Dreylan Johnson

-says killings may have occurred earlier than believed Relatives of the victims of the Lindo Creek massacre were “outraged” that the Guyana Police Force (GPF) appeared to have more interest in identifying the bodies, than conducting an actual investigation, attorney Nigel Hughes testified yesterday.

As little as three months ago, 37-year-old Melroy Pyle, who was awarded a government scholarship to study at the University of Guyana, had what may have seemed like a clear path to his future as a Civil Engineer.

Questions about the misuse of funds by the Region Two administration and a subsequent audit have revealed several other contraventions, including breaches in the award of contracts, payments for incomplete works, and misallocation of funds for at least six projects last year.

Some West Coast of Demerara residents remain uncertain about their next steps in the wake of the recent destruction wrought by spring tides and flooding to their homes.

The communities of Stewartville and Uitvlugt gained some relief from the effects of the spring tide over the weekend, and government utilized the opportunity to commence the cleanup efforts, and begin repairs to the sea defence structure.

Towering spring tides yesterday flooded three villages on the West Coast Demerara, destroying houses, smashing 75 feet of the Uitvlugt sea defence, drowning livestock and displacing patients of the Leonora Hospital.

Close to a decade after the Lindo Creek killings, a former policeman yesterday recounted the recovery of  the charred remains of the eight miners at the crime scene.

Despite GWI’s Managing Director, Richard Van West-Charles arguing strongly for tariff increases, the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) yesterday insisted that the accounts of the utility be presented for examination.

There was approximately $60 million in unspent funds lying in special accounts across municipalities at the end of 2016, and a significant portion of that money is still unspent, according to Permanent Secretary (PS) of the Ministry of Communities Emile McGarrell, who said it was determined that the money did not have to be returned to the Consolidated Fund.

Interviews and photos by Dreylan Johnson and Bebi Oosman This week we asked the man/woman in the street about the Guyana-Venezuela border controversy and the decision of the United Nations Secretary General to refer the matter to the World Court.

The first public hearing to discuss the proposed rate changes by Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) saw fierce opposition yesterday from the citizenry, who called for the utility company to produce a record of its accounts before proceeding any further.

Following the announcement of hikes in administrative fees at the Turkeyen and Tain campuses of the University of Guyana (UG), the students’ society yesterday called the move unlawful and urged the student body to stand in solidarity against the increases.

The final days for cancer patients can be consumed by pain and loneliness.

The man and woman in the street commented on their plans for Christmas and what the season means to them.

Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Barton Scotland yesterday disallowed a motion by  PPP/C MP Irfaan Ali to adjourn the budget deliberations in order to facilitate a debate on the controversial US$18 million ExxonMobil signing bonus.

Coen Jackson, the Bishops’ High School teacher accused of sexually grooming and preying on female students, yesterday denied the allegations levelled against him, while charging that the complaint now being investigated by the Education Ministry stemmed from a personal grudge.

The Education Ministry is probing a complaint against a teacher of the Bishops’ High School, who is accused of sexually grooming and molesting female students during the 10 years he has worked there.

Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan has written to the city’s Town Clerk saying that the corporal who was dismissed for supposedly failing to take action during an alleged sexual assault on a minor by a lance corporal, must be given a fair hearing.

Saying that she was dissatisfied with the performance of the city constabulary, Georgetown Mayor Patricia Chase-Green yesterday declared that a reshuffling may be needed and warned Chief Constable Andrew Foo that he needs to do better.

After a five-day “fact-finding” visit to Guyana, the United Nations Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent has voiced concern over the human rights of Guyanese of African descent, who it says continue to experience racism and racial discrimination despite some efforts that have been made to address the situation.