Border controversy
Gov’t `gravely concerned’ over Venezuelan law on Essequibo: The Government of Guyana has expressed “grave concern” over the announcement that the Venezuelan National Assembly has declared Essequibo, which constitutes two-thirds of Guyana’s sovereign territory, to be a constituent part of Venezuela. A release yesterday from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, has declared such action as a “flagrant violation of Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and … in breach of the fundamental principles of international law enshrined in the United Nations Charter.” It further noted that it is an “egregious” violation of the Order on provisional measures issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) as well as a violation of the Argyle Declaration of December 14, 2023, agreed to by the leaders of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and Brazil, the representative of the United Nations Secretary General, and the presidents of Guyana and Venezuela. The release said that Guyana will not allow its sovereignty and territorial integrity to be usurped. As such, Guyana “will exert all of its efforts under international law to ensure that its sovereignty and territorial integrity remain intact.” According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Guyana has responded by calling on the international community to uphold the rule of law by rejecting Venezuela’s “illegal expansionism” and by insisting that Venezuela revert to the International Court of Justice, which has before it, the case for a full and final resolution of the controversy over the land border between the two countries. “We deplore and we are unhappy that the Government of Venezuela and its National Assembly just yesterday agreed that they would make Essequibo firmly, no longer a Zona de Reclamacion but Venezuelan territory. This is highly regrettable and it is a violation of the principles of the good faith discussions which were undertaken at Argyle and more latterly in Brazil,” Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn told the opening of a conference of the Regional Security System (RSS), held yesterday at the Ramada Princess Hotel. The two countries agreed last December to avoid any use of force and not to escalate tensions in the dispute after a meeting between Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali and Venezuelan President, Nicolas Maduro. Benn said that this country is long suffering but expects that it “will be vindicated through that process”. However, he said that the recent move by Caracas has seen Georgetown being “concerned about the questions of instability”. “While we continue to deplore, we look forward to reasonable rational engagements to ensure the issue between Guyana and Venezuela is mitigated and poses no risk to territory,” he said while pointing out that this country is committed to ensuring that the region remains a “zone of peace”.
Security
US CIA Director on historic visit: In addition to the visit from Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of the United States of America, William J. Burns yesterday, Guyana is preparing for visits from former President of the US, Bill Clinton and a former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, , Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud last evening announced at an Indian High Commission-organised business forum, held at the Marriott Hotel in Georgetown. The disclosures were made while responding to questions on promising sectors here for bilateral relations between India and Guyana. Persaud noted that the evidence shows that Guyana is buzzing with opportunity as can be seen by the number of high profile persons visiting since oil was discovered. “In terms of bilateral cooperation… we are two countries that our views are being taken very seriously. And I will give you an example of Guyana alone. This week alone, from today, this morning we had the head from the Central Intelligence Agency, here on his way to Qatar to dealing with the Gaza war, stopped in Guyana. This shows how important we are to engage on a number of issues. Two, the former Prime Minister of the UK is coming here, and on Sunday the former President of US… is also coming. Then we have other VIP dignitaries coming here to engage the Government of Guyana, to engage the private sector,” Persaud informed. “These visits are not only to engage government on policies and talking about collaboration and bilateral relations, but also the prominence and importance too of the private sector of the different sectors of the economy that is growing,” he added. The Foreign Secretary asserted that the PPP/C always believed that India would hold prominence in the global areas and it is why it has always had and will continue to have great bilateral engagements. “I think the historical factors, but we see that is changing now in terms of India taking a very prominent role on the global stage, leadership of the G20, its leadership of many other issues at the multilateral forums. I see in that change and in that tide probably approaching the CDB (Caribbean Development Bank) and other such initiatives that will not only benefit here but other parts,” he said. “The range of cooperation [between] Guyana and India is very vast…,” he added. The Office of the President yesterday announced that President Irfaan Ali had received a courtesy visit from the Director of the CIA, at State House. Burns was accompanied by the US Ambassador to Guyana, Nicole Theriot.
Accountability
Teixeira reels back in claim about Adams and 2016 PSA: Following a charge that it had lied about Dr Vincent Adams on Tuesday before the United Nations Human Rights Committee in Geneva, Guyana on Wednesday said that it found it inappropriate to be asked about the appointment of the current Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Head. Guyana’s representative, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira clarified yesterday that when she referenced former EPA head Dr Adams on Tuesday it was to highlight how the state party felt about his role towards the 2016 Production Sharing Agreement. This was not what Teixeira had told the committee on Tuesday. She told the committee that Adams had overseen the 2016 Production Sharing Agreement (PSA). The said on Tuesday in response to a question from French representative Hélène Tigroudja : “In fact the former Commissioner or Director of.the EPA oversaw the Production Sharing Agreement which has been criticized by all, including my government. And so I think sometimes [ inaudible] and so the issue of the former Director, he oversaw. He was part of the secret PSA of 2016 and nobody knew about it, until a year later when the press, thankfully disclosed on the fact that the signature bonus had been parked in a foreign account by the government”. Teixeira added: “And so the government has a right to replace the Director. In fact the EPA has a Board. And the Board has reviewed the applications and appointed the new Director of the EPA”, she said. Yesterday, Tigroudja signalled to the Guyana delegation that she had had different information and wanted a clarification. “According to information we received, he (Dr Adams) was not working and began his mandate on the 1st October 2018. Two years, three months after the agreement. So I would like to ask the delegation to come back to this point so that they can give clear credible information of this concern”, Tigroudja said. It was then Teixeira objected to the question and said the response had been in relation to how the state party felt about Dr Adams’ role in relation to the PSA. “The issue regarding the former Director, the former Director did not appear to have a problem when he was there from 2019 onwards, to implement the PSA of 2016 which we all know was flawed and which we cannot change at this point , because it was contract law and so that (was) the reference made,” Teixeira said.
UN rights body member points at failure to confirm Chancellor, CJ: When Guyana faced questions for its third and final day before the UN Human Rights Committee last Wednesday, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Gail Teixeira, was pressed to provide answers on the independence of the judiciary and specifically the reason this country for well over a decade now, continues to be without a substantive Chancellor and Chief Justice. Concerns of executive interference and control in the appointment process for judges were raised by Portuguese committee member José Manuel Santos Pais by whom the questions were asked; with him stating that such a state of affairs negatively affects the employment and other benefits of judges, including their security of tenure; even as he called for urgent constitutional reform in this area. “It’s not enough just to say that you have independent agencies, if the persons that run these agencies are appointed by those that should not appoint them,” he said. Teixeira among her responses during her virtual address before the United Nations’ 140th Session of the Human Rights Committee (CCPR) in Geneva, Switzerland, told the committee from her Georgetown office that the “proof” was in the proverbial “pudding,” when assessing Guyana’s judiciary which she said was independent. On this point she sought to note that judges rule both in favour as well as against the government; advancing the position that irrespective of what constitutes the process of appointment, the real indicator of the judiciary’s independence is seen when one considers that the State also loses cases. On the issue of the non-appointment of a substantive Chancellor and Chief Justice, she said that the impasse continues to be a lack of agreement between the President and Leader of the Opposition. Nearly two years ago, Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton said he was prepared to agree to the immediate appointing of Justices Yonette Cummings-Edwards and Roxane George-Wiltshire as Chancellor and Chief Justice respectively. President Irfaan Ali never responded to that proposal neither did he make one of his own. It was this very requirement for agreement by the President and Opposition Leader which Santos Pais expressed concern about, describing the process as being subject to political interference. His launching pad was Guyana’s Constitution which he noted provides for the appointment of the Chancellor and the Chief by the President after obtaining the agreement of the Leader of the Opposition.
UN committee quizzes Guyana over former PS incident, extrajudicial killings: A day after he created a stir by asking about corruption allegations against Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, the US representative on the UN Human Rights Committee kept up a barrage of questions including the outcome of investigations into the detention of the former Home Affairs Ministry Permanent Secretary at a US airport last year and extrajudicial killings. During yesterday’s continuation of the United Nations’ 140th Session of the Human Rights Committee (CCPR) in Geneva, Switzerland, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Gail Teixeira answered follow-up questions along with new ones posed by United States committee member Laurence Helfer regarding various human rights issues in the country. Helfer raised concerns about the state’s response to allegations of corruption and the need for agencies to be more proactive in investigating such claims. In particular, the committee member inquired about civil forfeitures, criminal prosecutions, and the government’s handling of high-profile cases like the detention of a former Permanent Secretary, Mae Toussaint Jr Thomas at the Miami International Airport in April of last year. “The (Guyana) delegation mentioned that the state assets recovery agency has been replaced by several government bodies that have authority over asset recoveries pursuant to statutes adopted in 2022 and 2023 and that civil forfeitures have been carried out by these agencies. Would the state party provide information regarding these forfeitures, including the number of cases, the identity of the individuals targeted, and the amounts recovered? Please also indicate whether any criminal prosecutions have been initiated by these agencies. In addition, does the state party consider that these agencies have a positive duty to be more proactive in investigating allegations of corruption? For example, how is the state party responding to allegations of corruption that have become publicly known, such as the detention of Ms. Mae Toussaint Jr Thomas (former Permanent Secretary), a senior public official, at the Miami airport in the US on April 8, 2023? Are the authorities of the state party investigating this incident and if not, why not?” Helfer prodded. In dealing with all the questions posed by different committee members, Teixeira seemed to lose track of Helfer’s question on Toussaint Jr Thomas detention along with those related to civil forfeitures and thus failed to respond. Toussaint Jr Thomas detention in the US and the revocation of her US visa had raised eyebrows. She has since been moved from the Home Affairs Ministry to the Labour Ministry. There has been no local investigation of the incident.
Guyana questioned at UN rights committee over corruption allegations against Jagdeo: Guyana found itself in the hot seat on Monday at the United Nations’ 140th Session of the Human Rights Committee in Geneva, Switzerland as a barrage of questions on corruption, human rights and public accountability for state assets were asked including allegations against Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo. Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Gail Teixeira appeared virtually to represent Guyana at the hybrid session, delivering an opening statement and fielding inquiries from committee members. A particularly pointed question came from United States committee member, Laurence Helfer, who inquired about public frustration over Guyana’s alleged failure to investigate reports of corruption involving Jagdeo. “The committee… reiterates its request for information on measures to ensure prompt and effective investigations into allegations of corruption and the prosecution of perpetrators. The committee is aware of public frustration regarding, for example, the failure to investigate reports of corruption by Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo. Would the state party care to comment on these reports?” Helfer probed. In response, Teixeira explained that no formal police report had been filed regarding a Vice News broadcast containing allegations of corruption against the VP. Without a formal complaint, she argued, law enforcement authorities were unable to launch an investigation. “The issue of the Vice News’ accusation of a Vice News report article on the Vice President of Guyana and acts of corruption, there’s no follow-up on it. There was no police report made by Vice News or anybody else, and so the police cannot investigate without some form of report or complaint. However, the VP has answered this issue publicly several times in the same media that has carried these reports,” she stated. Jagdeo had lodged a legal case against Su Zhirong who was the man who had levelled the allegations against him in the Vice News report. He had vehemently denied the allegations levelled against him by Su. At the time of the Vice News broadcast, Su had been a tenant in one of Jagdeo’s properties and living near to where the Vice President resided. Su later disappeared.
Oil & Gas
US EXIM Bank approves loan guarantee to Bahrain gas project in hopeful sign for Guyana: In what could be a hopeful sign for Guyana’s ambitious gas to energy project, the U.S. export credit agency on March 14th voted to approve a US$500 million loan guarantee for an oil and gas drilling project in Bahrain, testing a U.S. climate pledge to stop backing projects that expand the use of fossil fuels. Reuters reported that the board of directors at the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) approved the project after voting last month to notify Congress about potentially supporting the expansion of an oil and gas field in the Middle Eastern country with over 400 new oil wells and 30 gas wells. While EXIM’s loan to Bapco Energies would be out of step with the Biden administration’s pledge to stop public financing of fossil fuel projects overseas, according to Democratic lawmakers opposed to the loan, as well as environmental activists, the agency said the project includes measures intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, Reuters reported. Bapco had signed on to the COP28 Oil and Gas Decarbonization Charter, which commits it to achieve net-zero operations by 2050 and end routine flaring by 2030, the report added. “This transaction will support thousands of U.S. jobs and play a crucial role in ensuring Bapco Energies is able to achieve its climate goals of enhanced grid interconnectivity, more efficiency, decarbonization, and investments in large-scale solar projects,” EXIM President and Chair Reta Jo Lewis said in a statement. In a letter to EXIM’s board members on Tuesday, Democratic lawmakers had lobbied for a rejection of the loan guarantee. “We urge you to take EXIM’s mandate to consider the environmental impacts of projects seriously, and to start by disapproving new funding for oil and gas drilling in Bahrain,” the lawmakers, led by U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, said in the letter. Reuters pointed out that the U.S. was one of more than 30 countries that joined a pledge to end public financing of fossil fuel projects overseas at the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow in 2021.
Security
US seals aid for drug fight, port security: Apart from an award of US$300,000 ($60m) from the United States to combat narcotics trafficking here, the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will begin a capacity-building programme and a FBI team will help with port security. This was disclosed last week by US Ambassador to Guyana Nicole Theriot during the signing ceremony for the International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement Fund at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. She said that this initiative is geared at deepening the partnership between the US and Guyana under the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI). According to the US Ambassador, the main objectives of this financial assistance include addressing shared security challenges and supporting Guyana’s efforts to develop an inclusive, transparent and more efficient criminal justice system. Theriot said, “Today I am so honoured to join you to deepen the partnership with your country and the Caribbean as it relates to Narcotics Control and matters of national security”. She continued “We as the partners in the US Government are lobbying for International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement and we are helping to boost human resource capacity by fighting transnational crimes and to promote a more safe and secured criminal justice system”. “Most importantly our work here is our demonstration of the respect for the rule of law and democracy”. Theriot complimented the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) for its integral role in interdicting narcotics but made it clear that while “you are clamping down on a certain amount of narcotics, you have to be on the lookout for more that will be coming into Guyana”. Turning her attention to the fundamentals of strengthening border security locally, the US envoy said that this is integral in the fight against transnational crimes.
In the courts
Court hears that CEO has no record of negotiations with GTU: During his second day on the witness stand, Chief Education Officer (CEO) Saddam Hussain admitted under oath that he lacks records of any negotiations occurring between the Ministry of Education and the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU). This admission came amidst the ongoing case brought against the Government, which alleges a failure to engage the Union in Collective Bargaining, leading to a nationwide teachers’ strike last month. Under cross-examination by both Darren Wade, the attorney for the teachers’ union, and Senior Counsel Roysdale Forde, representing the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC), the Chief Education Officer was unable to cite documents confirming negotiations regarding the Union’s multi-year agreement spanning from 2019 to 2023. During last Thursday’s hearing before Justice Sandil Kissoon, Wade questioned Hussain regarding whether there had been any negotiations between the Union and the Education Ministry. In response, Hussain informed the Court that negotiations on the proposed agreement did indeed take place. However, he stated that these negotiations were not documented in the minutes of the meetings presented to the Court. “I do not agree that there were no negotiations; they simply weren’t recorded,” he asserted, defending the State’s position that negotiations on the proposed agreements had begun and were ongoing at the time of the February 5 strike, which lasted for more than four weeks. The State has maintained that discussions on various aspects of the multi-year agreement have been occurring, and since 2020, it has been implementing several of those proposals. In 2023, it was announced that teachers holding a Master’s Degree would receive a monthly allowance of $20,000, while those with a doctorate would receive $30,000. However, when questioned by Wade, Hussain admitted that the Education Ministry had not consulted the Union on these figures before their announcement. Wade pointed out, and Hussain concurred, that the Union had proposed $25,000 for teachers with Master’s Degrees. This was to make the point that the allowances issued by the Government were decided unilaterally. Hussain maintained that negotiations had indeed taken place. He cited at least 10 documents, all meeting agendas from November 2020 to June 2023, listing discussions on various aspects of the proposal, such as de-bunching, the housing revolving fund, and scholarships. However, Wade argued that meeting agendas alone were not sufficient evidence of actual negotiations, a point with which Hussain disagreed.
Two Venezuelans, Guyanese, 19, charged with murder of Eteringbang shopkeeper: Venezuelan nationals Oscar Alcides, 50, a miner of Eteringbang, Essequibo; Darvy DaCosta, 23, of El Dorado; and 19-year-old Guyanese, Pharel Prince Adelph of Crane Housing Scheme, West Coast Demerara, all appeared before Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court last Wednesday charged with murder in the course of a robbery. It was alleged that on March 14, 2024 at Eteringbang Landing, Cuyuni/Mazaruni they murdered shopkeeper Yang Lisong in the course of a robbery. They were not required to plead to the charge. Lisong arrived in Guyana from Guizhou China, and resided in Eteringbang where he operated a supermarket with his wife, Wen Shuping, who was injured during the ordeal. When ranks responded to the report of an attack at the supermarket and made checks, Lisong was discovered in one of the rooms lying against a wall, clad in a grey jersey and dark grey trousers. A wound about 13 cm in length was observed to his neck. The magistrate remanded the trio to prison pending statements in the matter.
Maurice Arjoon not entitled to severance after securing pension: The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) in a majority judgment has ruled that former manager of the New Building Society (NBS), Maurice Arjoon, who was found to have been wrongfully dismissed, being entitled to accrued pension of some $59 million, is not also entitled to severance benefits. The judgment delivery by the court last Tuesday, saw for the first time ever, the integration of a sign language interpreter who interpreted the proceedings for the benefit of hearing-impaired users of the court. While affirming a High Court ruling which had awarded the sacked manager more than $79 million in owed benefits, the Trinidad-based apex court for Guyana in October last year had reserved its decision on the issue of Arjoon’s entitlement to the severance component. Justice Adrian Saunders speaking while historic sign language interpretation was also being given. Arjoon has already been paid a lump sum of in excess of $59 million, but the legal journey he has had to walk for the past 16 years against the mortgage institution —which had been found to have wrongfully dismissed him in the first place—has been met with appeal after appeal. In addition to the $59,033,281 already paid, the CCJ in the ruling last October, awarding full pension to Arjoon, had also awarded him the principal sum of $4,144,797 being payment in lieu of notice. He was then awarded leave pay and passage assistance in the sum of $1,602,459; as well as monthly pension of $372,498 from July 2017 together with interest up to November 1st, 2023. Additionally, court costs totalling $3,500,000 was awarded to Arjoon against the NBS. The breakdown of court costs awarded by the High Court, Court of Appeal and the CCJ respectively had been $200,000; $800,000 and $2,500,000. While the Court was unanimous in its decision that Arjoon had been wrongfully dismissed, it was divided in a 3-2 ratio that he was not entitled to be paid severance; with President of the court Justice Adrian Saunders Justices Denys Barrow and Justice Peter Jamadar concurring. Justices Andrew Burgess and Maureen Rajnauth-Lee dissented.
Investment
Sheriff Group aiming to build airport in Lethem: In a ground-breaking development, the Sheriff Group of Companies is expected to construct an international-standard airport in Lethem, Guyana. Ameir Ahmad, one of the directors of the company this week confirmed to the Sunday Stabroek that the company is embarking on the venture noting that it has been in the works for years. Stating that the company is extremely excited about the project, Ahmad when asked said that the country can see movements between one to two years. However, he demurred at confirming whether the company has so far acquired land in the Region Nine area. A video provided by Ahmad noted that the airport represents a significant leap forward in establishing a “new dynamic mode of travel from South America to North America, Europe and beyond.” The Sheriff Group last January announced the construction of a specialty hospital at Palmyra, Region Six; an investment which after completion will open up 400 jobs to Berbicians. Ahmad had said that the specialty hospital will be a three-storey structure with a total of 150 rooms, which is expected to drastically improve the delivery of healthcare in the Berbice area. Accommodation for doctors and certain sections of staff will also be built at the location. According to him, the infrastructure itself is expected to cost the company around $5 billion, while the equipment is estimated to cost between $10 billion and $15 billion. Meanwhile, in February, 2023, the company announced the construction of a three-story building also at Palmyra to house the headquarters for Sheriff Security in the ancient county where they already have some 100 staff on payroll. Ahmad had said then that the $400 million building will also provide a business centre for companies wishing to open operations in the region.
Agriculture
President challenges FAO conference over hunger, climate: President Irfaan Ali has emphasized the importance of addressing global issues such as hunger, malnutrition, and food insecurity. As he addressed the gathering at the opening ceremony for the 38th Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) Regional Conference for Latin America and the Caribbean (CLAC), Ali stressed the need for a more equitable and fair global system, emphasizing the importance of data-driven decision-making in agriculture to combat climate events and ensure food security. He further assessed the need for reorganizing the global production system and implementing secure production systems to protect against vulnerabilities. One of the agricultural displays at the FAO conference, which is being held at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre. Speaking at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, the President also touched on the issue of financing and insurance in agriculture, stating that concessional loans and financing should be available to support the global adaptation system. He called for greater integration and logistics in the region to ensure food security and reduce the impact of price fluctuations. “If we had platforms that allowed us to store grains, just like we store fuel… many countries and many nations ensure that they have fuel supplies, storage facilities for eight months [to] twelve months to take care of any shocks to the system. Do we have any facility that can give us six months of grains in any region, six months of wheat in any region? So, whether it’s volatility in price, whether it’s unexpected shocks like war, we at least have some amount of storage capacity. But there is none. That’s why I said we have to look at the entire ecosystem…,” he challenged. Giving an estimate of the impact poverty will have globally by the year 2030, Ali highlighted the importance of addressing malnutrition and ensuring access to water, food, and education for the 700 million people already living in poverty within the agricultural sector. He further underscored the environmental impacts of agriculture, such as water consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, urging for sustainable practices to mitigate these effects.
Crime
Dazzell woman shot dead by twin sister’s ex-boyfriend: A security officer of Dazzell Housing Scheme, East Coast Demerara was fatally shot last week by her twin sister’s ex-boyfriend who afterwards attempted to take his own life. A Guyana Police Force release stated that they are investigating the incident that occurred at around 1 am yesterday which resulted in the death of Ashanti Liverpool, a 24-year-old security officer and the hospitalization of a 31-year-old security officer of Haslington, East Coast Demerara. According to the report, the suspect shared a common-law relationship with the deceased woman’s sister. Enquiries revealed that at about 12.20 am yesterday, the suspect went to the Hong Kong Chinese Supermarket located at Good Hope, East Coast Demerara, where he met a 23-year-old security officer (co-worker), who at the time was armed with an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle and eight live rounds of ammunition. The suspect told the security officer that the supervisor had sent him to collect the rifle. The security officer told police that he made several calls to his supervisor via cellphone, which went unanswered. The suspect then collected the firearm with ammunition and went away. The suspect had earlier gone to the ex-girlfriend’s home and saw her sitting in a car parked in front of her house. As such, he left, went to Good Hope, and returned about 30 minutes later armed with the AR-15, where he entered the house and found Liverpool, who was at home in bed. He demanded to be told about her sister’s whereabouts, (she had left the house a short while before the suspect arrived). This prompted Liverpool to run outside, and as she made her way out of the yard and headed east along the access road, the suspect opened fire on her with the rifle. Liverpool continued running and collapsed in a nearby yard. The suspect then mounted his motorcycle and left the scene.
Joint Services shoot and kill escapee Akeem Wong at Groete Creek: Convicted rapist and double-murder suspect Akeem Wong, who had escaped from prison and was being hunted, was fatally shot at about 13:40 hrs last Sunday at Groete Creek Backdam, Essequibo River in Region Seven by members of a Joint Services team. Wong had escaped from the Mazaruni Prison on February 15, and had been on the run for one month. He was sighted yesterday at Groete Creek Backdam, Essequibo River, by a team of Joint Services members under the command of Major Bridgelall, the police said in a press release. According to a police press release, upon seeing the ranks, Wong emerged from some bushes and charged towards them wielding a cutlass. They opened fire and he was mortally wounded. He fell to the ground and was relieved of his weapon. The police said that the body was escorted to Bartica Hospital. The items that were found in Akeem Wong’s possession. When the scene was processed, the police found, in addition to the cutlass, $4700, three Sim cards, 1 flash drive and memory card, one scissors, four cigarettes, one flashlight with batteries, one fishing hook, Cdn$100, a cellular phone and a lighter. Two prison officers from the Mazaruni Prison were arrested for questioning in relation to Wong’s escape on 15th February. When the mother and son, Nellie Gomes, 75, and David Gomes, 49, both of D’Urban Street, Wortmanville, were murdered at Saxacalli, Essequibo River on March 8, police alleged that Wong had killed them.
Tragedy
Retired headmaster dies in fire at Beterverwagting home: A fire believed to have been maliciously on March 22nd set by person/s unknown has claimed the life of Moses Elias, an 84-year-old man, who was the sole occupant of the house at Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara. Fire Chief Gregory Wickham, told Stabroek News that Elias was burnt beyond recognition as a result of the fire. The Guyana Fire Service (GFS) reported receiving a distress call at approximately 4:00 am about the fire. According to a GFS release, water carrier #16 and water tender #105, carrying 1703 liters of water, along with their crews, were immediately dispatched to the scene. Upon arrival, a wooden and concrete two-storey building was seen engulfed in flames. The building was completely destroyed. Elias was a former Headmaster of Bladen Hall Multilateral School, East Coast Demerara.
