Oronoque St. Georgetown– A family of five is now thorn apart following a terrible accident at around 10 this morning, which left the young mother dead. According to reports the 47 route minibus refused to stop at the junction between Oronoque and Lance Gibbs streets when an oncoming yellow cab smashed into rear side sending it toppling several yards before landing in a ditch. Residents who heard the impact saw a shocking sight, as the young mother who was in the front seat flew about 30 feet up in the air and landed head first into an empty lot. Reports are that she died on the spot, before being rushed to the hospital. TrakkerNews witnessed blood at the spot where she landed. Resident say that the three young boys were pulled from the wreck. One was found under a bridge, the other pinned beneath a seat with his elbow bones protruding and the third unconscious on the ground. The driver, their father, climbed out and was disoriented calling for his children, not knowing the fate of his wife.

 Georgetown – Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud spearheaded the launch of the National Consultation on Guyana’s Food and Nutrition Security Strategy yesterday.

Georgetown- As bandits continue their  brazen attacks on citizens, the police are leaving no stones unturned to go after them, particularly those is the possession of firearms. The move according to a senior officer, is to get behind those responsible for the illegal arms trade.

The Police Commissioner recently alluded to the many guns in society which can be bought and rented with ease. Police patrols continue to scour the known areas for these illegal activities, mostly the heavy populated market areas in the city. Similar exercises are being carried out in other parts of the country as the police try to find those responsible for the illegal trading in arms and ultimately plug the gap from where these guns originate. Only yesterday a woman was held at gunpoint as the armed robber stole her bag containing a large sum of money in the Robb & King streets area. He was confronted by a police patrol and ran back to his victim with the bag which he returned to her in one piece. He was subsequently arrested and led police to the man who gave him the .32 Walther pistol and six rounds. Both are now in custody. 

 Georgetown – Youths from Essequibo, Berbice, Demerara and the Hinterland were the first beneficiaries as government launched its One Laptop Per Family (OLPF) programme last evening.

Murphy Williams of Paramakatoi, North Pakaraima died after he was driving an ATV from Paramakatoi heading to Bambo Creek, when he collided with a tree that had fallen across the trail.
The police have since launched an investigation into to 21 year old man’s death.

Georgetown-
The police are investigating an armed robbery which occurred at about 11:20h. today committed on Irene Arjune, 58 years, a fish vendor of
Good Hope, Mahaica, ECD, of  $515, 000.00, two plane tickets valued $160,000.00 and a quantity of documents by a man who was armed with a handgun.
Investigations revealed that Irene Arjune withdrew the cash from a city bank after which she went to a motor car, when the suspect held her at gunpoint and took away a bag which contained the cash, plane tickets and documents.

The suspect ran along Robb Street and into King Street where he was confronted by an alert police patrol. He then ran back and returned the bag with its contents to Irene Arjune and tried to escape, but was again confronted by the police patrol where he was arrested.

A search was carried out on him and a .32 Walter pistol along with six rounds was found in his possession.
Subsequent investigations led to the arrest of the man who allegedly gave the suspect the firearm.
They are both in police custody and charges will be made shortly.

Georgetown- Up to late this afternoon police were busy interrogating suspects in the murder of 35 year old Igris Bobb Blackman called David, whose bound and mutilated body was found in a septic tank at a home in Parfait Harmonie. Investigators still have his ex wife and others in custody. It is believed that dispute over the property and the break up of the couple may have led to the man’s death, but TrakkerNews understands that investigators are looking into a more sinister motive which involves the man’s ex-wife and others in custody.

 Georgetown – Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Kellawan Lall and Leader of the Opposition Robert Corbin held a follow-up meeting with Officials from the Linden Town Council, Region 10 to facilitate the continuation of discussion from the previous meeting held on January 14 in Linden. 

Georgetown- Every year a big chunk of the national budget goes to the security sector in an effort to equip the police, improve their investigative capability and overall improve the security of the nation. However, these are challenging times with more daring criminals and a level of sophistication that force the police to explore expert tactical measures to face them. This year’s budget provides funding to meet these challenges much to the confidence of the Police commissioner Henry Greene. Speaking to TrakkerNews today, the top cop said that the forensic lab is urgently needed to solve crimes, which has been a sore issue for the police force in the past. He thanked the Government for intervening considerably, saying that the police’s capability will definitely improve to discharge it’s mandate.Greene alluded to the recent acquisition of the motorcycle patrols, which he claims is responsible for significant reduction of serious crimes. 

Georgetown-
Maternal and Child Health Unit will be launching  the PRENEVAR (pneumococcal 13- valent conjugate vaccine).  PCV13 replaces a previous conjugate vaccine (PCV7), which protected against 7 pneumococcal types. In Guyana, this will replace the PCV 7 which was in use from 2009.

The new pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) protects against 13 strains of pneumococcal infections. These bacteria types are responsible for most severe pneumococcal infections among children.

PCV13 is given to infants and toddlers, to protect them when they are at greatest risk for serious diseases caused by pneumococcal bacteria e.g. pneumonia, ear infections, meningitis (infection of the covering of the brain).

 Regent Street, Georgetown – The police today are investigating an armed robbery that occurred at late last night Monday at Regent and Bourda Streets, Georgetown, during which huckster Sanjay Persaud of No. 60 Village, Corentyne, was attacked and robbed by three men, two of whom were armed with handguns.

 Meadow Bank – East Bank Demerara – 23 year old Mark Greene, a labourer of Meadow Bank Squatting Area, Georgetown, was stabbed to the neck by another man after an argument erupted at the Meadow Bank Wharf.

 Essequibo –Acting on information received, the police arrested, 18-year-old Brazilian national at Itaballi.

Georgetown- Faced with a troubling year of poor performance, financial problems, strikes and infrastructure troubles, the Guyana Sugar Corporation now has a priority to increase cane availability with expanding acreage until cultivation along with higher levels of participation by private cane farmers. Finance Minister Ashnie Singh in his budget outlined a series of interventions to enable the survival and viability of the corporation. Among these are the acquisition of mechanized cane harvesters, cane loaders, tractors and haulage units. Singh added that repairs will be completed to the number one boiler at the Skeldon Factory, and other defects corrected with the expectation that the factory will perform at full capacity by the second crop. Other factories are slated for heightened maintenance and key equipment replacement in an effort to increase efficiency of operations.

 Georgetown – The Government has budgeted $345 million dollars of the $14 billion allocated for the health sector , for training activities. The money will be used for 250 professional nurses being trained and 140 clinical and technical staff, while over 280 students in various health disciplines are currently in training.

Georgetown- "Crime is a poverty issue, and nobody seems to care about the unemployment figure, even the Minister of Finance in his budget speech failed to talk about it", the words of Chartered Accountant and Economist Christopher Ram on the issue of security and economy. He explained that if you examine the National Insurance Scheme statistics, there are now few people in employment compared to the last decade. Ram said that he is not sure where the tomorrow Guyana is as alluded to by the Finance Minister during his budget speech. He contends that if the budget does not address today’s problems how can you get to tomorrow. He however said that there is potential in some aspects of the budget and things are looking positive as it regards Guyana’s prospects for the future. He cautioned that the Government needs to take careful note of huge spending in the face of a huge deficit.

Waterloo Street, Georgetown- For the first time ever in Guyana’s history the personal tax rate is higher than the Corporative tax. This is according to Economist Christopher Ram speaking to CaribbeanTrakker today on the mega budget unveiled yesterday. Talking to him from an economic perspective of the budget, Ram said that the average rate of tax for an individual is about 65% which is unacceptable and a crude decision by the Finance Ministry.He added that the Finance Minister should have brought it down to 30% and it is time for the country to return to a more progressive form of taxation with a system of personal allowances. Ram said that the Minister in his budget made a very optimistic projection and assumption that it will get all the low carbon development strategy funds including the 40 million US dollars from Norway. He said that this is not a good basis to do budgeting particularly when Guyana has such a massive deficit, adding that the country is somewhere around 27%  overall deficit balance of total revenue.

Opposition Leader Dr keith Rowley has said the government’s plan purchase of Air Jamaica will be the recreation of a problem that has already been solved.
Rowley, speaking at a town meeting in Sangre Grande last night, said for years BWIA had been a drain on this country’s treasury.
He said this problem was rectified with the restructuring of BWIA into Caribbean Airlines.
Rowley said Caribbean Airlines has been financially viable for the past four years but this is now in jeopardy with the proposed merger of Air Jamaica.
Rowley said the merger was effectively reverting the now profitable national carrier to a burden on the treasury. 
 

 Georgetown – Long serving party activist, Mrs. Joan Baveghems, has been extracted from the Top Up List of the PNCR/1G List of Candidates for the 2006 General and Regional Elections, to fill the vacancy in the National Assembly created by the death of the late, Mr. Winston Murray. 

 Georgetown – Anticipation is high about the discovery of oil when the first attempt is made within months to drill a well offshore Guyana.

 Georgetown – Finance Minister in presenting the country’s largest budget of $161.4B, allocated $10.1 billion for roads and bridges of which $8.2 billion will be spent on roads and $1.9 billion on bridges.

West Bank. Demerara –
The police are investigating a fatal accident that occurred at Belle Vue Public Road, WBD and which resulted in the death of
Terrence Mc Allister, 23 years, a member of the Guyana Defence Force, and of Princess Street, Lodge, Georgetown.

The police said, Terrence Mc Allister was driving motor cycle CF 6685 along the Belle Vue Public Road, when he lost control of the vehicle and collided with a sluice and received injuries.
He was taken to the West Demerara Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

 **PT – Part Time,  ** FT – Full Time,  **PE – Permanent

Georgetown– There are a lot of sides to the story that unfolded last evening with the striking minibus operators, shortly after a meeting with works minister Robeson Benn. The operators claimed that following the talks, some of them resumed operations only to find a number of 32 seater minibuses at the park offering free transport. This was the response of the minister to the strike. The operators are now calling him the iron fist of the Government. Today the strike resumed as many called the move intimidatory. The 41 route operators continue to call for more space at the Stabroek Market park, where many of them are forced to find alternative locations, losing out on passengers. A police mobile unit is stationed in the parking space and most of the area cleared following a demolition of stalls in wake of a grenade explosion. Additionally, Benn said that the bus operators objected to the presence of the police.
“I said that that was non-negotiable… security was an overriding concern or else there would be no activity if there wasn’t security, and we were not going back to the situation which obtained up to the time we had the grenade explosion,” the Minister explained.

 Georgetown – The Guyana Government is moving swiftly to have citizens computer literate and move with the cutting edge of technology.

Georgetown-Ranks of a police mobile patrol responded to a report of larceny of a gold chain at Republic Park, EBD, committed on Ingrid Brown, 
60 years, an overseas based Guyanese, residing at Phase 1, Republic Park.
Acting on information received the police subsequently confronted the suspect, Aris Browne of Republic Park, who was seen at a shop at Eccles Access Road, EBD. During efforts to arrest him he attacked the police with a knife causing them to resort to the use of force and he was shot to his right foot. He was taken to the GPHC where he was admitted under guard.
 

Georgetown- With respect to the retail
land line fixed to mobile rate, the Public Utilities Commission after intense deliberation,
agreed to a rate of $12 a minute, despite representations made by both
GT&T and Digicel that the agreed rate should be $17 a minute.  The Commission’s order is dated
December 28, 2010 and made effective on January 1, 2011. The approved rates are
granted for four (4) months and shall be reviewed on application by either
party on or before April 30, 2011. 

In a release, the Commission notes that both
companies were forced to make compromises in order to arrive at a common ground
with respect to a new interconnection rate schedule after intense and lengthy
negotiations. Both parties have committed to enter into settlement after an
approved agreement with respect to outstanding monies due to each other for the
period when the interconnection agreement lapsed. The integrated package
application included interconnection rates for mobile termination rates, the
fixed termination rates and the fixed network transit rates. The Commission
after holding a public hearing into this matter, agreed to all rates as
submitted in the application by GT&T except the retail land line fixed to
mobile rate. 

Education Minister Dr Tim Gopeesingh met with Police Commissioner Dwayne Gibbs today to find a solution for school violence.
Gopeesingh said a two pronged approach will be adopted to battle the crime scourge in schools.
Prevention and Mentoring are the methods to combat school violence, Gopeesingh said.
Gopeesingh said Gibbs has pledged an increase of uniformed officers near schools and also the introduction of more mentoring programmes.
 

Avonelle Hector-Joseph, founder of the Non-Governmental Organisation, Is There Not A Cause (ITNAC), is urging citizens to not forget Haiti which is still reeling from the effects of a 7.0 magnitude earthquake one year ago.
"A lot more work still needs to be done. We know people have already given money but there is still much more that needs to be done," Hector-Joseph said today.
Today is the one-year anniversary of a massive earthquake that killed 250,000 and left over 100,000 homeless.
Hector-Joseph says there is much more that needs to be done to assist the citizens of Haiti.
"We still have to build homes, we still have to provide medicine and we still have to pay teachers. So we need the help from all citizens," Hector-Joseph said.
Gregory Mc Alpin was this country’s only citizen to be killed in the Haitian earthquake.
A private memorial service is scheduled to be held in his honour today, his sister Karen Camejo has said."

Georgetown– Anti-narcotics units from the region and from the US continue to monitor flights out of Guyana, as the country remains a main trans shipment point for drug traffickers. Guyana’s history is marred with the level of cocaine emanating from these shores to foreign lands, particularly the United States, where the substance carries a huge value. The latest bust of a granny on wheelchair, has alerted the local authorities. The searches and immigration process at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport are expected to take longer, with this recent bust. The woman in her late 60’s was bound for a Delta airline when the authorities acting on information searched the woman’s wheelchair and found some 9 kilograms of cocaine. She is currently in police custody assisting with the investigations. This morning security personnel handling the woman’s case, hinted to TrakkerNews that the woman may be unaware of the substance in her wheelchair and that this could be the work of some relative with connections to drug peddlers in the US.

 Georgetown – The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport has expressed dismay and disappointment at stories appearing in the press on January 10th , which reported that African Organisations met on January 8 and expressed displeasure “at the process used by the Guyana Government to create its programme” for the observance of the International Year for People of African Descent.           

 Georgetown – Minister of Finance Dr. Ashni Singh this last night announced he will be presenting the National Budget for 2011 to the National Assembly on Monday January 17th .

Georgetown-Police say that the body of Michelle Benjamin of Gordon Street, Kitty, was recovered this morning in the Aliki area, Essequibo River. Michelle Benjamin was feared drowned on Sunday January 09, 2011 after the boat she was travelling in began to take in water and the passengers panicked and jumped overboard. Benjamin, who was among a group of 10 persons travelling in a boat, disappeared off the coast of Parika,  during a rescue operation to bring them ashore, after their vessel began taking in water near an area called Aliki in the Essequibo River.
Eyewitnesses said that the occupants of another boat, which was travelling a short distance away, observed the panic among the passengers of the ill-fated vessel and went to their assistance. The passengers were hauled to safety in the other boat as their vessel eventually capsized.
But when a check was carried out, Benjamin was discovered missing
 

Georgetown-The police are seeking the help of the public to identify the decomposed body of an East Indian which was found in a canal at North Ruimveldt, Georgetown.
The body was clad in a pair of blue pants; a blue, grey and white multi-coloured shirt; with a Casio wrist watch on his right hand, a green bag over his shoulder and barefooted.
 

Georgetown- Ranks stationed at the Kitty outpost were forced to evacuate the building along with prisoners following a bomb scare just minutes ago. The fire service and bomb squad were alerted. This has now become a trend since the start of the year. Just recently, there was one at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, putting a temporary halt to flights, but following a thorough sweep by authorities nothing was found.

The authorities while acknowledging that this mischievous trend often happens during an election year in Guyana, they are not taking any chances. 

 Georgetown – Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud met with representatives of the Guyana Poultry Producers’ Association to discuss agriculture development plans for 2011. 

Essequibo-
The police are investigating an incident that occurred. yesterday, at Aliki in the Essequibo River where Michelle Benjamin, 22 years of Gordon Street, Kitty, is feared to have drowned.
Investigations revealed that a boat with 10 passengers was travelling from Bird Island to Aliki, EBE, when the vessel began to take water and the persons panicked and jumped overboard. With assistance from persons on another boat nine of them were rescued, but Michelle Benjamin is believed to have drowned. Her body not yet been found.
The captain of the vessel has been arrested and is in police custody assisting with the investigations.

 Georgetown – Chairman of the Guyana Election’s Commission Dr. Steve Surujballi will now have to give up his Chairmanship of the Guyana Livestock Development Authority for the smooth and effective running of the election’s office for the upcoming National Election, this is according to Guyana’s head of state President Bharrat Jagdeo.

 Georgetown – President Bharrat Jagdeo briefing the media this afternoon at the Office of the President said, general elections will definitely be held this year as constitutionally listed. He emphasized that he will not be contesting since his 2nd term comes to an end.

 Georgetown – Enabling an accelerated deployment of Guyana’s first Mobile WiMAX network, Aptilo Networks, the global leader in pre-integrated solutions for control of billing, user services and access in wireless networks including Wi-Fi, WiMAX™ and LTE, has been selected by E-Networks Inc, the largest wireless Broadband Internet Service Provider in Guyana, to provide service management, prepayment capabilities and policy control for their WiMAX service.  

 Stabroek, Georgetown – Vendors in small groups this morning went back to ply their business at the stabroek Market square where the Government dismantled stalls over the weekend.

Camp street, Georgetown– The prison service backed by police investigators are trying to determine who may be responsible for secretly passing weapons, drugs and cell phones to prisoners at the Camp street jail. When contacted today, prison officials indicated that a number of suspects are being questioned as investigations continue into the recent find following a massive search. Prison officers are among those held for questioning. According to the official this is a serious development since prisoners are having too much of contact with the outside and this is facilitated by guards, since relatives of those incarcerated are thoroughly searched in the event of any visits. In the past there have been incidents of collusion between prisoners and guards which resulted in break outs from the prison that has now become infamous since the 2002 February 23rd Prison break when five hardcore criminals escaped unleashing hell in the country.

Georgetown– Fire investigators this morning are examining the scene of the 2 am fire on Main & Holmes sts. which destroyed Humprey’s building where a number of businesses were housed. Nearby residents in the Tiger Bay area reported hearing explosions before fire was seen on the top floor of the old wooden building. Among the offices destroyed were that of Frandec and Liat travel services. Up to the time of this report, investigators were unable to say what caused the fire. There are a number of worrying concerns however, in the recent spate of  bomb threats, but the authorities say that they would not speculate on the cause of the fire.

Soesdyke –
The police conducted a drug eradication operation at Swan, Soesdyke/Linden Highway, yesterday.
A field of about one acre in size with marijuana plants between four feet and eight feet in height, along with a nursery containing over 500 seedlings were found and destroyed.
The ranks also searched three houses during which an unlicensed 12 gauge single barrel shotgun with two matching cartridges and 44.5 kilograms of dried cannabis sativa (marijuana) were found.

Three men and two females have been arrested and are in police custody assisting with the investigations.

 Georgetown – The Guyana Government will be moving to the National Assembly to put forward a legislation to have persons prosecuted for hacking in to websites.

Georgetown –  The Minister pointed to Stabroek  News and Kaieteur News carried letters from Mr. Christopher Ram, social columnist which states:

Hundreds of citizens visit the Rotunda of the Red House today to see Sir Ellis Clarke.Clarke is laid in State at the Rotunda in preparation for his funeral tomorrow.His casket remains closed however.There will be two ceremonies for Clarke tomorrow a private funeral service followed by a State funeral which is scheduled to begin at 11.30 am.Condolence books have been distributed nationwide for citizens to say goodbye to Clarke.The 700 tickets available to the public to witness tomorrow’s State funeral are almost finished

 Georgetown – Cabinet Secretary Dr. Roger Luncheon this morning said the 2011 budget will be presented before the end of January, 2011. The Budget will be presented by Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh.

United States Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton has described Sir Ellis Clarke as the “consummate statesman”.Clinton made the description in an official release from the US in response to the death of Clarke, this country’s first president.”On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I offer my deepest condolences to the people of Trinidad and Tobago on the passing of their first president and last governor general, Sir Ellis Clarke,” the release today stated.”Sir Ellis was a towering figure on the Trinidad and Tobago landscape. He helped lead the country to independence. His passing will be felt not only in Trinidad and Tobago, but around the world. He was an Ambassador, a humble public servant and the consummate statesman. Sir Ellis embodied the values that we should all strive to uphold. Today my thoughts and prayers are with his son, Peter, his daughter, Margaret-Ann, and his entire family.

Georgetown-   Investigators are this morning examining the theory of whether the grenade which exploded yesterday morning was intended for a target in close proximity to the Stabroek Market. They believe the explosion may have been a planned attack gone wrong. TrakkerNews was informed that the dead man, a junkie, who works around the Stabroek area, may have been working for planners of the suspected attack. Up to late last evening the authorities were dismantling illegal stalls and structures at the market. The Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee told the press that investigations revealed that the device may have been in the possession of the dead man. Contending that it was very lethal, Rohee refrained from linking the incident with the elections, which is months away, but said that the market is a safe haven for criminals and illegal activities.                  

 Georgetown – The Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) salutes the declaration made by the United Nations General Assembly on December 18, 2009 proclaiming the year 2011, International Year for People of African Descent. 

Seven hundred tickets are being supplied to the public to attend Friday’s State funeral for Sir Ellis Clarke. Clarke’s funeral will be held at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA) on Friday at 11.30 a.m. NAPA can host 1500 people, the other 800 seats will be provided to dignitaries. Clarke was laid in State at the Rotunda of the Red House today between 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and President George Maxwell Richards both viewed Clarke’s body today.

 Georgetown – 19 persons ranging from ages four to 50 were treated for injuries this morning at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation after an explosion occurred at Stabroek Market square. One man is confirmed dead.

 Georgetown – Popular TV host CN Sharma was discharged from the Balwant Singh Hospital around noon today after being treated and monitored for fluctuation of heart beats. According to a source close to the JFAP leader, Sharma will be leaving for Trinidad before the end of this week and may probably have to do a pacemaker surgery. 

 Stabroek, Georgetown– The Police are presently carrying out their investigation surrounding the death of a man and several persons injured after an explosive device went off this morning in front of the busy Stabroek Market.

Georgetown – Police are investigating an alleged attack at Stabroek Market at around 10’o clock this morning, where part of a man’s head was blown off and others injured after what is believed to be a bomb that was thrown into a crowd. It is not clear what resulted in the sudden attack. The man and others were rushed to the hospital. TrakkerNews will bring an update on this story as more information comes to hand 

Georgetown-  Stabroek market, the city’s busiest area continue to be monitored by Police, particularly traffic cops, who are constantly seen issuing tickets to minibus operators flouting the law daily. The operators often park in the no parking zones scrambling for passengers and in the process obstruct the traffic flow causing a lot of confusion in the area. TrakkerNews happened to be in the vicinity yesterday and witnessed the issuing of four tickets to minibus operators breaking the law. The area in constantly patrolled since shoppers are often the targets of chain snatchers. The police are maintaining strict security in the area with a no nonsense approach.  

Canje, Berbice-  Young 23-year-old Julian Mohabir of Sheet Anchor, East Canje, Berbice is dead and four others in critical condition at the New Amsterdam Hospital after the car they were in slammed into a utility pole. According to reports the driver was overtaking when he lost control hitting another car before heading into a power pole. The fatal accident happened just at around 9 o’clock last evening.

Rudy Indarsingh, the Minister in the Ministry of Works and Transport says maxi taxi operators who have decided to work today are being threatened by other maxi drivers.
Indarsingh said reports are that maxi drivers who chose not to participate in today’s strike are being threatened as they enter the nation’s main transportation hub, City Gate.
Devant Maharajh the chairman of the Public Transportation Service Corporation (PTSC) says additional police officers and PTSC security personnel have been detached to beef up security.
Maharajh applauded the police service for their response.

Maxi taxi drivers make good on their threat to strike today.The maxi taxi drivers are protesting government’s decision to regularise the “private hire” taxi driver industry without consultation.The Public Transport Service Corporation (PTSC) has increased the number of buses working today in an effort to soften the blow of today’s strike action.Devant Maharaj has hailed the response of the PTSC as a success.Maharaj said the maxi drivers strike has “backfired”

 Diamond,East Bank Demerara – Early this morning, one of the drivers of Stabroek News, Mr. Elliot was distributing the daily papers in Daimond, East Bank Demerera when he met in an accident.

Berbice- The police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of Herman Daniels, 61 years of Sheet Anchor, East Canje, Berbice, whose decomposed body was found in the Berbice River at about 1015h. today. He had been reported as missing to the police on December 27, 2010 by his wife.The police are awaiting the results of the post mortem examination.
 

Cove & John, East Coast Demerara- Melroy Jeffrey, 36 years of Annandale, ECD, was today charged with causing death by dangerous driving. He appeared before Magistrate Shondell Isaacs-Marcus at the Cove and John Magistrate Court where he was placed on $250,000.00 bail for court on February 03, 2011.
The charge resulted from investigations into a fatal accident at Lusignan, ECD, on January 02, 2011, where Mark Seebarran of Lusignan lost his life.

President General of the Oilfield Workers Trade Union (OWTU), Ancil Roget, is calling for Finance Minister Winston Dookeran to publicly apologise for statements made yesterday.
Dookeran yesterday reminded public servants that if they participated in today’s protest they would be breaking the law and could face the possibility of a $500 fine and three months in jail.
Roget and other labour leaders today joined the Public Service Association (PSA) in protest against a five per cent salary increase for public officers.
A lower than expected turn out by public servants today is being blamed on Dookeran’s perceived threat yesterday.
Dookeran must immediately apologise, Roget has said.

Georgetown- The police records of armed robberies, shootings and violent domestic disputes is already at an alarming state with just 4 days into the year 2011. At the dawn of the new year alone there were over 5 armed attacks by bandits bent on creating fear and instability among citizens.

There are concerns that even with all the heightened security measures and resources to prevent an upsurge in criminal attacks, the police failed to keep the situation under control. The business community and civil society are now calling on the police to find an immediate solution to stem the current spate of armed attacks. Most of these attacks now occur in the country areas far from the city where most of the patrols are centered.

TrakkerNews understands that the police high command recently deployed additional ranks and resources to the areas targeted by armed criminals. Stretched thin on manpower the police force is calling on the community policing groups to assist them in the fight against a seemingly daring gang of criminals who are on a rampage particularly along the East Bank areas. 

Thousands of public servants today heeded to the Public Service Association’s (PSA) call to stay away from work today.‬‪However, PSA president Watson Duke expressed some disappointment at the lower than expected turnout at today’s planned “massive show of force” against a five percent salary increase from the Chief Personnel Officer.‬‪Duke called for a nationwide shut down of all public offices in preparation for his next meeting with CPO, Stephanie Lewis.‬‪Duke is scheduled to meet with the Lewis, next week Tuesday.‬‪Police officers assigned to the march estimated the turnout at 2000 strong.‬‪Duke said he anticipated the turnout to be in the tens of thousands.‬‪ 

Georgetown-With the construction of the four diagnostic centres and the National Ophthalmology Hospital in Port Mourant, Berbice, and the provision of eye care services it has become necessary that Guyanese doctors have the necessary skills to provide such services along with the Cuban doctors. 
As such the Health Ministry was able to secure several scholarships with assistance from Eye Care Guyana, a non-governmental organisation, allowing Guyanese doctors to receive specialized training.
This is part of the Ministry’s thrust to continuously up-grade health professionals’ capacity while providing training opportunities for non-professionals who desire to enter the health field.
Two of the Cuban trained Guyanese doctors left Guyana on January 1 for Guatemala, to commence their three-year tenure while the other doctor is scheduled to leave in April for Paraguay. These doctors include Vineshri Khirodhar, Jenell Sargu and Celeste Hanes.
Minister within the Ministry of Health, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran, in an interview with the doctors on Friday, indicated that the Government is working on creating its own cadre of eye specialists who will eventually replace the Cuban doctors.
He added that this scholarship programme commenced several years ago. Apart from ophthalmology training several scholarships were also awarded for doctors to receive specialized training in areas including orthopedics and surgery.
 

Georgetown-To improve the living conditions of poor rural households, especially small-scale producers and vulnerable groups and to increase their human, social and financial assets, the Ministry of Agriculture launched a Small Farmers’ Group Financial Facility. According to information out the Government Information Agency, the loan which falls under the aegis of the US$6.9M Rural Enterprise and Agriculture Development (READ) Project is being implemented by the Agriculture Sector Development Unit (ASDU) of the Ministry of Agriculture with direct supervision from the International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD).  

While pointing out that globally world agriculture is stymied due to the lack of financing, the Agriculture Minister said that to date the cumulative global financial investment in the sector is just $2.2B.
Minister Persaud added that while there has been some progress in recent times due to the Jagdeo Initiative, there is still much to be done in moving the region forward, as Guyana has over the years placed special emphasis on sustaining food security.
However, the Agriculture Minister is of the view that if the region is to increase its food production this year then the removal of non-tariff barriers, should be a must.
The Caribbean currently expends US$4B annually on food importation and this will continue to climb if there is no seriousness about agriculture in the region, as such, measures continue to be implemented which are aimed at further developing new areas for cultivation.
“It is Government’s objective of ensuring that no farmer remains small, but given the opportunity to grow; by reducing rural poverty to improve the livelihoods of households engaged in non-traditional agriculture production and agro-processing,” he said.
 

The farmers will also benefit from a re-payment plant of six months or two to three years depending on their choice. The $222M facility has earmarked $180M for the grant and $42M for working capital financing.
The READ project which commenced in 2009 and will conclude in 2014 is focused on pushing Government’s diversification strategy to further develop the non-traditional sectors.
Farmers from Regions 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 10 will be targeted.
 

East Coast Demerara – With the effects of climate change, more specifically the rising sea levels, Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud says planting more mangrove trees can help save Guyana’s coastlines.

He was at the time speaking at a collaboration workshop involving students of the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA) and members of the Guyana Mangrove Restoration Project unit, at, Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara.   

Mahaica, East Coast Demerara- Mahaica Post office remained closed today because thieves broke into the building sometime early this morning. According to the police, the building was broken into and a safe had been torched and $586,750.00 taken away.
Investigations have revealed that entry into the building was gained through the flooring.
The money is believed to be used for the payments of pensions.
 

Annnandale, East Coast Demerara – Residents of Annandale on the East Coast of Demerara are reporting that two men were seen jumping out of the Annandale Secondary School and they later saw smoke emitting from the building last night. The building was checked and a lighted pile of newspapers was found on the lower flat and extinguished by the security guard and residents. 
Two containers suspected to have contained kerosene and gasoline were found by the police.
Only last Saturday night, Paradise Secondary school was saved from arsonist by residents using a bucket brigade.
 

West Coast Demerara – Nine-year-old Akiela Niles was accidentally shot by the police during the pursuit of a mini-bus in which she was a passenger.
 
Acting on information received that mini bus BLL 6759 was transporting narcotics, the police made efforts to stop the vehicle at Wales, West Bank Demerara, but the driver drove away. He also drove through a police roadblock along the West Bank, following which the police gave chase behind the vehicle.
 
In further efforts to evade the police, the driver drove the mini-bus through Parfait Harmonie and Canal No.1 Polder, WBD. Reports said the police fired a shot in an attempt to puncture the tyre of the mini-bus; however, the bullet struck little Niles on her right instep. She was taken to the hospital where she was treated and sent away.
 
The vehicle was subsequently stopped at Nismes and searched and 2.5 kilograms of dried marijuana were found. The driver has been arrested and is in police custody.

Georgetown – Minister of Education Shaik Baksh this afternoon said, a piece of legislation will be taken to the National Assembly for private schools to be licensed. The minister pointed out that the schools must reach the Ministry’s curriculum, teaching standards, seat accommodation etc. Education Ministry’s officials attached to the planning department in the meantime will be meeting with the schools and out line  all that will be required of them.
There are presently 115 private schools operating and new ones are emerging.
 

THE State funeral for Sir Ellis Clarke will be held on Friday at the National Academy for Performing Arts (NAPA) in Port of Spain, a release from the Office of the Prime Minister says. The public funeral ceremony for this country’s first president is scheduled to start at 11.30 a.m is expected to follow a private funeral service planned by Clarke’s family.Clarke will lay in State at the Rotunda of the Red House- the house of Parliament- for public viewing on Wednesday and Thursday. After the State funeral Clarke will be laid to rest in a family plot at the Lapeyrouse Cemetery in Port of Spain. The private funeral for Clarke will be held at the Church of Assumption located along Long Circular Road, Maraval and is scheduled to begin at 9.30 a.m. The State funeral will take place two hours after the private service. Clarke passed away at his Maraval home last Thursday night after suffering a stroke on November 24. He died two days after his 93rd birthday. The National Flag is being flown at half-mast in his honour.

Works and Transport Minister Jack Warner has canceled a scheduled trip to Qatar on FIFA business in order to deal with aggrieved maxi taxi operators.
Warner the vice president of FIFA was scheduled to meet officials from Qatar to discuss that country hosting the 2022 football World Cup.
However maxi taxi operators have planned a shut down of public transportation in protest against the Government’s decision to legalise private hire taxis.
Warner has scheduled a press conference at 3pm today to discuss his response to the planned shut down.
 

 Georgetown – Leader of the Justice For All Party and proprietor of CNS TV 6 CN Sharma, was rushed to the Caribbean Heart Institute located at the Georgetown Public Hospital after a number of heart complications early Sunday Morning. According to a close relative of the Sharma, he was not responding and suggested that he might have suffered a stroke, however the doctors at the institution did not reported on a stroke but said his heart was failing.

Pupils of at least 34 schools got an extra day home today as their schools were not opened, 29 of them to facilitate the Caribbean Secondary Education Secondary Examination. The other five schools are still being repaired and are not likely to open until next week.The Ministry of Education says the  Mt. Pleasant Government Primary, Point Fortin Anglican Primary and Charlieville Presbyterian are still being repaired in addition to the Tunapuna Secondary and the St. Augustine Secondary schools.
All other schools were expected to open as usual this morning.

Downtown Paramaribo, Suriname- Tourist from all over joined thousands of Surinamese in downtown Paramaribo on old year’s morning for the biggest shoot out of fire crakers known as ‘Pagara’ in Surname. The tradition is one which starts at 10 in the morning along Suriname’s biggest shopping district on Domineestraat. all roads all closed off leading to the almost 1 mile stretch where thousands converge for the display. Some of the Pagaras are almost 200 meters long and last some 10 minutes of none stop crackling and smoke spreading for miles. All the business places simultaneously light off their pagaras.This display lasts for hours, when heavy smoke and revelers having a time of their lives in the packed downtown district. The old year’s night is even bigger, which the best display of fireworks across South America. CNN rated Suriname at the 6th largest fireworks display country in the world. It is a tradition that the country is very proud of. TrakkerNews was unable to get a first hand experience of the most fantastic display one can ever imagine.

Throughout the week long trip in Suriname we were able to learn of the big preparation for old year’s in Surname. Every night leading up to old year’s is party with road closed off at various clubs and casino venues. Suriname’s biggest celebration is truly one to experience.

 Georgetown – The first sitting of the National Assembly for 2011 is January 6th where the Pensions amendment Bill will be called for passage. 

Paramaribo, Suriname- Immigration authority, customs anti-narcotics officers and the Suriname police, continue to maintain strict surveillance and searches at Coronie and Saramacca as they search for Guyanese nationals who are suspected to be part of a ring involved in smuggling cocaine and guns through the infamous backtrack route. The route in a 20 minute ride by speedboat from Crabwood creek area to Suriname.

This heightened security and rigorous search of mostly Guyanese en-route to Paramaribo from South Drain in Suriname, comes in wake of a big bust recently, where three Guyanese were arrested after a search by police unearthed some 2.2 kilos of cocaine in their belongings. After an interrogation, the traffickers were able to lead police to a home in Munder, Paramaribo, where another Guyanese man lived, believed to be the head of the gang. A search of the house unearthed a quantity of cocaine and guns. The occupants of the house have been taken into custody.
 

 Georgetown – The Police in clearing the air today on the detention of Guyana’s comedian artiste Lyndon Jones said on Thursday December 23rd , 2010, the police received a report of an armed robbery in 

Sir Ellis Clarke will receive a State funeral.‬‪Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has offered Sir Ellis’ family a State funeral for his final rites.‬‪Sir Ellis’ son Peter Clarke said that the family will accept Persad-Bissessar’s offer.‬‪A condolence book has been placed at the Red House in Port of Spain-the seat of this country’s Parliament-to honour Sir Ellis.‬‪A date for his funeral service is still to be set.‬

National Security Minister Brigadier John Sandy has advised that the National Flag should be flown at half-mast in honour of the passing of Sir Ellis Clarke.Clarke, the first President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, died at his family’s home last night.”Given the considerable and notable contribution that the late Sir Ellis Clarke has made to Trinidad and Tobago, and in keeping with proper Flag Protocol, the Minister of National Security, Senator the Honourable Brigadier John Sandy (Ret’d) has advised that the National Flag should be flown at half-mast,.” a release form the National Security Ministry stated today.”This directive went into effect from 11 a.m. today and will remain in effect until the day of the funeral service of Sir Ellis Clarke,” the release stated.‬

 Mahaica – Initial plans are getting off the ground for the construction of the new and improved Mahaica market to accommodate vendors. Prime Minister, Samuel Hinds and a team including Head of the Privatization Unit, Winston Brassington, Independent Surveying and Civil Engineering Consultant, Ralph Choo-shee-nam among others, visited the village to determine the best possible location for the structure. The Prime Minister said a decision has been made to construct a new building to house stall-holders and funds have been allocated for the project.   However, he pointed out that consultations are still being conducted. o date there has not been a final decision on where the new market will be located, but the Prime Minister and his team of Engineers were inspecting several spots for the new structure, one of which is a Government reserved occupied by squatters.

 Georgetown-Just after 7:30 am today, a young woman was trying to park her car along the Avenue of the Republic, opposite the Bank of Baroda and ended up plunging into a nearby canal. According to the woman, she was attempting to park when her foot accidentally went on the accelerator. She sustained no injuries; however a traffic rank told TrakkerNews the woman will be charge for dangerous driving. The police said if she stopped to park, then the hand or foot braked should be have been applied.

Trinidad and Tobago’s first President and the man credited with framing the country’s constitution is dead.

Sir Ellis Clarke passed away around 8 o’clock last night at the age of 93.

He had suffered a massive stroke on November 24 and never fully recovered. He died two days after his birthday.

In a brief statement last night his son Peter Clarke said he died peacefully.

Sir Ellis was Trinidad’s Governor General before he was elected president when the nation became a Republic in 1976. He served two terms until 1987.

Today, Minister of Labour Manzoor Nadir condemned in the strongest possible terms the refusal by the embattled bauxite company RUSAL to attend a meeting convened by the Ministry of Labour among the Ministry, the company and the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers’ Union.
  According to the Minister, “refusal to come to the Ministry of Labour is showing total disregard and disrespect for the government, the people and the workers of this country.”

Minister Nadir said he subsequently learnt that the company’s refusal to attend the meeting was premised on their non-recognition of the collective labour agreement.
The Minister said that there are at least six sections of the labour code that empowers the Administration to get involved in any labour dispute.

 Georgetown-The Ministry of labour reported, 2010 was a sad year as there were over 24 industrial deaths.  The highest year for industrial deaths in recent times and 400% increase over 2007.  An analysis of the deaths shows that more than 50% are in the mining sector  and another 17% in the forestry sector.  Also more than half of those who dies are between the ages of 15 and 35 years, especially in the Mining and Forestry sectors.  

Cabinet has today decided that the airplane deal between Caribbean Airlines (CAL) and French airline ATR will go ahead as plan.
Attorney General Anand Ramlogan made the anouncement today during post Cabinet news briefing.
The purchase of nine planes from ATR caused an impasse between Works and Transport Minister Jack Warner and recently appointed chairman of the CAL board George Nicholas.
Warner said the differences between himself and Nicholas have been settled and they will work together to better the regional airline carrier.
Aviation expert John Dunne presented a report on the airline deal to Cabinet.
 

 Georgetown-The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) hereby responds to statements reportedly made by Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud.

 Georgetown – Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Kellawan Lall maintained that the statutory responsibility for the Le Repentir landfill still rests with the City Council, describing recent mitigatory efforts at the site by the Ministry of Public Works as assistance being provided and financed byCentral Government. The Minister insisted that Government has no intention of taking over the management of the site and at the same time intends to hold the Mayor and City Council accountable for the site of the area and the subsequent fallout.

Popular bar owner Ricardo "Smokey" McKenzie’s final rites will be performed at St Finbar’s Roman Catholic Church, Morne Coco Road in Diego Martin today. McKenzie was expected to he celebrated his 56th birthday today. The funeral service which is scheduled to begin at 10.30 a.m. is expected to be attended by cultural icons such as Slinger "Sparrow" Francisco. McKenzie who died at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami on December 21, had been ailing since September 2009 when he was diagnosed with a brain tumour. He subsequently had to undergo several surgeries, radiation and chemotherapy. McKenzie celebrated 25 years of Smokey and Bunty, the famous watering spot in St James, along with his business partner, Renaldo Munroe, two years ago.

Georgeytown-
Four flights arrived today bearing passengers who were stranded in Trinidad and Tobago after having flown from Canada while others travelling from the United States experienced delayed flights due to the bad weather.
The airlines involved include American based Delta and Caribbean Airlines, respectively.
Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Manniram Prashad, at a press briefing, today, at his South Road office, expressed his dissatisfaction with the manner in which Guyanese were treated by Caribbean Airlines, particular those who travelled from Canada.
With respect to those who travelled with Delta Airlines, Minister Prashad noted that he respects the entity for taking the necessary safety precautions since there were concerns about the weather patterns and a back-up of passengers pending departure.  
 He emphasised that following the delay of the flights scheduled to leave New York, Caribbean Airlines should not have continued with the journey to Trinidad and Tobago since the persons on that flight were scheduled to join the aircraft from New York to continue their journey to Guyana.

Georgetown-The police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of Paul Peters, 21 years of Ruimveldt Squatting Area, , whose body was found in the trench along Laing Avenue yesterday.The police are awaiting the results of the post mortem examination of the body which is at the Lyken Funeral Home.

 Georgetown-The Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) has communicated its concern to the CARICOM Secretariat about Mr. Carl Greenidge’s right to work and continued employment as Senior Deputy Director in the Office of Trade Negotiations after December 31. In a letter signed by General Secretary, Mr. Lincoln Lewis and dated December 28, addressed to CARICOM General Secretary (ag) Ms. Lolita Applewaithe and copied to CARICOM Chairman, the Hon. Prime Minister Bruce Golding of Jamaica, the Congress registered its concerns that, it is of the view that the appointment of Mr. Carl Greenidge should not be revoked on the grounds that funding is not available.

Attorney Gillian Lucky has been appointed to the Director of the Police Complaints Authority. Lucky, who received her letter of appointment for President George Maxwell Richards today, has pledged to bring back public confidence in the Police Service. Master Ralph Doyle has been appointed the Deputy Director of the Police Complaints Authority. The ceremony took place at Knowsley Building today. Richards has hailed the two-member authority as a significant pillar in this country’s war against rising crime. Lucky, a candidate for the Congress of the People (COP) political party during in the 2007 general election was jointly approved for the new post by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley. Lucky said it was good to see political differences can be put aside in order to help the country overcome the crime scourge.

 Georgetown-The Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG), recorded their extreme outage at Guysuco’s letter dated December 16, 2010 which informed the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), that the Corporation is “considering to terminate the “Recognition and the Avoidance and Settlement of Disputes” agreement dated 27th February, 1976 that currently subsists between your Union and the Corporation.”

 Georgetown – The Ministry of Agriculture reported that rice sector recorded its highest export of 320,000 tonnes with a production of 360,000 for 2010, due to the input of farmers and technical and extension services inclusive of water management by the Ministry, despite the disruptions caused by climate change.

East Coast Demerara-
Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud this afternoon said the Government will continue to invest in the sugar industry to maintain its stability, to prevail, diversify and develop in spite of industrial actions by workers, price cuts and low yields, a $2.4B packaging facility is under construction.
The facility which will see value added sugar products being made available has a capacity to churn-out 40,000 tonnes of packaged sugar. It will be completed by March.
Another aspect of the project will be the restructuring within the factory to enable it to produce high grade sugar for packaging purposes, while larger acreages within the East Coast Demerara area will be brought under cultivation to ensure adequate cane supply.

Georgetown-Proposals for the removal of the graveyard opposite the Bourda market on Regent Street and container parking in the city were brought to President Bharrat Jagdeo today when officials of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) and the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GICC) met to agree on a way forward. A meeting with President Jagdeo was subsequently sought after dialogue between the M&CC and the Chamber on the issue was unsuccessful and Dookhoo was happy to point out that the matter has been amicably resolved.
The Local Government Minister has agreed to engage the two parties in a further discussion on the issue which will take into consideration, parking hours, safety and on-load offload regulations among others.
 

Georgetown-The Administration of the Guyana Prison Service completely refutes the Kaieteur News’ article “Forgotten Prisoner dies in cell”   dated December 28, 2010.
Directors of Prisons Dale Erskine said this afternoon the prison has no recorded death of any inmate during the period stated nor any prisoner by the name of Barnes at the Georgetown Prison.
The Administration is deeply concerned with the continuous flow of mis-information from the Kaieteur News in relation to operations of the Georgetown Prison that has no merit. A number of these articles are mischievous in nature and contribute to disquietude in the Prison environment, tarnishes the professional image of the Guyana Prison Service and de-motivate the hard working staff of the Prison Service. 
Erskine emphasizes the Christmas Season was quiet throughout the five locations and void of any major incidents. Prisoners were served with their traditional Christmas meals, played games and viewed the television as a part of their relaxation.
The Prison Administration said, the management of Kaieteur News  irresponsible reporting can impact on the security of the Prisons and can have disastrous consequences to the society at large. It is expected that an apology be made.
 

 Georgetown-The Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) today publicly supports the commitment of the Government for ensuring that Policies and Administrative Acts are non-discriminatory against Chinese made at a meeting held with members of the Chinese Community in Guyana and Dr. President Bharrat Jagdeo. 

 Essequibo-The police are investigating an armed robbery that occurred at about  last night at Queenstown, Essequibo Coast, during which Housewife Bibi Zaimoon and her 15 year-old niece were attacked and robbed by five men armed with firearms.

 Georgetown-The police are investigating an armed robbery that occurred at River View, Ruimveldt, Georgetown last night.

 Georgetown-

Pearl Hytimiah who has been in the Palms for the past 24 years was among several persons greeted by the Minister of Labour Manzoor Nadir over the festive season so they will not be forgotten.

High in spirits was the oldest resident of the home, Ruby Wilkinson, who is 101 years old.

Mr. Nadir also ensured that the people were fed, as he personally handed out plates of food prepared by the staff of the Palms.

He was also warmly received by the staff of the institution.

Georgetown –
The police are investigating an armed robbery at the Texaco Gas Station, Mandela Avenue, last night, during which Leon Bynoe, 28 years of South Ruimveldt, Georgetown, was shot and injured.

The police said three men, one of whom was armed with a handgun, held up pump attendant Andrea Sealey, cashier Lavern Andrews and a customer Tricia Walcott and took away an undisclosed sum of cash.
As they were escaping the armed man discharged a round which struck Leon Bynoe, who was taking fuel for his motor cycle at the time, to his left thigh.
He has been admitted a patient at the GPHC.

Georgetown –
The police are investigating an armed robbery at the Texaco Gas Station, Mandela Avenue, last night, during which Leon Bynoe, 28 years of South Ruimveldt, Georgetown, was shot and injured.

The police said three men, one of whom was armed with a handgun, held up pump attendant Andrea Sealey, cashier Lavern Andrews and a customer Tricia Walcott and took away an undisclosed sum of cash.
As they were escaping the armed man discharged a round which struck Leon Bynoe, who was taking fuel for his motor cycle at the time, to his left thigh.
He has been admitted a patient at the GPHC.

East Bank Demerara-
The police are investigating the murder of labourer Ravindra Sookhoo, 24 years of Belle Vue, WBD, which occurred at last night at Diamond Housing Scheme, EBD.

Investigations revealed that Ravindra Sookhoo and another man were gambling during which an argument developed between them and he was allegedly stabbed to his body. He was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The suspect has not been arrested as yet.

Georgetown-
President Bharrat Jagdeo participated in the Ministry of Tourism’s Main Big Lime annual event on Main Street, which attracted hundreds who came out to mingle and have fun. The event which proved to be an overwhelming success despite the weather is aimed at promoting the Guyanese unique culture, while providing tourists with a spectacular occasion to have “reunion” every year.
President Jagdeo during his customary walk-about took the opportunity to greet participants.
The first Main Big Lime was held in 1999, with specific emphasis placed on promoting Guyanese tradition and culture.

An earthquake shook the ground under the feet of residents last night, knocking over small items but causing no major damage or injuires, early morning reports say. The University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre reports that the quake started at 9:01pm local time and had a magnitude of 4.5. It occurred near the north coast of Trinidad and was reportedly felt throughout Trinidad, from Carenage to Moruga to Matura.  

Georgetown-
President brings Christmas cheer to children at GPHC- joined by cricket stars On this occasion however, the President brought along with him West Indies star batsmen Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ramnaresh Sawran and captain of the Guyana National Cricket team Lennox Cush.
The presentation of toys and the presence of the prominent figures were enough to bring smiles to the faces of the children, a few of whom were bedridden and were only able to extend a hand. The visitors themselves came in for a surprise when little Joshua Thomas sang the popular local song gospel song “Victory is Sure” after receiving his gift from the Guyanese head of State

 Georgetown- Around 3am today, proprietrix of the New Thriving Restaurant Che Jin King, 52 years of Brickdam, Georgetown, was attacked and robbed by three men who were armed with a handgun and two knives.