Samuel Haynes Grade Ones (CAPE)

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM 3 women new COVID-19 deaths

…14 persons in ICU

GUYANA COVID-19 DASHBOARD

NOVEMBER 5, 2021 UPDATE

NUMBER OF NEW CASES

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL ISOLATION

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN HOME ISOLATION

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN COVID-19 ICU

NUMBER OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONAL QUARANTINE

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (FEMALES)

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES BY GENDER (MALES)

64

54

2451

14

6

18,985

17,008

DISTRIBUTION OF TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES SINCE MARCH 2020

REGION 1 1626

REGION 2 1456

REGION 3 4895

REGION 4 17,057

REGION 5 1312

REGION 6 2711

REGION 7 1758

REGION 8 600

REGION 9 2453

REGION 10 2125

TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES IN GUYANA SINCE 2020 35,993

NUMBER OF RECOVERED CASES 32,541

TOTAL 1st DOSE VACCINATED 384,934

FULLY IMMUNISED

TOTAL NUMBER OF DEATHS 249,557

933

HERE IS HOW YOU CAN BE SAFE DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Wear a face mask.

Keep a physical distance of at least 6 feet.

Wash your hands or use handsanitizer

If you have any symptoms, call the COVID-19 Hotline.

GET MEDICAL ADVICE ON COVID-19 FROM MOH 24/7 HOTLINE NUMBERS: 2311166; 226 7480; 624 6674; 624 2819; 624 3067 OR 180/181.

The Health Ministry on Friday announced the death of three women Region Eight who died on November 3; and a 55-yearold and 64-year-old – both the accumulated confirmed positives to date, which is now at 35,993. – all cases of the novel coronavirus. This takes the total number of deaths from the pandemic to 933.

Those who died include a 22-year-old from from Region Four – who succumbed on November 3. Two were unvaccinated while the eldest was fully vaccinated. In 24 hours, 64 persons tested positive. This adds to A total of 14 persons are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 54 in institutional isolation, 2451 in home isolation and six in institutional quarantine. Out of the 17,008 males and 18,985 females that contracted the virus, 32,541 have recovered.

Some 360,176 COVID-19 tests have been administered since the virus was detected here.

Regionally, a breakdown showed one new case in Region One (BarimaWaini); two for Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam); 13 in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); 24 in Region Four (DemeraraMahaica); 10 in Region Five (Demerara-Mahaica); six in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne); one in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and seven in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni).

There were no increases in Regions Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice).

In Friday’s COVID update, Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony shared his take on the vaccination response as he said, “I think we’re still getting a lot of hesitancy in Region 10. We have noticed that for several months now. While we do get a few cases every day of persons coming to get themselves vaccinated, it has really been a trickle. We have on average, about 10 to 15 sites on operating but on average we’re getting 50 to 100 people.”

He noted that efforts will continue to afford persons an opportunity to get vaccinated. In the other regions, he noted, the hesitancy is not evident with the exception of some communities in Region Eight.

“This is kind of peculiar to Region 10 and we’re finding some challenges in Region Eight as well, in some communities, persons are citing religious beliefs.”

If anyone is displaying any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19 or needs any additional information, they are asked to contact the COVID-19 Hotline 231-1166, 226-7480 or 624-6674 immediately or visit www.health.gov.gy

All Guyanese are reminded to observe the protocols of the COVID-19 emergency measures which emphasise the need for correct and consistent use of a face mask when leaving your home; the importance of maintaining the six feet physical distance from others; and the need for good hand hygiene. (G12)

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM Bartica DJ stabbed to death during row over money

Dead: Andre Collison

The family of a Disc Jockey (DJ) were in a state of shock on Friday after they received the dreadful news of the man’s sudden and gruesome death.

Andre Collison, 38, also known as “DJ Chappy”, of Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), was stabbed to death during the wee hours of Friday during a row over money.

The incident occurred at around 01:30h at Puruni Landing, Middle Mazaruni.

Reports are that Collison left his room in search of food and went to the “Two Blessed Sisters Restaurant” and made an order.

While waiting to collect his food, the suspect went into the establishment and an argument ensued between the duo about monies owed.

“The argument became heated and the suspect drew a knife from his pants waist and stabbed the victim to his abdomen and thereafter made good his escape,” Police said in a statement.

He was picked up by public-spirited citizens and taken to the Puruni Health Post where he succumbed to his injuries while receiving treatment.

Shortly after Collison’s death, the suspect was arrested and is currently in Police custody pending charges. (G9)

WBD man crushed to death by metal lift at supermarket

Dead: Sudesh Charran

By LaWanda McaLLister

A22-year-old man is now dead after a metal lift fell from a building and pinned him to the ground.

Dead is Sudesh Charran, a labourer of West Minster, West Bank Demerara (WBD).

Reports are that the incident occurred at around 16:20h on Thursday at the F&R Supermarket located at Stelling Road, Vreed-enHoop, West Coast Demerara (WCD).

According to Police, the man was walking under the metal lift to enter the supermarket when it fell from the upper flat and pinned him to the ground.

As a result, workers rushed to his assistance and used a piece of wood to lift the metal structure from the man’s body. They pulled the victim out, but by this time he was motionless and a large wound was seen to the top of his head.

The Police were summoned, and the body of the victim was escorted to the West Demerara Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. A probe has since been launched.

The dead man’s sister, Sabrina Charran, on Friday said that her family, especially her mother, is shaken by her brother’s death.

The woman said Thursday was the second day he returned to work after being on bereavement leave for more than two months.

The 22-year-old had only lost his father in August of this year, and could not bear to work at the entity, since he and his father worked together.

“He ended up coming off the work after my father died…he doesn’t have any kids or anything. My mother is just crying for justice right now. She just screaming down all the time because that is her only son,” the dead man’s sister said.

The grieving woman said her brother was full of life and had so many plans for his future, and it is such a pity he lost his life in such a manner.

“He was going to GTI and then he started working. He was planning to work to build so that everybody can come home back but it didn’t happen like that,” she said.

A probe has been launched into the man’s death.

The F&R Supermarket from which the metal lift fell

Deportee busted with 11lbs ganja remanded

The narcotics found at the home of Avery Cummings

A58-year-old man, who was deported from the US for drug trafficking in 2009, was arraigned before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman on a similar charge on Friday. Avery Cummings appeared at the Diamond/Golden Grove Magistrates’ Courts where he pleaded not guilty to the charge.

It is alleged that on November 3 at Swam Sam Ville, Linden-Soesdyke Highway, he had 5.3 kilograms (11 pounds) of marijuana in his possession for the purpose of trafficking. The accused drug trafficker was represented by Attorney-at-Law Lyndon Amsterdam. The case continues on January 3, 2022.

A release from the Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU) said that on the day in question, ranks went to Cummings’ home where they conducted a narcotics operation. The items seized from the defendant’s home include several parcels of foreign weed weighing over 5.3 kilograms, several Ziplock bags containing cannabis, cannabis seeds amounting to 3.68 grams, and 3.5 grams of Hashish.

As such, Cummings was arrested and taken to CANU headquarters. (G1)

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM “In your eyes, she was without any rights” – Judge tells wife killer

…as husband who hit wife with car then chopped her gets life sentence

AWhim, Corentyne, Berbice, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) taxi driver who pleaded guilty to viciously chopping and stabbing his 21-year-old wife to death has been sentenced to life imprisonment. Gavin Gill, 33, a father of three, was handed the custodial sentence on Friday by Justice Sandil Kissoon at the High Court in Berbice.

On October 20, State Counsel Abigail Gibbs presented the indictment against Gavin Gill for the March 30, 2019 murder of his wife, Omwattie Gill. The murder occurred at Tulsie Street, Williamsburg Village, Corentyne, Berbice. Gavin Gill, at that hearing, had professed his love for his wife.

“I love my wife so much. I’m sorry for what happened…” he cried. On the day in question, the young woman who shared a child with Gavin Gill was making her way to work when she was attacked by him.

She was first hit with a vehicle her husband was driving and pitched about 25 feet before being stabbed and then chopped with a cutlass. Her neck was almost severed.

Based on reports, she had moved out from their matrimonial home with their then seven-month-old baby girl after he became very abusive.

Two weeks prior to her death, she was living with her mother and had found employment. An autopsy gave her cause of death as shock and haemorrhage due to stab wounds.

At Friday’s sentencing hearing, a probation officer disclosed that the couple had visited the probation office in Berbice seeking help with saving their marriage.

Records at the probation office indicate that Omwattie Gill reported that her husband was an alcoholic who would borrow large sums of money from friends to support his bad habit.

According to the probation officer, the young woman complained that her husband would ask her to pawn her jewellery, including her wedding band, to assist him with repaying his debts. The young mother reported that many days she and her child were left without basic needs.

The probation officer added that the woman was constantly threatened by her husband which prompted her to take out a restraining order against him. During an interview with the probation officer, Gavin Gill expressed regret for his action and sought forgiveness from his late wife’s family.

The probation officer said he expressed sorrow at his daughter having to live without her mother. He told the officer that he hopes that she finds the strength to forgive him when she grows older.

For his part, Justice Kissoon in his sentencing remarks, recapped the factual circumstances of the case. He said that Gavin Gill threatened to kill his wife on March 18, 2019, resulting in her seeking the intervention of the court to obtain a protection order.

He said the protection order was rendered “meaningless” by the actions and blatant disregard for the court order by the confessed killer. The Judge described the young woman’s killing as a planned and premeditated act. Noting that the woman received injuries to the vital parts of her body, Justice Kissoon added that there is no doubt what was her attacker’s intention.

“The history of the relationship prior to this murderous act does not bode well for the accused. This accused pawned everything within the matrimonial home to support his vile habit of alcoholism. This accused has pleaded guilty in the deliberate, passionate killing of his wife without lawful cause.”

Justice Kissoon told Gavin Gill that due to his reckless and irresponsible action, a young child is now left without both of her parents. He further told the killer, “In your eyes, she [Omwattie Gill] was without any rights.” The Justice pointed out that this case is of concern to the court given the overwhelming number of cases of this nature arising from intimate partner violence.

According to Justice Kissoon, Gavin Gill has shown no genuine remorse. The Judge viewed his guilty plea as “strategic” in light of the overwhelming evidence against him. Justice Kissoon also made it clear that there is nothing the killer can tell him to persuade the court to have mercy on him.

Gavin Gill must serve 30 years before he becomes eligible for parole. In the computation of his sentence, the High Court Judge ordered that the prison authorities credit him for time spent on remand. (G1)

Sentenced to life: Gavin Gill Murdered: Omwattie Gill

3 nabbed with ganja

The cannabis that was found at Edinburgh Village, EBB

Three men are now in Police custody after they were found with a quantity of marijuana during searches carried out by law enforcement officers at Edinburgh Village, East Bank Berbice River and Betsy Ground, East Canje, Berbice.

The first incident occurred on Thursday at 11:45h at Edinburgh Village, where Police unearthed 539 grams of cannabis sativa.

It was reported that a party of policemen on marine patrol within the Division were in the vicinity when they stopped a wooden boat powered by a 225 horsepower Yamaha engine.

The said boat was captained by a 25-year-old and a lone 26-year-old occupant.

A search was conducted on the boat in their presence and a bulky parcel wrapped with transparent plastic was found under the boat bow. Police said the parcel contained leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be cannabis.

They [the captain and the occupant] were told of the offence committed, cautioned and arrested and taken to Central Police Station.

At the station, the cannabis was weighed and amounted to 539 grams. Both suspects were placed into custody pending investigations.

Meanwhile, at about 06:30h on Friday at Betsy Ground, East Canje, Berbice, a 26-year-old male was arrested after he was found in possession of 11.34 kilograms (25 pounds) of cannabis sativa.

Acting on information received, a party of policemen went to the home of the suspect and a search was conducted in his presence.

During the search, a freezer that was in the yard was opened and a black, bulky plastic bag containing twelve brown, bulky wrapped parcels and two transparent parcels - all containing a quantity of leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be cannabis - was found.

The suspect was told of the offence committed, cautioned and arrested.

He was later taken to Central Police Station along with the cannabis and one black and red XR motorcycle. The cannabis was weighed in his presence and amounted to 11.34 kilograms.

He was placed into custody pending further investigations and charges. (G9)

The cannabis found at Betsy Ground, East Canje Berbice

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM Queen’s College students top CSEC, CAPE

Sarena Razak: 19 Grade Ones, 2 Grade Twos, 1 Grade Three (CSEC)

By Rupadai SeenaRaine

Queen’s College has secured the highest number of Grade Ones for this year’s Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE).

The Education Ministry on Friday announced the top performers for the 2021 examinations, based on the number of Grade Ones achieved. It noted that a top student will only be named when the Caribbean Examinations Council is finished reviewing the grades, and selecting a candidate based on the appropriate combination of subjects.

For CSEC, Sarena Razak from Queen’s College secured 19 Grade Ones, two Grade Twos and one Grade Three.

Razak told the media, “This wasn’t a surprise. I expected to get called for the number of subjects. However, I have never really been called for my percentages so I’d say I am a high performer in terms of the number of subjects.”

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the top performer explained that adapting to a new method of learning was the most challenging but she persisted.

“I have been working on my own, working online. It has [not] been too difficult but it was very different. Getting used to it was definitely a challenge. I have lots of help from teachers, friends and everybody but it wasn’t as much different in terms of the content I was getting.”

Her next plan is to enrol in the CAPE programme and to have a career path in the engineering field.

This was followed by three students, La Shea Patois with 18 Grade Ones; Zaynab Shaffie with 18 Grade Ones and two Grade Twos; and Roshini Samaroo with 17 Grade Ones - all students of QC.

Shaffie, who hails from Industry on the East Coast of Demerara, said there was no competition from other students due to closure of schools, which made it “harder”.

“When it comes to being at home and studying, your house is not necessarily the best environment because you may have siblings and it’s not going to be quiet enough. You can’t concentrate enough and you have to find a way to fit your schedule around that.”

Anuradha Basdeo of Abram Zuil Secondary secured 17 Grade Ones and two Grade Twos. She is seeking a career in gynaecology.

Meanwhile, from the Saraswati Vidya Niketan, Faraz Yassin accomplished 17 Grade Ones and one Grade Two; Savitri Mahadeo - 16 Grade Ones and one Grade Two; Ronaldo Khemchan - 16 Grade Ones and Three Grade Twos; Karuma Lall - 16 Grade Ones and three Grade Twos; and Roushanie Lall - 16 Grade Ones and four Grade Twos.

From the Anna Regina Secondary School, Kelly Sankar also secured 16 Grade Ones and four Grade Twos.

Some 9808 candidates were registered for the 2021 CSEC examinations as compared to 12,009 registered for 2020. Subject entries for 2021 were 61,437. An analysis of the 2021 preliminary results revealed that the overall pass rate at the General and Technical proficiencies for Grades One to Three was 66.36 per cent. Some 20 subject areas out

of a total 33 saw top performances for the region.

At the CSEC level, Guyana scored higher than the regional average in Integrated Science, Electronic Document Preparation and Management, Office Administration, Information Technology; and Human and Social Biology. Performance was lower than the region for Mathematics, Chemistry, Principles of Business and Social Studies.

CAPE performance

Meanwhile for CAPE, Daniel Roopchand of Queen’s College emerged with 10 Grade Ones and one Grade Two. Being a Mathematics enthusiast, Roopchand is envisioning a career in engineering, as he ultimately wants a career that will “challenge” him.

He told Guyana Times, “I feel as though engineering would more encapsulate my love for chemistry, physics, math and so on. I haven’t specifically narrowed down which set of engineering I want to pursue…I’m thinking of pursuing something that is challenging and intuitive so it doesn’t get easy over time. As the years progress, I want to pursue a career that gets harder and would always give me a

challenge”.

Roopchand experienced a “sense of accomplishment” upon learning of his grades but preparing for the exams in a different environment had its lows. While there was the advantage of having information at his disposal through online learning, there needed to be discipline in order to stay focused.

“It made me have to develop a new sense of discipline because you’re at home. There’s no teachers presiding over you. You need to have a strong sense of self disciple to be able to get up every day and study for a certain amount of hours on your own,” he stressed.

Also from Queen’s College was Samuel Haynes with nine Grade Ones. Haynes is aiming to tackle the discipline of dentistry in the coming years.

Talking about his journey, he said “My parents always encouraged me to push past my limits and they kept encouraging me until they didn’t have to anymore because it became innate.”

Abdul Subhan from St Stanislaus College and Jorrel DeSantos from Queen’s College both copped eight Grade Ones. Alexa Abraham from St Rose’s High School was able to achieve seven Grade Ones and three Grade Twos.

Meanwhile, Yu Qing Zhou and Alicialall Hiralall – both from QC – attained eight Grade Ones, respectively.

For CAPE Unit One, the top performers were Atishta Seenarine from Saraswati Vidya Niketan; Bhedesh Persaud of Queen’s College; Shivnarine Chaitram of Saraswati Vidya Niketan; and Tatayana Pearson of Queen’s College, respectively.

In May-June 2021, 723 candidates from 10 secondary schools and four private centres wrote CAPE in Guyana.

The overall pass rate in 2021 is 90.86 per cent; while the gender distribution of the overall passes is 36 per cent males and 64 per cent females.

For CAPE, 30 Units saw candidates obtaining a 100 per cent pass rate of Grades One to Five; and 75 per cent passes across another 28 units.

Daniel Roopchand: 10 Grade Ones, 1 Grade Two (CAPE) Zaynab Shaffie: 18 Grade Ones, 2 Grade Twos (CSEC) Anuradha Basdeo: 17 Grade Ones, 2 Grade Twos (CSEC) Kelly Sankar: 16 Grade Ones, 4 Grade Twos (CSEC) Samuel Haynes: 9 Grade Ones (CAPE)

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM “It is a matter of children’s future” – Manickchand on vaccination

…63% of teachers vaccinated

Education Minister Priya Manickchand has placed high priority on the full reopening of classroom learning for schools, since the prolonged absence will have lasting impact on students. Speaking on the issue on Friday, the Minister outlined that technology has been the sole viable way of delivering education during the pandemic but there are limitations. She pointed out that this medium cannot replace the influence of in-class learning. “It has been a very hard year and, in those hardships, we learnt many lessons that we have to incorporate in the delivery of education going forward. We learnt that we can do better in blending and we can do more in how we reach our students using technology but we learnt also that the usage of technology as a sole means of delivery, which is something that was touted a long time ago, it is not as effective as people thought it could be,” said the Minister.

In keeping with this conclusion, Manickchand mulled the safe reopening of schools in the best interest of students, since recent statistics by the Caribbean Examinations Council showed Guyana’s performance declining in several subject areas.

She stated, “We are at a place where we can no longer prevaricate on what is necessary and what is right. In the interest of our students, which is a mandate we have by the Constitution and by our conscience, we must return to classrooms in a safe way”.

It was pointed out that the reopening of schools for Grades 10 to 12 would have contributed to the country’s success at regional examinations.

“We had great difficulty with delivering education to our children online. Guyana took the bold decision last year to return to schools for Grades 10, 11, and 12. And that is why you see results of us topping the region in many subject areas. I think why we did as well; because we went back to school. The entire region saw a decline in its students’ performance and that is because we have been unable to deliver education in the way we are accustomed to delivering education and the way we believe is most effective.”

To facilitate a complete reopening would mean that teachers and students must be immunised against the novel virus. Amid calls from teachers for the Pfizer vaccine to be available to them, the Ministry decided to comply. Efforts were also made to ensure that a subset received their Sputnik V second component.

Thus far, over 63 per cent of teachers have been immunised though such mechanisms but she positioned that this “soft approach” will not continue for much longer.

“Pfizer is now available to teachers in this country. You asked and we heard. So, there is going to be a clock on when that soft approach to getting vaccinated gets activated and ends…These vaccines will not be here forever. They have a shelf life and they are not easily accessible. So, make use of them now.”

Taking these points into consideration, the education official highlighted that vaccination is a matter of securing children’s future and returning to normalcy.

“Getting vaccinated is not a bureaucratic issue anymore. It is now a matter of children’s safety and children’s future based on their performance. We need to get everyone back into schools cause while we have exit level exams at fifth and sixth forms, we’re seeing declines also…and so the entire system is disrupted. We can only get back into schools if everyone is vaccinated, teachers and students alike. So, we don’t have a choice. As a country, we have to insist that we return to normalcy.”

She further expressed, “You have a choice not to be vaccinated but that choice has consequences and so your level of participation in civilised society if you choose not to be will be hampered. We are very certain that when we come to report to you that we have seen a decline in too much subject areas that this will not be allowed to go on indefinitely.” The Ministry has been able to use a blended approach by reopening schools for limited classroom activity as of the new school term. (Rupa

Seenaraine)

Education Minister Priya Manickchand

Doctor’s murder Prime suspect confesses to bludgeoning doctor to death

…nabbed while attempting to flee to Suriname

Dead: Dr Colin Roach

Police made a breakthrough in the murder of Dr Colin Roach after the prime suspect was arrested while attempting to flee to Suriname and confessed to the crime.

Ranks of the Major Crimes Unit swooped down on 25-year-old Hilton Oliver Junior Franklin at around 05:00h on Friday morning in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne).

It was reported that the suspect is a friend of the medical practitioner who was found in a pool of blood on Tuesday night in his Duke Street, Kingston, Georgetown office.

Following his arrest, the 25-year-old suspect has since confessed to inflicting the fatal wound on the doctor but has also implicated one of the doctor’s employees, whom he claimed assisted him.

Investigators had visited the home of the suspect but he and his family were not there. This was after the doctor’s stolen vehicle was discovered at Schoonord, West Bank Demerara (WBD), on Thursday morning.

The vehicle was found abandoned on the Schoonord Public Road with the car’s license plate PXX 4000 and keys missing.

A source close to the investigation also indicated that the entire vehicle appeared to be wiped down with an unknown solution to remove any trace of evidence.

It was reported that detectives still dusted the vehicle in a bid to discover fingerprints.

Meanwhile, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum when contacted on Friday, confirmed that the suspect has admitted to inflicting the fatal wound on the deceased but did not divulge any further details.

Guyana Times understands that the man told investigators that he was having drinks with the doctor and another friend, when Roach became intoxicated and pushed him on a cot. He claimed that in retaliation, he hit the doctor with a metal object.

A post-mortem examination was conducted on Friday on the 49-year-old medical practitioner’s body and revealed that he died from multiple blunt traumas to the head.

Police in a report said when Dr Roach’s clinic closed at about 15:00h on Tuesday, one of two males who worked with him left the building and the other retired to his living quarters in the top flat, leaving the doctor in his office in the middle flat.

Police said at 20:00h a male was seen exiting the building. He returned about seven minutes later and re-entered the clinic.

Then around 22:18h, the vehicle belonging to the doctor headed north out of Duke Street.

It was further observed that the lights in the doctor’s office were still on, which prompted one of the employees to call the doctor on his cellular phone, but he received no answer.

The medical doctor was later found lying motionlessly on his back in a pool of blood in the examination area.

A wound was seen on the left side of the doctor’s forehead.

The two men who were with the doctor are also in custody assisting with investigations. (G9)

Hilton Oliver Junior Franklin has allegedly confessed to killing the doctor Dr Colin Roach’s office where he was found dead

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2021| GUYANATIMESGY.COM Essequibians celebrate Diwali despite challenges of COVID-19

By Raywattie DeonaRine

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic wreaking havoc around the world for the past two years, Guyanese on Thursday celebrated Diwali, which is an auspicious time for Hindus to start new ventures as the Festival of Lights coincides with their “New Year”.

As the evening stepped in, families along the Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), illuminated their homes with hundreds of lights – be it with Diyas (small earthen pots) or with fairy lights – and beautifully decorated rangolis as they celebrated Diwali or Deepavali which signifies Lord Ram’s return to Ayodhya from 14 years of exile and the victory of good over evil.

Lights are illuminated in the name of the Hindu Goddess, Mother Lakshmi, to usher in wealth and prosperity into homes.

A stroll through several communities on the Essequibo Coast revealed that many persons celebrated the festival, lighting up their home from around 18:00h. Earlier, many

mandirs hosted religious services in the morning or in the afternoon, where the story of the Reverence of Mother Lakshmi was shared.

In Aurora, Essequibo Coast, families ensured that almost every corner of their yard was lit with Diyas and decorative fairy lights as both young and old took part in the festivities.

In other villages such

as Good Intent and Aurora, Affiance, Airy Hall, Capoey, just to name a few, Diwali celebrations were in full swing. You could not miss the rows of Diyas or escape the loud and sometimes obnoxious sounds of the firecrackers and fireworks.

Meanwhile, at Spring Garden Bhuvaneshwar Mandir, a service was held at 15:00h, where Pandit

Ramesh Lall led a special prayer service and sounded the story of the return of Lord Rama.

According to Pandit Lall, Lakshmi Puja is one of the most significant rituals of Diwali celebrations. People pray to the Goddess of wealth on this day to receive blessings from her and wish for health, wealth, and prosperity. He added that he believes that on this day, Goddess Lakshmi descends on earth and blesses the people with luck, prosperity and happiness.

Pandit Lall also stated that Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, prosperity, auspiciousness, and good fortune, and Lord Vishnu’s wife, visits her devotees and bestows gifts and blessings upon each of them. To welcome the Goddess, devotees clean their houses, decorate them with finery and lights, and prepare sweet treats and delicacies as offerings. Devotees believe the happier Lakshmi is with the visit, the more she blesses the family with health and wealth.

“Diwali is a celebration of prosperity, it gives us strength to carry on our work with goodwill for the rest of the year, it’s a new year and thus persons are allowed to prosper throughout the year,” Pandit Lall said.

Celebration

Before Diwali is celebrated, Hindus clean their homes and surroundings. Since it is also a festival that signifies the beginning of a new year, Hindus would also shop for new things - be it household items or clothes and jewellery.

On the day itself, rangoli (a colourful design made with coloured rice or a special rangoli sand) is made at the entrance of the home, and Diyas are lit along the doorways, stairs and around the yards as well as on parapets.

Some even decorate their vehicles with colourful fairy lights that would participate in motorcade competitions. But due to the ongoing pandemic, motorcades were not held. But this did not deter persons from “dressing up” their vehicles.

Vegetarian meals such as “seven curry” – a GuyaneseHindu delicacy – and sweetmeats are prepared on the day as well.

These are shared with family, relatives and neighbours.

After families are finished with lighting up their homes, they walk around the villages exchanging Diwali greetings with each other.

Illegal aircraft at Mahdia

“We are lost, we came from Venezuela” – foreigners tell Police

The aircraft that illegally landed in Mahdia

The two foreigners who were arrested after an illegal aircraft landed at the Mahdia, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) airstrip have claimed that they were “lost”.

Police in a statement on Friday said the two foreigners told investigators that they became lost in their quest to find gold.

They have been identified as Juan David Caicedo Villa, a 32-year-old pilot of Villavicencio, Colombia, and Gustavo Adolfo Riascos Gomez, a 48-year-old pilot/ businessman of Tachira San Cristobal, Venezuela.

Based on reports, ranks of Mahdia Police Station observed the aircraft circling the Mahdia Airstrip in an attempt to land at about 18:00h on Thursday.

As a result, a party of policemen immediately went to the said airstrip and on arrival, a six-seater Piper Aire blue, red and white aircraft was seen on the ground, in front of Trans Guyana’s hangar, and the two foreigners were standing in front of the said aircraft talking to the security and ramp attendant.

When confronted by the Police, one of the men said, “We are lost, we came from Venezuela and going to look for gold”.

The aircraft contained three 15 gallon drums - two of which contained fuel - one hammock with net, one bag containing clothing

PM results reveal teen bandit died from gunshot wound

and personal effects, and a black bag with identification cards, documents, one Garmin GPS, one Iridium Phone, one Icom radio set, one spot trace device, two phone chargers, one earpiece, one lighter, one torchlight, one Motorola phone, one Samsung phone, one knife, two wrist watches, one wallet, two grams of suspected cannabis and bamboo wrap.

The items have been lodged and the aircraft is currently under guard while both men were arrested and placed into custody pending investigations. (G9)

Father chopped, teen son hospitalised during confrontation over firecrackers

A46-year-old father and his 16-year-old son were injured on Thursday evening during a confrontation with persons throwing firecrackers.

Reports are that 46-yearold Michael Anthony called “Rakesh” of Seafield, Anna Catherina, West Coast Demerara, and his 16-yearold son came under attack around 21:30h on Thursday by young men that were throwing firecrackers in front his home.

The man reportedly approached the young men and warned them to desist, which led to an exchange of words and a physical altercation.

The suspects then left and armed themselves with a cutlass and metal pipe. They then went to the victim and dealt him several lashes and chops about the body.

As a result, the victim’s son ran to his assistance and he was also dealt several lashes about the body by the suspects.

The two suspects then made good their escape and the victims were rushed to the Leonora Cottage Hospital where they were seen and examined by a doctor on duty.

The father was treated and sent away while his son was admitted and transferred to the West Demerara Regional Hospital to undergo surgery.

The suspects were subsequently arrested and are currently in custody pending charges.

Apost-mortem examination was on Friday performed on teen bandit Sydel Bourne Jr of Agricola, Greater Georgetown, following a shooting incident which occurred on Wednesday.

In the presence of the Police, the body was identified to Government pathologist Dr Nehaul Singh by the teen’s father.

The cause of death was given as gunshot injury. The body has since been handed over to relatives for burial.

Bourne was shot by a plainclothes policeman at about 14:20h at the second gate of Stabroek Market.

According to the Guyana Police Force (GPF), the cop was in plain clothes and armed with his service pistol at the time. He was with his reputed wife, who was wearing a gold chain, and they were shopping in the Stabroek Market area.

It was reported that the couple were attacked by Bourne, who was armed with a knife and accompanied by two other male suspects.

Dead: Sydel Bourne Jr

Although the woman put up a fight, the perpetrators were able to burst the chain off her neck.

The Police said one of the suspects then told Bourne to stab the woman and it was at this stage that the Policeman whipped out his service weapon and discharged a round in the suspects’ direction, hitting the teenager to his body.

Bourne was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency workers, who had arrived on the scene with an ambulance, but left without removing the body. Undertakers subsequently arrived and removed the body. This was after Crime Scene Investigators cordoned off the area, much to the chagrin of vendors and members of the public who had gathered around to get a glimpse of the body.

The other two suspects managed to escape, the Police said.

The incident was witnessed by vendors who ply their trade outside the Stabroek Market, and sparked outrage.

Speaking with reporters at the scene, one vendor explained that she did not see any confrontation between the now dead teen and the couple, and only became aware that something was happening when the armed man ran after the teenager.

According to the vendor, following the shooting, the man picked up his bags and grabbed his reputed wife, and they went to the Outpost to report the incident.