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News
www.caribbeantimesinternational.com | WEEK ENDING August 7, 2014
Courts Essequibo Manager dies PM Kamla tables legislation for after vehicle crash in Guyana sweeping constitutional changes
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SSEQUIBO, G U Y A N A : C h a n d a n i e Dass who was involved in a horrific accident on the Essequibo Coast in Guyana last Saturday night succumbed to her injuries early Monday morning at the Georgetown Public Hospital. The 32-year-old of La Union Village on the Essequibo Coast was airdashed to the Georgetown Public Hospital following the accident at Annandale Public Road, Essequibo. Dass had sustained extensive spinal injuries and other injuries about her body. Although doctors desperately tried to save her, she succumbed to the injuries she sustained. Dass, the driver of motor car PSS 3067, was heading south on the Annandale Public Road when she collided with motor van PRR 9027 driven by Nicklous Singh last Saturday night. The Courts Manager, along
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Chandanie Dass
Delvin Benn
with Ponnai Dass, was returning from a wedding reception. Ponnai Dass is presently in the Intensive Care Unit at Suddie Public Hospital clinging to life. Both women were pinned in the wreckage after the accident. They were pulled out and rushed to the Suddie Public Hospital by residents from the community. Chandanie Dass was described as a very hard working and determined young woman. Meanwhile, eight persons remain patients
at the Suddie Public Hospital following the same accident, including the driver of the motor van. Those include: Kevin Kumar, Shane Kumar, Linden Marks, Krishna Ramsamooj and Anthony Hanes. In another accident on the same night, a mechanic of Queenstown Village lost his life also. Delvin Benn was involved in an accident on the Taymonth Manor Public Road. Three persons remain in hospital following that vehicular smashup. (Guyana Times)
O R T - O F S P A I N , TRINIDAD: TT’s Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar Monday unveiled legislation in Parliament proposing a two-term limit for all prime ministers, a right of recall of MPs and a new provision for run-off elections calling for only persons who win more than half of the votes in a constituency to be elected as MP. In the first ministerial statement under the new Standing Orders of the House of Representatives, the Prime Minister said the measures were “a bold step” which would, “breathe new life and meaning into the democratic process” and give more power to people. “These initiatives are initiatives we promised in our manifesto in 2010,” Persad-Bissessar said. “We are keeping those promises to place power, and greater power, in the hands of the people.”
TT’s Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Housing Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal review a document during Monday’s opening of the fifth session of Parliament (TT Guardian photo)
During Monday’s sitting at the International Waterfront Centre, Tower D, Wrightson Road, Port-of-Spain, the Prime Minister tabled the Bill containing the new measures, the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2014. She indicated that the legislation required a simple majority, though some of the provisions seek to amend the Constitution. The Government Whip, Dr Roodal Moonilal, said debate on
the Bill will begin next Monday. Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley did not immediately rule out support for the measures. He indicated the proposals would be reviewed by the PNM caucus. The Prime Minister said term limits for prime ministers would be implemented by way of a simple amendment focusing on holding the hand of the President, who is, generally, advised by the Cabinet. (TT Newsday)
Jamaica launches major project to Man of unsound mind disarms boost maternal and child health
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I N G S T O N , JAMAICA: The government of Jamaica has launched a Ja$3.3 billion project aimed at improving maternal and child health care in the country. The Programme to Reduce Maternal and Child Mortality (PROMAC), which is being funded by the European Union (EU), will see significant improvement in the quality of care for expectant mothers and babies. This will boost the country’s ability to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to reduce child mortality and improve maternal health. Speaking at the launch last week, at the Planning Institute of Jamaica’s (PIOJ) Oxford Road offices, Health Minister Dr. Fenton Ferguson, informed that a specialised team will be trained to deliver “high-contact” care to high-risk maternity cases. “Over a four-year period, this team will be built, and the necessary infrastructure The programme seeks to improve the quality such as High Dependency of care for expectant mothers and babies Units (HDU), or beds and main Jamaica (Jamaica Observer photo) terial resources provided to expansion of service delivery,” he indiensure programme success. Pregnant cated. mothers can rest assured that here is Under the project, 11 HDUs will a programme within the public health be established in six hospitals across sector that can cater to their needs in Jamaica to improve newborn and the event that they fall in the high-risk emergency obstetric care. category,” he explained. The HDUs are suited for patients, Dr. Ferguson stressed that the aim who require closer observation than is to reduce the incidence of neonathose on the general ward, but slighttal deaths due to inadequate access to ly less than that of an Intensive Care high dependency care. Unit (ICU). It also provides care for “Through the infrastructural and post-operative patients needing close equipment initiatives under the proobservation. (JIS) gramme, we want to see a noticeable
cop, shoots two in Jamaica
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INGSTON, JAMAICA: A man believed to be of unsound mind Sunday disarmed a police constable in the normally busy HalfWay-Tree square in St Andrew, Jamaica and used the service pistol to shoot two civilians, including a woman. None of the injuries are fatal. The man reportedly fired off several shots before a plain clothes policeman shot him in the leg and recovered the weapon. Those injured including the attacker
The man reportedly fired off several shots before a plain clothes policeman shot him in the leg and recovered the weapon
were taken to hospital. According to one eyewitness, the policeman was writing a motorist a ticket when
the man of unsound mind approached him and grabbed his firearm from its holster. (Jamaica Observer)
Antigua's AG to face trial on passport fraud charges
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T JOHN'S, A N T I G U A : A magistrate last week committed Antigua’s newly appointed Attorney General Steadman 'Cuttie' Benjamin to face trial on October 1 on allegations of passport fraud. The prosecution has also been ordered to disclose all evidence to the defence within 21 days. The prosecution had alleged that in 2008, Benjamin had signed a passport application form and photograph
for Jamaican Shane Anthony Allen, who claimed to have been Antiguan Tyrell Brann when he applied for and obtained the Antigua and Barbuda passport. Brann had died earlier. Allen and Lynda Brann, the mother of the deceased man, had been convicted and sentenced to two years in jail as a result of the fraudulent activities. They have since been released from prison after serving their sentences. (Caribbean News)
Antigua’s AG Steadman 'Cuttie' Benjamin