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Kaieteur News
GPA condemns unfair... From page13 Several independent media houses including Kaieteur News, Stabroek News, CNS Channel 6, Capitol News, HBTV Channel 9 and RBS Channel 13, among others, though they applied, did not in many cases receive any reply to their applications. Government has since asked the media houses to submit new applications. They have defended Jagdeo but stopped short of explaining what
criteria were used by the former President to grant those licences. The disclosure of the details of the licences issued has sparked protests and attracted the condemnation of media bodies, local and international. Court action has been taken and the media owners have shared their concerns with US government officials. World Press Freedom Day was proclaimed by the UN
General Assembly in December 1993, following the recommendation of UNESCO’s General Conference. The day is to celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom; assess the state of press freedom throughout the world; defend the media from attacks on their independence; and pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
Friday May 03, 2013
Guyana-born day care worker accused of abusing toddlers in US
Prosecutors have filed child abuse and child endangerment charges against Ann Bactawar (inset) who allegedly injured two toddlers. New York (NBC New York) - Prosecutors have filed child abuse and child endangerment charges against a Jersey City day care center worker who allegedly injured two toddlers. Bail was set Wednesday at US$100,000 for 26-year-old Ann Bactawar of Jersey City. She faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted of the charges. Prosecutors say Bactawar allegedly upended a boy who was standing on a box at the Sunnyside Academy Daycare Center in Jersey City. Authorities were contacted after a center administrator showed the boy’s father a video of the incident.
Further investigation led authorities to charge Bactawar with the abuse of another boy at the center. Prosecutors say the toddlers suffered bruises, cuts and bleeding. Bactawar, a native of Guyana, has been arrested twice before, once in September 2011 and again in July 2012, each time for aggravated assault, according to authorities. The directo r of Sunnyside Academy Daycare, who did not want to be go on camera, told NBC 4 New York those cases were noted as pending when an outside agency conducted a mandatory background
check on Bactawar. Bactawar also gave the agency letters from her probation officer and lawyer before she was hired. Parents at the school were upset by the allegations of abuse but said they believe it was isolated. “This school is great,” said mother Idilko McGivney. “That teacher was a bad example, but the school is great.” “I’m sad this happened,” said Sanjeev Pasham, a father. “I’m really sorry for the parents and the kids. I don’t want to make any conclusions.” Bactawar entered a plea of not guilty.
Suspect to be charged for executionstyle killing at Cool Square Hotel Police are convinced that they have solved the murder of businessman Intaz Roopnarine, who was killed execution-style by a lone gunman in the compound of the Cool Square Hotel, three months ago. Investigators detained an individual fitting the description of the tall, slim gunman seen on a surveillance camera chasing Roopnarine to the back of the Marigold Street, West Ruimveldt hotel on January 24. The suspect was detained a few days ago and an official told Kaieteur News that he is likely to be charged shortly. Kaieteur News was told that detectives also detained a man who is a frequent guest at the hotel, after receiving information that he had arranged the execution. A source said that investigations also revealed that the hotel guest and the alleged hit-man had been in contact. Police have said that the suspect is believed to be a professional hit-man, but have not come up with a clear motive for Roopnarine’s murder. The 37-year-old Mandela Avenue
businessman was waiting for a taxi near the hotel gate at around 05:30 hrs on January 24 when a tall, slim man scaled the gate, pursued him to the back of the hotel compound and shot him in the head. A .32 round was retrieved from the scene. A surveillance camera recorded Roopnarine fleeing to the back of the hotel with the gunman in pursuit. However, no camera was located in the area where Roopnarine was slain. According to reports reaching Kaieteur News, passersby had observed the gunman, with cap pulled down, sitting on a culvert some 50 metres north of the hotel some time after 05:00 hrs on the morning of the shooting. The man was also using his cell phone. This newspaper also learnt that the on-duty security guard had observed the strange man lurking near the hotel and became suspicious. Around 05:30 hrs, Roopnarine exited room seven of the hotel and went to the front gate, which was locked. He then stood at the gate waiting for the taxi to arrive.
The security guard, according to sources, informed the businessman of the stranger’s presence and cautioned Roopnarine repeatedly to remain in the hotel. However, Roopnarine reportedly drew his firearm, waved it in the air, and told the guard that he was “the baddest man around.” Some minutes later, a taxi arrived for the businessman. The hotel guard then unlocked the gate and a woman exited. According to sources who viewed the camera footage, Roopnarine was about to follow the woman when the tall gunman scaled the hotel fence. Reports are that the guard and Roopnarine immediately took evasive action. Kaieteur News was told that the gunman discharged a shot at his fleeing target but the shot missed and struck one of the hotel windows. According to sources, there were several open rooms in which Roopnarine could have taken cover. Instead, the apparently panicstricken man fled down a passageway leading to a dead end.