CIOG calls P

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM CIOG calls for release of Guyanese fishermen from Venezuela

– says Venezuela in violation of international human rights

With Venezuela currently illegally detaining two Guyanese fishing vessels and their 12-man crew, a number of organisations have made calls for their release. The latest to make such a call is the Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG).

In a statement it issued on Monday, the CIOG called on Venezuela to immediately release the fishermen, who are presently being kept captive on their boats in the Venezuelan port of Guiria, as well as their vessels and catch.

In their statement, the CIOG noted that such actions violate international law. Additionally, it was pointed out by CIOG that Venezuela’s recklessness has a humanitarian aspect, which cuts to the heart of whether these fishermen will be able to sustain their livelihoods.

“The arrest of the twelve fishermen represents thus far a reckless action undertaken by Caracas threatening Guyana’s sovereignty and hindering economic activity of innocent civilians of Guyana. These fishermen should not be made collateral damage or used as scapegoats by the Maduro regime.”

“The action taken by Caracas is a violation of international human rights law, regarding the right to livelihood and the prohibition on arbitrary arrest and detention. The CIOG, therefore, echoes its demand for the release of the 12 fishermen, their catch, and their boats. Guyana is a peaceful country where all are welcomed including citizens of Venezuela,” CIOG also said.

Moreover, CIOG noted that should Venezuela release the fishermen and their property, it will be viewed as a positive gesture and can be used as a basis to resume dialogue between the two countries.

“The Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG) stands firmly behind the Government of Guyana in ensuring the preservation of our territorial integrity and sovereignty,” CIOG said in its statement.

On January 21, two Guyanese-registered fishing vessels and a 12-man crew that were operating off the coast of Waini Point in Guyana’s EEZ were intercepted by the Venezuelan naval vessel, Commandante Hugo Chavez GC 24, which was illegally traversing Guyana’s waters.

The Venezuelans boarded the vessels and the captains were instructed to chart a course to Port Guiria where they were detained and are being kept to this day. The men have since been brought before a Venezuelan court and reports indicate they will be kept in custody for some 45 days pending an investigation.

Since then, however, a number of countries have condemned Venezuela’s actions and urged the Spanishspeaking country to release the fishermen. Last week, the OAS Permanent Council met to discuss, among other things, the tensions between Guyana and Venezuela.

During the Permanent Council’s virtual meeting, Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the OAS Riyad Insanally informed the Council about the recent actions of Venezuela. A number of countries on the Council took a firm stance against Venezuela, including the US, Canada, Trinidad, Brazil, Antigua and Barbuda and Belize.

The Permanent Council is one of the two main political bodies of the OAS, the other being the General Assembly. The Permanent Council keeps vigilance over the maintenance of friendly relations among the member states and, for that purpose, effectively assists them in the peaceful settlement of their disputes.

NWD miner stabbed with scissors during argument

ABarabina Hill, North West District (NWD) miner is now hospitalised after he was stabbed with a pair of scissors by a carpenter during a confrontation on Sunday.

The injured man was identified as 27-year-old Myial Benjamin. Based on reports received, the now injured man was imbibing with the 25-year-old at Barabina Hill when an argument erupted.

It was at that time, the suspect armed himself with a pair of scissors and dealt the

STABBING

victim one blow.

Benjamin was escorted to the Mabaruma Regional Hospital, where he was examined by the doctor on duty and admitted in a stable condition.

Police ranks have since located and arrested the suspect.

GTT donates 1500 reusable masks to Region 9 villages

The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) recently donated 1000 reusable masks to the Mayor and Town Council of Lethem Region Nine (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo) and an additional 500 to Nappi Village with the aim of flattening the COVID-19 curve.

GTT’s Chief Marketing Officer, Orson Ferguson visited the community to make the donations. He indicated the importance of ensuring everyone remains safe during these unprecedented times and highlighted GTT’s myriad of actions in supporting this effort.

“We continue to do all that is necessary to ensure everyone has the means to be masked up. The distribution of masks is just one way that GTT contributes to combating COVID-19; we have also donated hygienic hampers to several healthcare organisations and continue to provide doctors and nurses with a free mobile plan on a monthly basis. Our nation’s education sector has also received our support, as we joined the effort to support online learning,” Ferguson shared.

Receiving the donation on behalf of the Council was Deputy Mayor Debra King, who expressed gratitude to GTT for the timely donation. “These masks will be allocated to Council members who will then have the responsibility to further distribute to the residents of the municipality of Lethem. We have engaged many organisations like GTT since the beginning of the pandemic in early 2020, and are continually grateful for each contribution,” Deputy Mayor King said.

She added that GTT’s donation would assist the ongoing efforts of the municipality to provide masks to residents.

In the 30 years of GTT’s existence, the company continues to contribute to the development and well-being of communities – their contributions throughout the current pandemic continue to reflect this commitment as they live out their corporate theme of “togetherness”.

GTT Chief Marketing Officer Orson Ferguson hands over the donation to Deputy Mayor of Lethem, Debra King

MoE launches “Be Kind” campaign to tackle cyberbullying on social media

The Education Ministry has launched a new campaign titled “Be Kind” which seeks to address the upsurge in unkind behaviours being meted out to Guyanese.

The primary targets of the “Be Kind” campaign are children, teachers, and parents who have had harsh experiences due to COVID-19 and its impact.

The campaign aims to promote the development of emotional intelligence of children, teachers, parents, and all Guyanese through education and kindness. It also aims to celebrate and amplify the power of kindness through education. The MoE is cognisant that the advancement of emotional intelligence is critical in helping youths prepare for the difficulties they face as youngsters today, and as grown-ups tomorrow.

Therefore, developing a culture of graciousness and kindness can create a ripple effect that has a far-reaching impact on their families, communities, and country.

Recently, the Education Ministry observed that some persons on social media have been unkind to others with what they say and the actions they take while using the platform.

At a time when schools are closed for the majority of the school population due to the coronavirus pandemic, teachers, parents and students have had to find new ways to ensure learning continues. Towards this end, teachers started using Zoom, WhatsApp, Edmodo and other similar platforms to engage children while they are at home.

This meant that parents have had to play a more integral role in their children’s education for these new approaches to education delivery to be successful. At times, some parents found it challenging to navigate these platforms.

It is in this context that the Minister of Education Priya Manickchand urged social media users to be kinder, less harsh and judgmental and less insensitive.

“Think twice before laughing at, mocking or poking fun at other social media users at this time,” the Minister said.

Manickchand urged users not to be bullies but the best version of themselves and to utilise the forum for upliftment. The campaign, which runs for an indefinite period, will use engaging and interactive posts to have discussions with users on the platforms on the issue. Also, short videos, sharable graphics, short animated videos and wallpaper graphics will be used for the advancement of the campaign.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2021 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM Digicel to make 14 customers millionaires during 14th anniversary celebrations

Digicel Guyana is taking its promise of "Simply More" and is delivering as the company launches its 14th anniversary promotion, "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire." The digital operator announced that they will be making fourteen of their loyal customers millionaires as they celebrate fourteen years of service in Guyana. The "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" promotion gives prepaid and postpaid customers on an active Prime Bundle or who top up with $1400 or more a chance to win one million dollars ($1,000,000) daily for 14 days which started on February 1 and will conclude on February 14, 2021.

Once you have an active Prime Bundle or top up with $1400 or more on the day of the draws, you will get an entry to win one million dollars. There will also be a special surprise for any winner who has been with the network since 2007.

Digicel will also be rewarding 100 customers with $1400 in free credit daily for the same period. Customers performing any activity on the said days will qualify, whether sending a text, making a call, browsing, activating a plan, or using

Digicel Guyana CEO Gregory Dean

any of Digicel's eight apps – Billo, MyDigicel, D’Music, Bip, GoLoud, PlayGo, Sportsmax, Loop.

In addition, the telephone giant will allow its social media fans to become part of the celebration too by simply following its Facebook page (Digicel Guyana), to get a chance to win one of fourteen laptops. Answering the trivia questions, which will be posted daily from February 1-14, can make you a winner.

For the music and messaging lovers, Digicel has something for you too. Download the Bip messenger app from the Play Store or App Store and be part of the daily Bip Trivia and get a chance of winning $20,000 daily.

Music lovers can also stream the "Ultimate Valentine's Day" playlist in the D’Music app and get a chance to be 1 of 3 winners of $140,000. To end the 14 days of celebration, on Feb 14, customers on an eligible Prime Bundle can "Shake to Win" in the MyDigicel app and get a chance to win 1 of 14 laptops.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Gregory Dean noted, "As we celebrate this milestone, our focus remains on our customers and we hope customers enjoy taking part and winning millions with us. Since liberalisation, we have committed over $5 billion to service expansions and improvements. We have completed to date LTE expansions in Bartica, Linden, Port Kaituma, Mahdia, Kwakwani, Potaro Riverain communities, Berbice and Essequibo to support our Prime Bundles and digital launch. This adds to our LTE services in Georgetown and surrounding areas. We eagerly await the granting of various licences, permissions and spectrum allocations to expand our service offerings and coverage in the coming months.”

N&S Algoo Brokerage opens 2nd branch at Cornelia Ida

N&S Algoo Licensed Customs Brokerage Services Inc opened its second office at Public Road, Cornelia Ida, West Coast Demerara (WCD) on Sunday.

During the simple ceremony, Marketing and Finance Director, Sabrina Algoo noted that the office was opened following research which showed that there is need for a brokerage office on the West Coast of Demerara, Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara)

She added that many cus-

The spanking new office of N&S Algoo Custom Brokerage at Cornelia Ida

tomers residing in Regions Two and Three had expressed their concerns about travelling to Georgetown to transact business with the company. "We know how this feel, and we have established this office to make them more comfortable. We have a lot of customers who live on the West Coast, and they always wanted to feel comfortable with an office here,” Algoo added.

Algoo also stated that the business will not only serve the public but it will create job opportunities for the locals.

The spanking new building, which has been under construction for the past five years, will also see a family bistro opening soon and will

Marketing and Finance Director Sabrina Algoo and her husband Nandalall Algoo

only be operational on weekends.

“There aren't many restaurants that cater for the Muslim community and also like a family-oriented environment. I have friends with special needs children, and I have noticed that restaurants are not ready for those kinds of dining because all children are different,” Algoo added. However, the company thanked its customers, staff, family, and friends who have supported them to make this dream a realisation.

Appeal Court overturns 2012 D’Urban St murder convictions, orders retrial

Three murder convictions from 2017 were on Monday overturned in a unanimous decision by the Guyana Court of Appeal which found that trial Judge Navindra Singh sought to destroy the case for the defence by seeking to give the omissions and discrepancies as against the case for the prosecution.

The trial of Steffon Campbell, Faisal Moore, and Ray Yokum, who were charged with the May 9, 2012 murder of Glen Xavier, which occurred during a robbery at Cornbread Mini Mart at D’Urban and Lime Streets, Georgetown, ended with guilty verdicts and a prison sentence of 80 years for each of them.

Dissatisfied with the decision of the trial court, the men, through Stanley Moore, SC, and Attorney-at-Law Nigel Hughes filed an appeal against their conviction and sentence in which they contended that among other things, the trial Judge failed to adequately put their defence to the jurors and misdirected them on the accessory concept.

The Appeal Court led by Chancellor of the Judiciary Justice Yonette CummingsEdwards found that majority of the grounds of appeal advanced by the men had merit. In the circumstances, the court held that this is a case that must attract a retrial. The court also overturned the convictions and remitted it to the High Court for a new trial.

Duty-bound

According to Justice Cummings-Edwards, the defence of the men were the unsworn statements they gave from the prisoner’s dock. The Appeal Court found that although the trial Judge was duty-bound to go over every detail of the men’s defence to the jury, he failed to do so.

The Chancellor pointed out that the trial Judge only told the jury that it was up to them to believe the men’s story and that if they believed what they said, then they must therefore believe that they did not give the caution statements to the Police, and they would have to return a verdict of not guilty.

According to Justice Cummings-Edwards, the men’s caution statement would have put forward what is termed in law as a cutthroat defence, and in the circumstances, the trial Judge was duty-bound to explain the men’s defences to the jurors.

“The trial Judge just gave a synopsis of their statements. We [the court] believe that this was not sufficient. The trial Judge sought to destroy the defence by seeking to gave the omissions and discrepancies in their defence as against that of the case for the prosecution. While the trial Judge may be able to comment on a defence unfavourably, he is duty-bound to be fair in such comments. Such an approach was not taken in the prosecution’s case and that was unfair…” she noted.

Caution statements

Campbell was first to be arrested by the Police in relation to reports of a robbery. Yokum was arrested the following day and taken to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters, where he allegedly told the Police: “I didn’t kill the man; I just link up the wuk. I didn’t know [Moore] would shoot the man.”

Moore when arrested give Police different names and in an oral statement said: “Is not me who shoot the man.” Yokum, on the other hand, gave a written statement detailing his activities on the day in question.

Their lawyers, however, challenged the voluntariness of the statements and alleged that they were given under duress. As such, in their appeal, they argued that Justice Singh erred in law by admitting the caution statements into evidence.

They also argued that the trial Judge failed to give reasons for admitting the caution statement and also failed to gave the jury any warning as to the dangers of convicting solely on a caution statement in the absence of other evidence.

According to the court, the trial Judge would have admitted the caution statements having established that they were admissible after conducting a voir dire. While the trial Judge warned the jury that what is said in the statement by one accused cannot be used against the other accused, the court said he did not further explain how they should consider the evidence in that regard.

The appellate court, therefore, found that this ground of appeal “had some merit.” Concerning the caution statements, the Chancellor said that the trial Judge gave reasons, though not detailed reasons for admitting the statements into evidence.

She pointed out that what was left for the jury to determine was a question of fact, of course, after proper directions, given that the authorship of the statement was established. The court further held that Justice Singh misdirected the jury about the accessory concept, as the directions given in this regard were incomplete and required more explaining for the jury’s benefit.

As a consequence, the Court of Appeal ruled that this is a case that should attract a retrial, the appeal was allowed and the convictions for murder were overturned.

The case was remitted to the High Court for a new trial at the next practicable sitting of the Demerara Assizes. Apart from the Chancellor, Justices of Appeal Dawn Gregory and Rishi Persaud also deliberated on this case.

It was reported that on the day in question, two men went to the Cornbread Mini Mart where one of them pulled out a large sum of cash while purchasing beers. They were sitting on the bridge when gunshots rang out at the location. The man who had a large sum of money was seen holding onto a man, who was wearing a helmet and who attempted to rob him.

In the end, 26-yearold Xavier of Harlem, West Coast Demerara (WCD), was shot to his chest and left arm and later died. His cause of death was given as haemorrhage and shock due to gunshot injuries. After the robbery, the gunmen escaped with an undisclosed sum of cash on two motorcycles.

Faisal Moore Ray Yokum Steffon Campbell