Guyana News

– rehab programme sees 91 clients in first year Minister of Health Dr Leslie Ramsammy said yesterday that the majority of Guyanese were involved in substance abuse, particularly alcohol.

Tyreca Noble, the US citizen charged with trafficking almost two kilogrammes (kg) of cocaine last July, is wanted by police after being pronounced guilty of the offence on Thursday.

– already seeing direct benefits, PM Spencer says Antigua & Barbuda formalized its participation in ALBA (the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas) on Wednesday and Prime Minister Winston Baldwin Spencer says that through that and its associated PetroCaribe Agreement his country has benefited from a US$8M water infrastructure project, hundreds of scholarships, and price reduction of utilities for pensioners.

President Bharrat Jagdeo adopted a hard-line position in the legal case of Trinidad Cement Ltd (TCL) and TCL Guyana Incorporated (TGI) against his government saying on Friday that the administration was defending the national interest which is “very important to us”.

– AG report says The 2007 Auditor General Report has noted major discrepancies in the rental of the First Federation building, which is controlled by the State Solicitor’s Office.

EDITORS’ NOTE: Reuters and other foreign media are subject  to Iranian restrictions on their ability to report, film or take  pictures in Tehran.

TRIESTE, Italy (Reuters) – Washington is to  dramatically overhaul its Afghan anti-drug strategy, phasing out  opium poppy eradication, the US envoy to Pakistan and  Afghanistan told allies yesterday.

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Michael Jackson’s family  gathered at his parents’ suburban Los Angeles home yesterday  to make funeral arrangements for the troubled King of Pop amid  reports that they are seeking a second, independent autopsy.

– rights group WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Iranian paramilitary Basij  forces stage nightly raids in Tehran, invading private homes and  beating residents in an attempt to stop protests against Iran’s  disputed election, Human Rights Watch reported.

Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) President Dr Compton Bourne says the issue of undocumented immigrants in Barbados should be handled with much more sensitivity than it has been so far, adding that there are too many stories of people being rounded-up during raids and deported.

-will be a main issue on Caricom agenda The treatment of Guyanese immigrants in other countries continues to be of great concern to President Bharrat Jagdeo and he is urging that they be treated with “respect” and “dignity” wherever they go.

“‘The knock on the door at night’ is not within our regional culture; still less are intimations of ‘ethnic cleansing’” Senior regional integrationist, Sir Shridath Ramphal says that it is sad that the Caribbean is experiencing a period  when both policies and practices are deepening divisions and he cautioned that “we forget our oneness at our peril.”

A 22-year-old Fyrish, Corentyne labourer was yesterday charged with the murder of  29-year-old Arifa Muntazali who was found in a trench at Chesney Backdam.

-analyst dep’t makes big seizure An alert has been issued to consumers by the Government Analyst Food and Drug Department to carefully examine the labels of food items for expiry/best before dates and other defects after tampering was discovered in Region Six.

-President President Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday ruled out any probe into the alleged link between Health Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy and confessed drug trafficker Roger Khan without factual evidence.

-fleeing bandit shot at pursuer The two Castello Housing Scheme residents who were shot in separate incidents on Thursday night are recovering from the gunshot wounds they sustained.

President Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday fended off criticism of the benefits for former Presidents, saying they have been enshrined in law to ensure transparency about the entitlements, almost all of which had been enjoyed by his predecessors.

– court hears An 18-year-old man who allegedly attempted to commit a felony was yesterday remanded to prison when he appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.

A 16-year-old boy who was jointly charged with another person over a house break-in was on Wednesday ordered to remain in police custody when he appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.

A 30-year-old father of four who was charged with the offence of robbery with aggravation was on Wednesday remanded to prison when he appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.