tuesDAY, october 10, 2017
guyanatimesgy.com
News
Prison escapee Royden Williams aka “Smallie” recaptured
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anted man Royden Williams, also known as Royden Durant and “Smallie”, was recaptured on Monday at Weldaad, West Coast Berbice during an intelligence-led operation. Reports are that the prison escapee was cornered at a Police road block erected outside the Weldaad Police Station. Guyana Times understands that the escapee, convicted for the Bartica massacre, was being followed by uncover cops. This newspaper was told that Williams had cut off his dread locks in a bid to hide his identity. Following his arrest, Williams was searched but no weapon was found in his possession. Williams was last month in the company of fellow prison escapee Uree Varswyck, also
known as Malcolm Gordon, when Police confronted them at Central Amelia’s Ward, Linden. As Joint Services ranks approached their hideout, they opened fire. The ranks returned fire, killing Varswyck in the process. A 9MM pistol with 40 live rounds; a haversack and cloth bag containing medication, a gas mask, military camouflage clothing; toiletries and a cellular phone were found when police went to retrieve Varswyck’s body. Varswyck, Williams and Cobena Stephens, aka OJ, are said to have been the masterminds behind the July 9, 2017 Camp Street Prison fire and escape which left prison officer Odinga Wickham dead. Durant, also called Royden Williams, had been sentenced to death for the Bartica Massacre.
Recaptured: Royden Williams
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A section of the gathering at Monday’s opening ceremony
Internet governance, social networking, digital responsibility and cyber security during this week. These stakeholders include the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU); the Internet Society; Internet Governance Day; Caribbean Network Operators Group (CaribNOG); and the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names
and Numbers (ICANN). Formed in 1998, ICANN helps to promote competition and develops policies for the top level of the Internet’s naming system, while CaribNOG is a group of network operators that deal with the management of IP networks in the Caribbean Region. Meanwhile, the CTU is inter-governmental in nature, formed by Caricom. It seeks to support the devel-
opment of ICT technologies across the Region. The discussion will focus on what regional players have implemented thus far to capitalise on the business opportunities and other technological advances that the sector offers. The afternoon session included discussions on net neutrality, Internet services and cyber security. The week of activities ends on Friday.
Fire engulfs former BaiShanLin log market
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fficers attached to the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) have reported a mysterious fire, which broke out on Thursday at an old log market formerly operated by BaiShanLin International Forest Development Inc, at Bissaruni, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice). The GFC workers were at the time stationed in Kwakwani when they noticed flames began spreading across the large open area. According to information relayed by the GFC, their staff, along with offi-
cers of the Kwakwani Fire Service, as well as other stakeholders present at the scene, launched a fire-fighting mission and managed to contain the blaze within the location. Eventually, the fire was completely extinguished, but, nevertheless, GFC staff are continuously monitoring the site so as to prevent further damage. Based on initial assessments, a portion of the old logs were gutted in the flames. However, the GFC has indicated that further investigations will be carried out in the coming days
Dynamic Airways to honour all financial obligations
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ICT development underscored at Internet Week launch
t the launch of the Internet Week on Monday, Public Telecommunications Minister Cathy Hughes expressed that the way in which Guyana developed its Information C o m m u n i c a t i o n s Technology (ICT) sector would determine how the country’s Internet industry was transformed. She made these comments at the Pegasus Hotel, where stakeholders are gathering throughout this week to discuss solutions and strategies to improve ICT in Guyana. The discussions are being held as part of Internet Week 2017, which is being held here for the first time. Minister Hughes told the gathering that Government was working to ensure that citizens have safe and secure access to the Internet. Regional and international stakeholders are collaborating with the Ministry to lead discussions on
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so as to determine the possible cause of the fire, as well as the extent of the damage done to the logs. However, it was highlighted that as a result of
the prompt response by the workers and stations within the area, there were no injuries to anyone present nor damage to the surrounding forest.
ollowing its pull out of the local market, Dynamic International Airways has committed to honour all its financial obligations. In a statement issued on Monday, the airline disclosed that it suspended its operations on October 3rd to facilitate its reorganisation of its Chapter 11 Case under which it has filed for bankruptcy. The airline said it remains committed to honouring all outstanding financial obligations, whether to passengers, airport authorities, or the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority. The company has said that those passengers who had booked to travel with its chartered service out of Guyana and New York beyond the October 3 suspension date would be issued a refund on the unused portion of their ticket. However, the airline has disclosed that it is soon to enter into discussions with an interested party about serving the Guyana/New York Market under a new arrangement, which is permitted as it seeks to reorganise. “The new arrangement, known as an ACMI agree-
ment, would allow Dynamic to serve the Guyana/ New York market”, Chief Executive Officer of the airlines noted. Further, the airlines thanked Roraima Airways for its service as its local partner in Guyana. The voluntary Chapter 11 petition was filed by Dynamic Airways with the United States Bankruptcy Court in the Middle District of North Carolina. This chapter of the Bankruptcy Code generally provides for reorganisation. Moreover, Chapter 11 allows a debtor to propose a plan of reorganisation, to keep its business alive and pay creditors over time. This includes the lawsuits from Hajj flights that Dynamic operated in 2014 for Air India, and an arbitration award against Dynamic Intl., finding that the airline was in breach of contract by failing to pay commissions to BKP Enterprises in connection with the Hajj flights. Just a month after filing for bankruptcy, one of the airline’s creditors had moved to the courts to force the airline to liquidate its assists; Dynamic then owed some US$1.19 million.