Gaulbert Sutherland

-says US$1m waste water treatment plant non-negotiable The high tax levelled on Banks beer in comparison with the rest of the Caribbean  as well as the continuing problem of uncustomed smuggled beer into Guyana remain major concerns, Chairman of Banks DIH, Clifford Reis says.

Canadian oil exploration company Groundstar Resources Inc expects to start drilling for oil in the Rupununi in May.

-Cuban doctor to be assigned There has not been a deterioration of service at the Aishalton District Hospital, Minister in the Ministry of Health, Dr Bheri Ramsaran says while acknowledging the need to improve capacity, not only there but at other locations also.

It gets dark early in the South Rupununi and for many people the darkness signals bedtime.

-Murray raises accountability questions The National Assembly yesterday endorsed Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) after opposition members raised concerns about consultations, transparency and accountability.

-gearing up for EU sea defence contracts Despite rainy weather, three earth-shaking blasts saw 100,000 tonnes of rock tumbling down as construction material supplier, BK Quarry showcased the company’s capabilities at its Teperu/Itabu, Mazaruni River location on Friday.

Home Affairs Ministry expresses ‘deep regret’ The horrific treatment and torture of a teen and two other men in the Ramenauth Bisram murder investigation was known by other police ranks but they were indifferent and complicit, and under investigation, some told lies and gave conflicting statements.

-aiming for a million ducklings a year from NARI A lack of political will in some CARICOM states has seen the region-wide agriculture initiative being stalled, President Bharrat Jagdeo says.

Transparency and accountability are key issues in the forest preservation deal between Guyana and Norway with this country required to take action in this regard before any money is disbursed.

The teen who was tortured while in custody at the Leonora police station has told his mother that three ranks beat him while a fourth interrogated him.

A World Bank team – here to discuss a forest conservation strategy with Amerindian forest communities – has cleared the way for a S$200,000 seed grant to support information sharing activities but has expressed concern about mining activities in the Kamarang area.

…two months after boat mystery By Gaulbert Sutherland The whereabouts of 10-year-old Ricky Jainarine remain a mystery two months after he disappeared following an Essequibo River boat collision that left his father and another man dead and despite tantalizing clues, authorities have thus far failed to pinpoint the other vessel.

In July last year Pilot James Berisha and his daughter were told that their homeland, Kosovo did not exist.

-calls to police station rang out Following threats and a prior attack, a Land of Canaan, East Bank Demerara fireman was early yesterday morning brutally chopped to death by three men in a shocking attack which residents said would not have occurred had police heeded several reports made by the deceased man.

Five persons, including three stepchildren of US-based Guyanese, Motilall Singh appeared at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court yesterday, charged in relation to his murder and they were remanded to prison.

A probe has been launched into a fire yesterday morning which completely destroyed a three-storey building at Plantain Walk, Pouderoyen which housed the Education and Probation Office of the Ministry of Education as well as other government departments.

‘He was me only companion’ At midday yesterday, Salimoon Rahaman observed a minute of silence for her missing son, Ricky Jainarine, still clinging to the hope that he or his remains would be found.

Aishalton toshao says malaria up It is almost the end of the rainy season in the Deep South Rupununi and there has scarcely been any rain.

The limited skills of residents of the South Rupununi was underscored as their representatives last week probed officials on the benefits from a proposed alluvial gold mining project to be undertaken by Romanex Guyana Exploration Limited in the Marudi Mountain.

There was a moment just after midnight on Saturday when everyone in the National Park seemed to be in the air, shouting or singing.