Sunday September 29, 2013
Kaieteur News
The Canawaima ferry service
Facilitating approximately 72,000 passengers annually The Canawaima Ferry which facilitates the Guyana/Suriname travel experience
With approximately, 72,000 persons utilizing the Canawaima ferry service to travel between Suriname and Guyana annually, the transport vessel can be considered an essential partner in trade or tourism.
Minister of Tourism (Ag) Irfaan Ali says that the Guyana/Suriname ferry service plays an integral role in attracting tourists from the Dutch speaking country. Speaking with this newspaper last evening, the
Minister of Tourism (Ag), shed light on the influence of the Canawaima ferry service, with regards to the commercial and tourism sector. Minister Ali explained that the Guyana/ Suriname ferry service which facilitates travel between the two countries has reinforced bilateral trade relations. Ali related that the service
serves as a cost effective, efficient and reliable link between both countries. Weighing in on the tourism outcome of the service, Ali said that the sector is utilizing deliberate strategies to target more Surinamese and Dutch tourists. “Just last month, about an extra five hundred tourists (Continued on page 10)
GPHC accounts clerk in police custody for embezzlement A female accounts clerk, attached to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC)’s Finance Department has been accused of embezzlement and is as such off the job. Hospital officials are of the belief that the public servant embezzled approximately $3M. The staffer was arrested Friday last and is presently in police keeping. Police sources confirmed that the Clerk is in custody but noted that the hospital’s administration is leaning towards resolving the matter “in a manner that will benefit them.” Kaieteur News has learnt that the discovery was made during an audit. This newspaper understands that the suspect was directly responsible for the daily cash
paid to the Finance Department and Petty Cash. However, she did not admit to allegations of theft even though she couldn’t give an explanation for the missing cash. It was reported that the missing $3M is an accumulated sum. But little is known about how long the money has been missing. Several attempts made yesterday to contact GPHC officials for comments, proved futile. The only official who answered a call was the Director of Financial Services, Mohamed Karimullah. However, when questioned on the issue, Karimullah’s response was, “I am not an official spokesperson for the Hospital; you need to contact our CEO (Chief Executive Officer) or PRO (Public Relations Officer).
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Four Brazilians killed as mining pit collapses An investigation has been launched into the death of four Brazilians who died as they sought to access wealth in the gold fields of Guyana. Kaieteur News understands that the four met their demise when a mining pit collapsed at Arau Backdam, Eteringbang on Thursday last. The dead Brazilians are Taigo Nunes Pinto, Ronaldo Da Silva Sousa, Joao Nelson Pinto Mands and Joao Gonsalves Martins. According to police, the men were killed when the 40— foot deep pit caved in about 18:00hrs, trapping them. One other man is said to have been injured and is receiving treatment at a city hospital. The bodies are at Lyken Funeral Parlour awaiting post mortem.