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Bovell was discovered by her niece at around 10:30hrs on Wednesday but Gilpin had initially told the Police that he took her to the hospital on Saturday last.

Checks at the hospital revealed that the elderly woman was never there.

According to information reaching the News Room, the suspect told investigators that Bovell would frequently accuse him of stealing from her.

He said that on Monday morning at around 04:00hrs, he was in the bottom flat of the house when he heard “tumbling” in the upper flat where Bovell lived.

Gilpin said he decided to check on his grandmother when she began to shout “murder, murder, thief, thief!”

The suspect further told investigators that he checked around the building and didn’t see anything suspicious. At the time, he claimed that Bovell was sitting on the floor naked and as he was about to leave the building, his foot hit her in the head, causing her to collapse.

The woman’s neighbour, who cooked for her on a daily basis, contacted relatives claiming that the last time she saw Bovell was on Saturday.

A missing person’s report was filed with the Police and the family launched a search for the elderly woman when they made the gruesome discovery on Wednesday morning.

Bovell lived alone in the upper flat of the house which she shared with Gilpin. She has one daughter who resides overseas.

Her body is currently at the Memorial Garden funeral home awaiting a post-mortem examination.

In view of the public manner in which this charge has been made in your name, it would be equally in the public interest for your response on the matter be given a similar level of publicity, particularly for the benefit of other organizations that may be vulnerable to comparable treatment.

What steps were taken by the Attorney-General’s Chamber in 1991 or more recently to ensure that all of the companies and organizations on the original Companies Register were adequately informed of the changes they were required to make to remain compliant? This is particularly relevant given that NGOs such as the GHRA were forced to register under the original Companies Act due to the absence of legal recognition of the concept of ‘non-profit’. Registration of the GHRA was undertaken by the late Miles Fitzpatrick QC and Ashton Chase QC.

The first audited accounts of the GHRA were for the year 1980 and the last for 2020, along with all forty years in between. What steps has the AG’s Chambers taken to address the legion of organizations of every description functioning without audits of any description, including official bodies?

Since the alleged breach was never raised during the 23 years the PPP were in office during 1992-2015 what factors prompted the current search that produced one single non-compliant organization?

What steps has the Attorney-General’s Chambers taken to legally recognize the category of non-profit organizations in order to put an end to the long-standing dysfunctionality.  

As you are aware, a fundamental requirement of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) states that “stakeholders, including but not limited to members of the multi-stakeholder group must be able to operate freely and express opinions about the EITI without restraint, coercion or reprisal”. (EITI Standard 1.3(e) iv). The current action against the GHRA smacks of ‘reprisal’ and dispelling such impressions requires convincing evidence that it is routine rather than targeted.   

The GHRA looks forward to your prompt response.

Minister of Labour Joseph Hamilton

Mr. Neptrid Hercules went missing in the early hours of the morning on Saturday, March 11, 2023 along with the CAT D9T Dozer which he was operating at the time. This was due to a failure experienced of the Overburden Dump in the East Montgomery Mine where he was working, which caused them to be covered by the overburden material. The body of Mr. Hercules was found several days later after an extensive and painful search.

The Minister is deeply concerned about this matter. He holds the view that this accident should never have happened and he owes it to the family, co-workers and the community to ensure that that there are no recurrences. Hence this meeting with representatives of the BOSAI Minerals Group Guyana to ensure that the investigation moves smoothly to provide answers to the numerous questions that abound and recommendations for implementation.

The BOSAI Minerals Group Guyana management team thanked the ministry for this opportunity and committed towards providing the necessary support needed to successfully conduct the investigation.

Permanent Secretary, Mr. Bishram Kuppen, Occupational Safety and Health Consultant, Ms. Gwyneth King and Chief Labour Officer, Mr. Dhaneshwar Deonarine were also present for the ministry.

The BOSAI Minerals Group Guyana management team comprised of General Manager of BOSAI, Mr. Eric Yu, Major General Ret.d, Mr. Norman McLean, Director, Consultant, Mr. Peter Benny, Human Resources Manager, Ms. Truedel Marks; Mining Engineer, Mr. Orin Barnwell, and Public Relations Officer, Ms. Scherry Domer.

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Charles Ramson Jr. (right) and new President of the GOA, Godfrey Murnoe (Photo: News Room/Avenash Ramzan/March 22, 2023)

In welcoming and congratulating the new executive committee, Minister Ramson Jr. posited that it is “the dawn of a new era in sport with the potential to become a golden era.”

Munroe takes over the helm of the overarching body for sport in Guyana from former President K.A. Juman-Yassin, who held the position for almost three decades.

Juman-Yassin could not seek re-election as a result of the IOC recommending an age limit of 70 years for functioning executive members. Juman-Yassin is 76 years old.

The new committee was assured of full support from Minister Ramson Jr., his Ministry, the National Sports Commission and the Government of Guyana.

From left: Chairman of the National Sports Commission Kashif Muhammad and two of the new GOA Vice-Presidents Cristy Campbell and Steve Ninvalle (Photo: News Room/Avenash Ramzan/March 22, 2023)

Minister Ramson Jr. also shared his thoughts with the new body on how he sees the partnership between the two entities progressing, indicating that a good governance structure is important to rebuild and maintain the confidence of all the stakeholders and supporters.

Discussions were also had on short and medium-term goals and objectives of the body, striving for excellence in the various disciplines which must be the paramount aim.

The body was reminded that the task would not be an easy one in re-positioning Guyana in the sporting world and being one of the leading nations in the region, but was assured that the Government of Guyana is extremely committed to the achievement of the shared objective of Guyana becoming a powerhouse in sport.

“We also want to have our athletes wear the medals and hear our national anthem and fly the flag,” Ramson Jr. told the executives.

From left: GOA executives Garfield Wiltshire, Emelia Ramdhani and Godfrey Munroe (Photo: News Room/Avenash Ramzan/March 22, 2023)

The minister underscored that a strong working and harmonious relationship and cohesion between the entities is vital with regard to lifting sport in Guyana.

“If you don’t have a strong collaborative relationship, it simply would not work in terms of the ability to achieve your goal. What’s important as far as I’m concerned is that we identify what are our objectives and we also identify our plan.”

He also noted that President Irfaan Ali and the Government of Guyana are committed to ensuring that athletes receive all the required support to excel on the national, regional and international stages.

“So, that’s something that we’re committed to because that’s something that we want to see happen for all.”

GOA executives Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon (left) and Philip Fernandes (Photo: News Room/Avenash Ramzan/March 22, 2023)

Accountability was another area Minister Ramson rapped the new body on, noting that it is of utmost importance that the body ensures it makes this a priority whilst guaranteeing that its affiliates also adhere to this important pillar.

“Those financial statements that we are requiring from associations, they all form part of the governance framework of accountability. When you are meeting with the government and the government is saying that this is a good organisation and that it is a credible organisation, it is so that you can get additional support from the private sector.”

Short and medium-term goals amongst other matters of mutual interest would be fleshed out between the entities when they meet in the near future, Minister Ramson stated.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Kashif Muhammad also congratulated President Munroe and his executive, noting that he is confident that when the hands and heads of all work together, it would ensure that our athletes are given a solid platform to excel for themselves and the nation.

$2.1 million worth of cocaine.

The businessman of Festival City, North Ruimveldt appeared before Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus and pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Particulars of the charge claimed that Peniston, on March 03, had 2.178 kilograms (5 lbs) of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

Peniston denied knowledge and ownership of the narcotics. He was remanded to prison until April 03, 2023.

According to a release from Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU), acting on a ‘tip-off’, ranks went to the Festival City property and intercepted Peniston with two hardcover suitcases in his possession.

“A subsequent search of the suitcases in the presence of the suspect revealed a quantity of whitish powdery substance suspected to be cocaine,” CANU noted.

The cocaine weighed approximately 5 lbs. (2.178kg) with a street value of GY$2.1 million.

Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall meet with vendors at the Stabroek Market

Among other issues raised by the vendors were poor sanitation and roof, clogged drainage and inefficient facilities management.

“They have been constantly reaching out to me claiming that they have been making complains to City Council for a number of years and so finally I decided to visit them,” Dharamlall said during an interview with the News Room.

One of the clogged drains at the Stabroek Market

He said his ministry will be collaborating with the M&CC to ensure that the issues and concerns are addressed in a timely manner.

A major clean-up exercise is scheduled to take place at the market this weekend.

“Immediately after we finish the clean-up, we will begin with the physical work that we promised,” Dharamlall said.

Currently, there are only five city constabulary officers on site but this will be increased. Additionally, the Vendors Committee will be re-established and the roof of the fish bay area will be fixed.

Repairs will also be done to the washrooms and the drains of the market will be cleaned, Dharamlall told the News Room.

While garbage will be removed on a daily basis, Dharamlall said vendors who litter the market will be prosecuted.

“We will provide resources, City Council will help to provide manpower, they have to provide the Constabulary officers. The Central Government will fix up the fish bag area, and the roof and we will also help with the drainage and sanitisation in the market.”

Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall meet with vendors at the Stabroek Market

Dharamlall said that based on what he was told, the market currently has over 1,500 vendors.

“One of the things is they have over 1500 vendors. I was told by the market clerk and only five security officers in that market. Three in the morning and two in the afternoon. Security and drainage those are the two major issues,” Dharamlall noted.

City Engineer, Colvern Venture, Town Clerk (ag), Candace Nelson and the Director of Solid Waste Management accompanied Dharamlall during the walkabout at the market.

Ria Bisnauth (second left) and Kumar Kissoon (right) with Indian High Commissioner, Dr K J Srinivasa (second right)

The High Commission noted that the ITEC programme began in 1964 as part of the government’s development experiences with fellow developing countries on the basis of partnership and cooperation for mutual benefit.

Ria Bisnauth, a Special Project Officer with the Guyana Forestry Commission, will be travelling to Indiranagar, Bengaluru to commence a two-week course on Climate Change Policy Development and Financing at the Environment Protection Training and Research Institute.

Kumar Kissoon, a Finance Manager with Teleperformance Guyana will begin his two-week course on Dynamics of High Performing Teams in Small and Medi at the Jaipuria Institute of Management in Lucknow.