Guyana Times International

Page 47

47

WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 3 , 2017| guyanatimeSinternational.com

T&T woman on 109 fraud charges escapes from police custody The essence of democracy

S

atiricus was ecstatic. And why not? After months of taking a pounding from his buddies — good natured or otherwise — it was his turn to crow! His leader Rum Jhaat had deftly turned the tables on all those who’d thought the criticisms from within the KFC party meant he was in trouble. “The essence of democracy is to allow free debate among the rank and file!” Satiricus suddenly announced to his buddies, who’d been focusing on the cricket on the big screen at the Back Street Bar. “Wha’ yuh a talk ‘bout?” asked Cappo, as he finished his beer. “Didn’t you fellas listen to Rum Jhaat?” Satiricus asked impatiently. “He was explaining the e-mails between those leaders in our KFC party.” “I thought it exposed what a set of dictators Rum Jhaat and Trot Man turned out to be!” said Hari with a snicker. “That’s the problem with you fellas,” complained Satiricus, “You all only looking at the substance of what was said; you got to look at the form.” “Me na know wha’de rass yuh a guh-aan wid,” said Bungi. “Me t’ink yuh shoulda shame fuh bring up da e-mail business.” “Budday, don’t we quarrel and use harsh words with each other?” asked Satiricus. “But we remain friends. That’s democracy….and THAT’s the KFC!!” “Suh lemme aks you,” said Cappo. “When Rum Jhaat lie dat he na advise Prezzie, da Demacracy?” “You see?” asked Satiricus. “You talking about the substance again. But even there, Rum Jhaat didn’t advise. Was a gyaaf over coffee.” “An’ when Rum Jhaat na consult nobady in KFC when he seh KFC agree wid Prezzie, da democracy?” demanded Bungi heatedly. “But the man said he was sorry,” Satiricus said. “What more you want with him?” “Me want Rum Jhaat fuh grow some balls,” said Cappo. “An’ na jus’ worry ‘bout when rum shap fuh close!” “Haul yuh ass!” said Satiricus with a broad smile.

(Trinidad Guardian)

I

n what is being touted as the greatest escape in the history of the country, alleged fraudster Vicky Nirupa Boodram walked out of the Arouca Prison on Monday afternoon and has not been seen since. Boodram, 35, whose last known address was 34 Gambal Street, Siparia, had been on remand since March 2016 after being denied bail on 39 fraud charges. She has 175 fraud matters before the court beginning in 2012. According to both police and prison sources, Boodram was taken from the prison on the authority of a court order. Sources said two police officers attached to the Tunapuna Police Station, which is charged with responsibility for prisoners scheduled to appear in court from the Northern Division, went to the Women’s Prison and removed Boodram on Monday. The officers, a male and a female, went in a marked police vehicle and were accustomed to collecting prisoners at Golden Grove for court. Prison officials said

they thought nothing untoward about the officers coming with what they presumed were legitimate court documents stating Boodram was scheduled to attend night court. Prior to the officers’ arrival at the prison just after 5 pm, prison officials were telephoned and told Boodram had secured bail in all her matters. After collecting Boodram, the male officer returned to the station where he dropped off his colleague and left with Boodram. Neither

he nor Boodram has been seen since. The female officer was being questioned by officers of the Professional Standards Bureau up to last evening. According to a release issued by the T&T Police Service yesterday, a nationwide search is under way for Boodram and the accomplice cop as her release was unauthorised. Security forces at all ports of entry and exits were put on alert. In March last year, Boodram was charged an additional 39 times out-

side of 136 charges she had already accumulated. Boodram was facing a total of 175 fraud related charges, including demanding property by virtue of a forged instrument, larceny, uttering a forged document and money laundering. Contacted yesterday, ACP Mc Donald Jacob, who has responsibility over the Northern Division, where two prison escapes took place within less than 24 hours between Monday and yesterday, said the incidents were “unfortunate.” In a brief telephone interview with the T&T Guardian, Jacob said the two incidents were not connected, as Boodram’s case appeared to have been well planned while the other was a seized opportunity. Regarding Boodram, he said the female officer was acting on the advice of her male colleague when she went to the prison and thought nothing of his actions. She was only made aware of what transpired when she arrived at work yesterday morning and was told the male officer and Boodram were missing.

Wowetta Women’s Agro-processors:

Turning cassava into “Rupununi Gold”

T

he Wowetta Women’s AgroProcessors story is one of trial and error, determination and innovation. When the group was first set up in 2008 as a voluntary enterprise by a group of women set on generating income for their families, few knew it could grow to provide employment far beyond the Region Nine community. The village, which border the Iwokrama International Rainforest Protected area, is now the site of a modern, multimillion-dollar cassava processing and farine storage facility, where up to 10,000 pounds of farine can be stored, thanks to a collaborative effort of CIDA, CI, CUSO and other stakeholders. And the facility provides paid employment for about 30 women, youths and elderly persons and cassava farmers across the Rupununi. Grace Albert, the manager of the agricultural initiative, which is run by a committee, ex-

plained that the group’s members rotate, five to seven at a time, to pro-

duce farine, sweet cassava flour, cassava bread, cassareep and tapioca on a weekly basis from about 3000 pounds of cassava that is grown to their specification. “We work with our farmers (also from neighbour-

ing villages) from before planting to ensure we get a good product so that we

can assure our customers of quality.” That is just the beginning of the quality assurance process as the group has worked with the Food and Drug Department to ensure that what they put on

supermarket shelves is of international quality. She noted that while

their operations, because the group’s mission continues to be creating in-

finding markets remain a problem, miners were their best customers, particularly for farine, dubbed “Rupununi Gold” by some. Albert stressed that sustainability of the venture was a big part of

come-gene r a t i n g employment for women in particular in Wowetta, although they have expanded their focus also to youths. When asked what advice she would give to persons hoping to get up similar operations, she said commitment and dedication were very important. “It takes a lot of hu-

man effort, it takes a lot of commitment,” another member, Priscilla, said. She was adamant that would-be agro-processors would have to be” very serious…have ownership of the group”. She noted that “it really needs people on the ground” to understand the long-term benefits, to motivate and inspire others, to show them how their children can benefit, to make sure they have the interest. Albert also pointed out that record-keeping was important, as she highlighted that the group began on a voluntary basis, on their own without any capital, so they had quite a few challenges. She added that the Wowetta Women’s Agro-Processors would be willing to act as mentors and help others, as they were quite willing to share their knowledge. Contact: 628-9201; c/o IICA Guyana, Lot 18 Brickdam, Stabroek, Georgetown; Tel: 2268835


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