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News
week ending july 14, 2013 | guyanatimeSinternational.com
U.S. citizen jailed for cocaine trafficking A
U.S. citizen was jailed for four years for trafficking cocaine by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on Friday. Brianna Rodney, 25, pleaded guilty to the charge which stated that on June 3 at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, she had in her possession for the purpose of trafficking 4.130 kilograms of cocaine. The defendant, who was unrepresented in court, is a social worker who arrived on March 12 this year for her second visit to Guyana. According to reports, she stayed at a hotel
on Sheriff Street and made a number of new acquaintances. It was through one of her newfound acquaintances, Andre Gustov, 24, that the arrangement materialised for her to take the illegal substance to the U. S. for a fee that she would receive upon arrival. While Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU) officers at the airport were scanning the luggage during the process of Rodney checking in for departure, she was observed acting strangely. As a result, she was summoned and made to claim her suitcase for which she was asked to supply the key.
The alleged mastermind, Andre Gustov
The convicted cocaine trafficker, Brianna Rodney
The luggage was searched and the illegal substance was discovered concealed in six packets in the false bottom. Rodney was then told of the offence and arrested. CANU Prosecutor Oswald Massiah told the court that the de-
fendant voluntarily gave details of what transpired along with a signed witness statement. Rodney stood before the magistrate and told a rapt courtroom that she was fully aware of the situation. She explained that an oppor-
tunity was presented to her and she decided to ‘go with it’. She then apologised to the court for her actions. Rodney explained that she lives with her mom, grandmother, great grandmother, two brothers, and her sisters who are in college, and she and her mother are the only breadwinners for the family. She then reiterated her remorse. The chief magistrate – taking into consideration the aggravated circumstances, the seriousness of the offence, the defendant’s remorse and the fact that she took responsibility for her actions– sentenced her to four years imprisonment and a fine of
Gy$ 30,000. The second defendant, Gustov, who is reportedly a Guyana Defence Force soldier who is Absent without Leave (AWOL), was charged separately for possession of the 4.130 kilos of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking when he appeared before the chief magistrate. Gustov, of Vryheid’s Lust, East Coast Demerara, pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read. Prosecutor Massiah stated that the defendant admitted to the offence in a statement. He was remanded to prison and his next court date is scheduled for July 15.
Females continue to outperform males at NGSA – chief education officer C hief Education Officer Olato Sam said that an analysis of the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) has clearly suggested that females continue to outperform males in all the subject areas and in all the regions. Sam highlighted that the performance in math has improved over previous years while performance in English and science continues to fluctuate with declines in those two areas being
evident. Meanwhile, there is consistent performance across the board and over a number of years in social studies. “Although improvements have been noted in many regions, coastal regions continue to outperform the hinterland regions, and generally speaking when we look at this more detailed analysis, it is clear that we all (education stakeholders) need to redouble our efforts to ensure that
there is improved performance in all subject areas, but more specifically, in those key areas of English and Science that continue to fluctuate over the years,” he said. Sam recognised that the ministry has done quite a lot with regards to the broader literacy instruction programme and the results seen in math are directly related to the introduction of the Interaction Radio Instruction (IRI) programme. “We are still
Olato Sam
looking to see a similar trend in relation to
English Language,” he added. The chief education officer also noted that Science is an important subject and with the introduction of some new strategies such as the use of micro-science kits and better training for teachers at the primary level, performance in this subject will improve. “Our concern with regards to regional performance has always been that we see the
hinterland regions being able to close the gap between themselves and the coastal regions… we are encouraged by what we have seen in Region Nine, where we have had the largest number of trained teachers for all the hinterland regions… it speaks to what we know to be sound educational policy and there is a correlation between the number of trained teachers and student performance,” Sam acknowledged.
16 graduate from forestry training programme T he Board of I n d u s t r i a l Training in collaboration with the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) has completed yet another programme for young men and women from across the country. The ceremony held at the GFC Multiplex Building in Kingston, was not only for the graduation of this batch but also for the launch of another programme with a new batch of young Guyanese men and women. BIT/ GFC Board of Directors Chairman Clinton Williams said it is vital for young persons who drop out of school to be given the opportunities to contribute to the national development. “Guyana’s economic development and growth is linked to its productivity, which in turn is dependent on the country’s capacity to build and sustain a competent and efficient workforce,” he stat-
Natural Resources and Environment Minister Robert Persaud speaking at the Guyana Forestry Commission at the launch of the BIT training programme
ed.
Needs
Williams noted that there is a gap between labour needs and present capabilities and this “mismatch” needs to be addressed. He acknowledged that the forestry sector is in dire need of skilled labour because of competition from other sectors, while disclos-
ing that 300 persons are being trained annually through this programme in various skilled areas. The BIT/ GFC director pointed out that the programme provides competency-based training to address the needs of the manufacturing and industrial sectors. “There is a dire need to increase the range of rep-
utable and competent companies and agencies,” he stated, adding that young people should utilise the training opportunities available and equip themselves with the necessary skills to thrive in this sector. Labour Minister Nanda Gopaul said he was pleased with the collaboration of the two en-
tities to provide training in various sectors, particularly in areas which are suffering because of the lack of skilled labour.
Training programme
The minister pointed out that this training programme was the initiative of former President Bharrat Jagdeo, and the government has since pledged its commitment
to the programme by making budgetary allocations every year. “The whole idea behind this is that we do not want school drop-outs to be left without a skill and to be left in an area where they cannot gain employment,” the minister said. Gopaul challenged the graduands to take full advantage of the programme, noting that Guyana has the capacity to provide employment for all the youths in the country. He noted that construction is another booming sector, which needs skilled labour. Delivering the feature address, Environment and Natural Resources Minister Robert Persaud pointed out that if the forestry sector does not have the requisite skills and adequately trained individuals, then the mismatch will always be there, as such the government has implemented the training programme.