Tuesday June 25, 2019
PAGE 23
Kaieteur News
New surgical technique piloted in Guyana Four surgeons officially trained to perform thyroidectomy procedure Four specialised surgeons attached to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC)s Department of Surgery have been trained to perform thyroidectomy procedure. Their training was part of a one-day workshop hosted by the Caribbean College of Surgeons (CCOS), a day before the start of their 17th Annual scientific conference which ran from June 20 to 22 in Guyana. As a result of this pilot, four surgeries were performed. A team of visiting surgeons did the first operation while the local team conducted the other three procedures under the supervision of the visiting team of surgeons. Surgery Consultant, Dr. Shailendra Rajkumar explained that “this workshop was the first of its kind where they actually removed thyroid glands from persons who had diseased thyroids with a suture-less technique. It is the first time it has ever been done here [in Guyana] and we managed to operate on four patients without any complications, to the benefit of the entire department of surgery
Surgery Consultant of GPHC, Dr. Shailendra Rajkumar at the Georgetown Public Hospital.” Dr. Cheetanand Mahadeo, Consultant and General Thoracic Surgeon at GPHC - one of the four doctors who were formally trained to conduct the thyroidectomy procedure noted that this new technique would be of significant benefit to the patients. “The reason why we never did it [thyroidectomy] was
because we could never afford the device prior. So, now, we are reducing operating time by almost one-third. A surgery would normally last one and a half hours, could be done in just under an hour with the same outcome, so the patients stay less time asleep, and they go home earlier.” A thyroidectomy is a surgical procedure to remove all or part of the thyroid gland
Gold band snatcher to know fate on July 8 A father of two was yesterday remanded to prison and instructed to return to court on July 8 to know his fate, after he admitted to pulling off a womans gold band to obtain money to take care of his children. Jason Thomas, 26, was arraigned in the Georgetown Magistrates Courts before Principal Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus who read the charge to him The court heard that on June 22, 2019 at Regent and Wellington Streets, Georgetown, he stole from the person of Clareann Rambarran, a gold band valued at $120,000. Police prosecutor Adunni Inniss stated that on the day in question at about 13:10hrs, Rambarran was walking along Regent Street, and while at the intersection with Wellington Street, Thomas walked up alongside her and held onto her right arm. He then pulled off her gold band and attempted to run away. However, Rambarrans sister, who was with her, raised an alarm. Police ranks on patrol in the area at the time responded and were able to apprehend Thomas. Thomas pleaded guilty to
Jason Thomas the charge and offered to explain his actions. According to him, on the day in question as soon as he woke up his children mother started complaining about their finances for the kids. “She de just speeding me head, your worship, and she tell me she will have the police arrest me to pay child support. This is my first offence and I don’t do them things. Everybody does make mistakes in life, but at least the woman get back she band.” The magistrate then put a
hold on the matter before handing down her sentence, so that a probation officer can speak to Thomas to gain some knowledge about his background. When the probation officer returned, he made some shocking revelations to the court. He said that according to Thomas, on that day he was under pressure from his childrens mother and also the influence of alcohol. The probation officer related that although he was not able to make contact with the woman, he made contact with the defendants mother. According to the mother, she only knows about one child and she is ashamed of her sons actions. He visits her with the child and she was shocked to hear that he was caught up in bad dealings. Moreover, the probation officer indicated that a talk with the investigating rank into this matter highlighted that Thomas has previous matters before the court, of a similar nature. After listening to the information, the magistrate instructed the prosecutor to get more details on the previous charges and report to her on July 8, when Thomas will be sentenced.
Some of the participants in the 17th Annual scientific conference of the Caribbean College of Surgeons and is used to treat diseases of the thyroid gland, including thyroid cancer. The thyroid gland regulates metabolism by secreting hormones. When diseases affect the thyroid, its size or activity may become abnormal. This is just one of many new developments resulting from CCOS conferences which were recently held. At these meetings or educational symposiums, as members of the college refer to them, Caribbean surgeons share information regarding new procedures as well as new devel-
opments to methods that were practised for many years. The Caribbean College of Surgeons 17th annual scientific conference was held at the Guyana Marriott Hotel. Out of its membership of 250plus surgeons, more than 150 attended the conference, making this the largest convention held. Vice President of the CCOS, Professor Shamir Cawich explained that the goal of the meeting was to contribute to the improvement of healthcare packages
across the Caribbean. “This educational symposium covers a wide range of topics in surgery, and it ranges from cutting edge techniques that are now being discovered like single incision laparoscopy all the way to transplantation, so it covers a very wide range of surgical specialities.” Several regionally and internationally recognised guest speakers made presentations, sharing their experiences while building capacity among surgeons in the Caribbean.
Guns missing from security firm linked to accused in Lethem businessman murder plot A number of guns that belonged to a security firm linked to a city hotel owner, who is implicated in a murder plot, are reportedly missing. According to officials, the police have launched an investigation to determine what happened. Mark Grimmond, the owner of Rockies International Hotel on Light Street, Georgetown, was arrested along with an alleged contracted hit man earlier this m o n t h . Grimmond, 57, from Lot 320 Grove Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara (EBD); and Chatterpaul Singh, 36, a miner who resides at Lot 1 First Street Cummingsburg were recently before the court. They were not required to plead to the indictable charge. It was alleged that between April 1, 2018 and June 7, 2019, at Georgetown, they conspired with each other and persons unknown to murder Dwayne Grant, a businessman from Lethem. According to officials, those charges have implications to the security firm that
Still on remand: Businessman Mark Grimmond Grimmond owns. He was granted licences for almost 100 guns, among them handguns. The security firm was asked to hand over the guns to the CID headquarters at Eve Leary. However, according to
police officials, the checks have revealed that not all the guns have been accounted for. As such a probe is underway. With regards to the charges, it was reported earlier this month that Grant, the Lethem businessman, received certain information that the men were plotting to kill him. He reported it to the police. The police ranks acting on the report went to a hotel where they made contact with the number two defendant, Singh. Singh was arrested and at that point in time he was reportedly found with a firearm. In a detailed conversation with the police, Singh alleged that he was contracted by Grimmond to kill Grant. Grimmond was subsequently arrested and the allegation of conspiracy to commit murder was put to him. Telephone conversations between the two defendants were obtained by the police. Based on advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions, the charges were instituted.