News

Despite a poor turnout, a consultation on the draft witness protection and whistleblower bills went ahead yesterday and while there was support for the proposed laws, concerns, including the absence of political accountability and the persistence of a culture of silent dissent, were raised.

A domestic worker yesterday recounted the harrowing $13 million robbery at her boss’s Republic Park, East Bank Demerara, during which she was bound and gagged by gunmen.

Representative of Louis Farrakhan of Nation of Islam, Akbar Muhammad, who was arrested in July 2011 on suspicion of involvement in drugs and terrorism, is once again calling on the government and the Guyana Police Force to publicly issue an apology to him and clear his name.

Following disagreements with now resigned Guyana Water Inc (GWI) Chairman, Nigel Hinds over a range of issues including the ownership of a well at the Queens Atlantic complex, Chief Executive Officer Richard Van West-Charles sought and received a legal opinion that appeared to strengthen his position.

State witness Rajesh Liloutie yesterday testified that he saw murder accused Hamid Latiff, called ‘Crapo’ swiftly motioning his hand into 16-year-old Mulchand Murilall’s body, after which he shoved the teen into a trench.

A Corentyne man appeared at the Whim Magistrate’s Court yesterday to answer to the charge of raping a 12-year-old girl.

Forestry expert Janette Bulkan has backed the United Kingdom’s decision to ban the importation of greenheart from Guyana for government projects since it was not from a sustainable source, although the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) said that the forests are well managed and the timber is from legal sources.

Expressing concern over the persistence of unsafe practices carried out by mining firms, the Ministry of Natural Resources announced that it would launched a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the latest mining death.

Amazon Caribbean (Amcar) took its canned Wild Acai Hearts of Palm and other products to the Natural Products Expo in Baltimore, USA recently, where it was the only company representing not just Guyana, but the entire Caribbean.

Carl Braithwaite, who police say stabbed a nine-year-old boy during an attack in the city, was yesterday sentenced to nine months in jail for the crime.

Mahase Gangadin, who was charged in April with fraudulently converting over $500,000 in items entrusted to him, was yesterday found guilty of the offence.

Howard De Santos, the young minibus driver who was charged last year with causing the death of his uncle, was yesterday acquitted after a city court held that there was no case made out against him by the prosecution.

The relatives of the two missing fishermen are not satisfied at the pace of the police’s investigation and are calling on all of the authorities to assist them.

SANAA (Reuters) – Yemen’s Houthi movement fired ballistic missiles at Saudi Arabia, and the United States said a failed missile attack from Houthi-controlled areas targeted one of its warships, two days after an apparent Saudi-led air strike killed 140 Yemenis.

The mother of two who was shot by her partner on Saturday last, remains in the hospital and is slowly recuperating.

BOGOTA/CARACAS (Reuters) – Colombia’s government and second-biggest rebel group announced yesterday they will start formal peace talks on October 27 in a boost for President Juan Manuel Santos after the rejection of his deal with the larger FARC guerrilla group.

A worker attached to the Skeldon Estate lost his life yesterday afternoon after a swarm of Africanised bees attacked him at the backdam where he was working.

BERLIN (Reuters) – Top European Union and NATO officials called yesterday for continued dialogue with Moscow, while maintaining pressure on Russia over its actions in Ukraine and its support for Syria’s bombardment of civilians in Aleppo.

Hundreds turned up on Sunday for the Pink Ribbon Walk in observance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which was supported for the second year by the Nestle Svelty brand.

The Ministry of Education has launched an investigation into a Berbice school following allegations that a teacher was using drugs and encouraging students to do the same by saying “It is okay to take a pull”.