000 have been remanded to jail. The two men appeared before City Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus and professed their innocents, as the charge was read to them. According to the charge Deon Cromwell, a 31-year-old vendor
of King Edward Street, Albouystown, and Ceon Maynard, a 26-year-old construction worker of New Market Street,on January 19, 2022, at Water Street, while being armed with a gun, robbed Randal Singh of one .32 semi-automatic pistol, 14 matching rounds, a gold chain, and a ring along with cash totaling $631,000. Reports suggested that
on the day in question, the two saw the victim walking along Water Street when they decided that it was the opportune moment to ambush the victim. Armed with a gun, the two men cornered the victim and relieved him of the valuables. The two then made their escape. The matter was later reported and the two were apprehended.
An identification parade was held and they were both positively identified The prosecutor objected to the pair being released on bail citing the nature, gravity, and penalty attached to the charge. That objection was upheld by Magistrate Isaacs-Marcus and the two they were remanded to prison until February 28, 2022.
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Tuesday Feb., 1, 2022
MAN WHO TRIED TO ROB BAGOTVILLE POST OFFICE CAUGHT IN THE ACT, ARRESTED
Police are investigating a report of Break and Enter and Larceny at the Bagotville Post Office which occurred early today at about 03:05 hrs. The suspect was caught at
the scene and arrested. Inquiries disclosed that the Post Office is a wooden structure, with a wooden door facing secured by means of a padlock. Early today, ranks of the Guyana
resulting in the suspect being discovered hiding in a room inside the Post Office. He was arrested and Police Force, acting on taken to the La Grange information, went to the Police Station where he Post Office where the was placed in custody. external wooden wall was discovered broken. Investigations are Checks were made in continuing. and around the Post Office
New reading series to hit schools
Ten years after the Atlantic Readers Series was launched under the PPP/C Government, the Ministry of Education, and into the education system for young learning, the PPP/C now back in Government has revisited the project, revised and launched the books. The books were launched over the weekend at Redeemer Primary School with the aim of having each child learn to read by the four grade. This time will now have series one to six. The one to three series is ready. Series four to six will be for readers and for
practical lessons. The books will also focus on having Guyanese contained inside and are truly relatable to the kids and in return have them learn the culture of their homeland. Speaking at the event hosted by the Ministry of Education, Minister Priya Manickchand, said that it’s about time Guyana has its materials for learning, and not having to go into the fashion of learning from someone else’s culture using their books. There are enough books to distribute and the fact that too many grade level students were not
able to read at some point is worrying. “So, this could not go on. We couldn’t continue to have books in our classrooms that were not enough, and that were not as relevant for our children. Watching year after year poor results that evidenced poor literacy skills because if you are reading you are learning to read from nursery to grade four and reading to learn from grade four onwards and if you can’t read to learn; you might understand that is why you are seeing poor science and social studies results in grade six and poor economic results.”
Minister Manickchand. Minister Manickchand further questioned why such a project was not continued under the APNU-AFC Government. This not be lamented at the moment. The focus must be on forging ahead in making students learn about their country, its culture and at the same time learn how to read. “While we are teaching you to read we are also teaching you about Diwali and Cuffy and Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow and the leaf and the flower. We are integrating all other subjects; life skills…How to be kind in a reader’s book. As you learn to read you learn to be a civil respectful citizen,” Minister Manickchand added. Additionally, she noted that even with the project launched the goal to have a child reading well by grade four cannot work without the implementation of the teachers, and as such, she is calling on the teachers to do their jobs and ensure that the books as used properly and ensure that
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books use all the time for the benefit of the students. “I’m asking you to use the resource consciously in a way that gives you the result. Once your children come into your classroom, you know where each and every one of them is as a reader. You watch them week after week grows to where you want them to be at the end of that class,” Minister Manickchand further noted. The Book Series was reportedly birthed in 2012. Eighteen months later the first three series were created with the help of local writers, education specialists, teachers, etc. Atlantic Readers Series is said to have comprised the Guyanese way of life, while focusing on comprehension, Phonics, etc. The books will also be translated into the Amerindian language and would be available to all students free online, as an interface version soon. The United Nations Children’s Fund, Guyana/ Suriname Deputy Representative, Irfan Akhtar said this stands part
in realizing a Sustainable Development Goal(SDG) set by the United Nation. “This initiative is important in relation to SDGs to ensure inclusive and equitable and quality education in promoting life and learning and opportunities for all.” Dr. Lauretter Bristol, CARICOM Representative, applauded the Government. She said that it stands with the CARICOM Goals of having a human development agenda 2030 through education. “What a thing to a young child while learning about the world recognizing himself or herself in that world today in Guyana. The CARICOM Secretariat as a regional body is excited to continue to be a part of this journey with you as together we seek to ensure and realize the aims and goals of the human development agenda 2030.” The new Atlantic Readers will be on the shelves at each school around Guyana in the coming weeks the books.
Thursday Jan., 20, 2022
ELECTRIC CYCLIST CRUSHED BY CONTAINER TRUCK
Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the accident on Water Street in Georgetown which took
The accident occurred the life of 71-year-old on Tuesday about 14:30 Carlon Windsor Barrett of Lot 32 (A) Victoria hours. Investigations have Avenue, Eccles East Bank so far revealed that an Demerara.
articulated motor vehicle – lorry # GZZ 6378 with trailer # TEE 6391 attached with a 40-foot container laden with lumber, and
driven by Jormen John Joseph,33, years of Lot 1268 B Field Sophia, Greater Georgetown, was proceeding south along the centre of the eastern carriageway of Water Street. As it approached Muneshwar Limited the driver alleged that he put on his vehicle’s right side indicator to turn west onto the western carriageway. He further said he then felt the right side rear wheel of the trailer run over something, causing him to immediately stop and exit his vehicle. He noticed the wheel on top of the cyclist’s body and cycle. The ambulance service was contacted which arrived shortly on the scene with a team of Emergency Medical
Technicians, headed by Doctor Etwario who examined the cyclist and pronounced him dead at the scene. The body of the deceased was escorted to the Memorial Gardens Funeral Home Mortuary where it awaits a post mortem examination. Deputy Superintendent Williams, Inspector Boyce and a party of police visited the accident scene and a standard breathalyzer test was conducted on the driver of the articulated vehicle but no trace of alcohol was found in his system. However a notice of intended prosecution was prepared and served on the said driver as further investigations are continuing.