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Several persons who were affected by a fire at Kitty, Georgetown, that destroyed three buildings on May 1, have received some public support since the incident occurred.

The fire reportedly started at about 12:00 hrs at a building located between Thomas and Pike Streets. It quickly engulfed three buildings and scorched the sides of neighbouring buildings.

Chanbrika Seebharie, the owner of one of the apartment buildings there, said the building was insured but he has to await to completion of the investigation. That building cost about $50 million, not including the valuables inside. He lived there with his parents who are both pensioners. His nephew also lived in one of the apartments there.

Recounting the events of Thursday, the man said he couldn’t save anything because his priority was getting his family out of the building.

“We were home and my tenant came home and saw the fire next door in the downstairs, he reached out to me.

“The most I could get done was get my father out because he is in a wheelchair,” Seebharie said.

Fernando Viera also spoke with the News Room on Tuesday. He said support has been pouring in from government and private sector agencies. He lived at the apartment building with his sister, Shakira.

Two of the persons who were affected by the Kitty fire.

The Private Sector Commission, Ministry of Human Services and Social Security and the Ministry of Housing and Water are also in contact with the affected persons, trying to assistant them to return some normalcy.

He explained that the Housing Ministry has assured that persons who have pending houselot applications will be assisted in expediting this.

The fire reportedly originated in the building where Evelyn Benjamin and her son, Randall Duguid lived. Duguid previously told the News Room that he managed to help their elderly neighbours in the bottom flat out of the building. The women are Verlie De Barros, 87 and Lucille Peters, 97, who are cousins. It is believed the fire started in their flat but the cause remains a mystery.

“We’re waiting on the report from the Fire Chief so we can go into the different establishments to get our documents back,” Benjamin told the News Room on Tuesday.

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Inter Milan produced a dramatic late turnaround to beat Barcelona 7-6 on aggregate in a thrilling, all-time classic of a Champions League semi-final.

With just two minutes of added time left, Inter trailed 3-2 on the night and were heading out when centre-back Francesco Acerbi smashed a cross into the roof of the net to level the tie, the 37-year-old charging around with his shirt off in wild celebrations.

And there were more ecstatic scenes when substitute Davide Frattesi won it for the Italian champions, curling a beautiful left-footed shot into the bottom corner in the first period of extra time before climbing up a security fence to celebrate in front of Inter’s fans.

It means a second Champions League final in three seasons for three-time European champions Inter after two legs of incredible drama which saw 13 goals and a tie turned on its head on several occasions.

Barca were only two minutes away from their first final in 10 years having fought back from 2-0 down – in a similar scenario to the first leg – to lead 3-2 on the night.

Lamine Yamal almost took the game to penalties but was twice denied by superb saves by Yann Sommer as Inter held on to reach the final and spark incredible scenes of celebration.

Inter, who lost 1-0 to Manchester City in the 2023 final, will play either Paris St-Germain or Arsenal at Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena on Saturday, 31 May in the 2025 showpiece.

The Gunners head into Wednesday’s second leg in France after losing 1-0 at Emirates Stadium last week. (BBC Sport) 

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The Guyana Police Force on Tuesday got 5,000 body cameras, an investment intended to improve police work locally.

President Dr. Irfaan Ali handed over the cameras to the Commissioner of Police, Clifton Hicken, at State House, the Head of State’s official residence.

The President described the cameras as “high-tech” and assured citizens that their use will improve Police Officers’ conduct and make them more accountable.

“It also gives us an opportunity to have what I always speak about, traceability of conduct from the citizenry and the Police.

“… So there is absolutely no excuse whatsoever from the Guyana Police Force of our men and women in the field not being equipped with these cameras when conducting their duties,” the President said.

Another 500 body cameras purchased for Police

Police body cameras provide visual and audio evidence that can independently verify events.

Ranks using body cameras are guided by Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) 1- of May 2015.

This sets out guidelines and procedures for the use, management, access, retention and handling of evidence, storage and retrieval of recorded media captured by PVR equipment during the execution of official duties.

Among its purposes, the body cameras can be used to document law enforcement officials’ interactions with victims and witnesses during police-public encounters, arrests and critical incidents.

 

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Minister of Education Priya Manickchand on Tuesday acknowledged that there were disruptions to schools following the unrest sparked by the tragic death of 11-year-old Adriana Younge. However, Minister Manickchand assured the public that the ministry has not observed any major setbacks in the delivery of the schools’ curriculum.

“I wouldn’t stand here and tell you that there were no disruptions, there were but we haven’t seen anything to be overly concerned about as far as the delivery of the curriculum goes,” Manickchand told the News Room at the sidelines of an event at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre on Tuesday.

She further noted that education systems around the world experience challenges.

“In every country, there are times when there are difficulties in the education system. The management of that system, which includes myself and the officers in the ministry, must address these issues as they arise. Sometimes, we have to make space for what is happening nationally,” Manickchand explained.

The Education Minister went on to explain that low attendance in schools last week could also be attributed to the start of the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) assessments and completion of the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA).

“This week we have CXC going on, we just finished NGSA. So you are not going to ever see post-NGSA, a full grade six attendance, you are not going to see during CXC, everybody writing CXC at school every day.

“Some of you who visited schools and saw depleted numbers may not have realised that those are children who are home on study leave, like half the school, or there are children who just generally don’t come after grade six,” Manickchand stated.

Meanwhile, the Guyana Police Force reported last Tuesday that the situation across the country had returned to normal. The death of Adriana Younge had sparked widespread protests.

More than 100 individuals were arrested and subsequently charged with various offences, including armed robbery and acts of terrorism.

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Two individuals were remanded to prison after they were allegedly involved in inciting acts of terrorism recently.

Jamal Johnson, 27, a construction worker, and Felicia Ceres, 36, a domestic worker, both from Plantation Ross, West Coast Berbice, appeared before Magistrate Ravindra Mohabir at the Blairmont Magistrate’s Court.

The court was informed that on April 29, Johnson, Ceres, and several others engaged in activities by blocking the Ross Public Road, Berbice, with wood and other materials.

Neither defendant was required to enter a plea at this stage.

During the proceedings, Police Prosecutor Sergeant Garfield Edwards strongly objected to bail, highlighting that Johnson and Ceres failed to report to the Weldaad Magistrate’s Court after being placed on station bail the previous Friday.

Consequently, Magistrate Mohabir remanded both individuals to prison.

The case has been transferred to the Weldaad Magistrates Court and is scheduled for June 13, 2025.

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Tiana Serena Lewis-King, a nursing assistant from South Cummingsburg, who was wanted over the circulation of a false voice note claiming she was present at the post-mortem examination of Adriana Younge, has surrendered to the Police.

In an update Monday night, the Guyana Police Force said Lewis-King turned herself in to the Police at the Criminal Investigation Department, accompanied by an attorney from the law office of Hughes, Fields and Stoby. Lewis-King is represented by attorney Kiswana Jeffords.

In the voice note, Lewis-King, who resides at Lot 12A Rosemary Lane, claimed she attended the autopsy and had been sent by the Minister of Health.

Police launch manhunt for Nursing Assistant over false claims in Adriana Younge’s autopsy 

However, the Minister of Health, when contacted, categorically denied both the statement and any knowledge of Lewis-King.

Further investigation revealed that Attorney-at-Law Darren Wade, who represents the interests of the Younge family and was present during the examination, confirmed that Lewis-King was not in attendance.

His account was corroborated by Dr Caleb McCloggan, who also represented the family during the procedure. Dr McCloggan recognised the voice on the recording as that of Lewis-King, whom he knows as a recently graduated nurse aide, but confirmed she was not at the post-mortem.

(more…)

A Guyana Defence Force (GDF) officer has been placed on $100,000 station bail following a fatal road accident that claimed the life of a 23-year-old motorcyclist in the early hours of Saturday morning.

The incident occurred at approximately 01:40 hrs  along Burnham Drive in Wismar, Linden. The deceased has been identified as Kellon Sumner of  Central Amelia’s Ward, Linden.

According to initial police investigations, the accident involved a motorcar bearing registration PWW 2029, driven by 48-year-old Courtney Mendonca, a Lieutenant Colonel in the GDF. Reports indicate that Mendonca was travelling south on Burnham Drive and was attempting to negotiate a right turn when the motorcycle, registered CP 6059, collided with the front left side of the vehicle.

Sumner, who was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, sustained severe injuries and was flung onto the roadway.

His body is currently at the Linden Senior Citizens Association Funeral Home’s mortuary, where it awaits a post-mortem examination.

Both the motorcycle and the car have been impounded at the Wismar Police Station for inspection by licensing and certifying officers.

In a further development, police administered two breathalyser tests to Lieutenant Colonel Mendonca, which revealed blood alcohol content (BAC) levels of 0.045 and 0.041 — both above Guyana’s legal driving limit of 0.035.

The GDF officer has since been released on $100,000 station bail as the investigation continues.

 

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A tragic chopping incident at Plantation Caracas, West Canje, also known as High Dam in New Amsterdam has resulted in the deaths of Leon Fordyce, known as “Nastyman,” a 45-year-old labourer, and 35-year-old Shawn Timothy La Fleur.

This violent confrontation erupted from a heated argument regarding the paternity of a two-month-old child. The incident occurred between 23:30 hrs and midnight on Sunday.

Anganisha Newyear, referred to as “Angie”, a 40-year-old mother of eight, is currently hospitalized due to her injuries.

According to information gathered,  Fordyce and Newyear were involved in a common-law relationship.

A neighbour, who prefers to remain anonymous, reported being awakened shortly after midnight by cries for help.

Shawn’s mother, 50-year-old Nicola Christine La Fleur, recounted that she  spoke with her son before receiving the distressing call about the incident. Upon rushing outside, she found Shawn unresponsive on the roadway, suffering a severe head wound.

When asked about the catalyst for the tragic events, Nicola revealed that her son had been upset over the paternity issue of the child.

“She seh ‘the child is me son child’. And me son seh ‘is not he child’. Because the child ain’t resemble the two children he get. This child more black,” Nicola said.

Witnesses indicated that following Angie’s injuries, her relatives retaliated against Shawn, inflicting the fatal wounds.

As Shawn lay unconscious, news of the incident quickly spread to his relatives, who, along with others, gathered at the scene of Fordyce’s roadside shop.

This publication understands that Fordyce was in the process of closing his shop when he was viciously attacked and subsequently killed.

Investigations into this incident are ongoing, as authorities work to piece together the events that led to ths tragic deaths.

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Guyanese quartet- left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie, fast bowler Shamar Joseph and all-rounders Romario Shepherd and Sherfane Rutherford- will form part of the West Indies squad for the One Day International tour of Ireland and England in May-June.

Cricket West Indies announced the 15-member squad on Monday, also highlighting that former West Indies fast bowler Ravi Rampaul will take up the role of bowling coach, while former Ireland all-rounder Kevin O’Brien will join the coaching staff for the Ireland leg of the tour.

See below press release issued by Cricket West Indies

Cricket West Indies (CWI) on Monday unveiled an exciting and dynamic 15-member squad for three One Day International (ODI) matches against Ireland from May 21-25 and three against England from May 29 to June 3.

The squad has the nucleus of players who were successful during home series wins against England and Bangladesh to end 2024.

The highly anticipated tour will be the first one of this year for the limited overs team and provides an opportunity for CWI to focus on building its ODI team ahead of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027.

Head Coach Daren Sammy welcomed the opportunity to build on recent momentum:

“These matches form a critical component towards the 2027 World Cup and there are signs of the team building consistency following the series sweep against Bangladesh and the win over England late last year.”

Sammy also added, “We expect the conditions to be challenging but we are creating a culture and mindset which emphasize playing the brand of cricket that is taking us closer to some of our overall objectives.”

CWI also announced changes to the coaching staff for the tour. Former West Indies fast bowler and 2012 World Cup champion Ravi Rampaul will be the team’s bowling coach, replacing James Franklin.

CWI will also utilise the services of former Ireland allrounder Kevin O’Brien as part of the coaching staff during the Ireland leg of the tour.

West Indies CG United ODI Squad: Shai Hope (Captain), Jewel Andrew, Keacy Carty, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Justin Greaves, Amir Jangoo, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Evin Lewis, Gudakesh Motie, Sherfane Rutherford, Jayden Seales and Romario Shepherd

Team Management Unit (TMU):

Head Coach: Daren Sammy

Manager: Rawl Lewis

Assistant Coach (Batting): Floyd Reifer

Assistant Coach (Bowling): Ravi Rampaul

Assistant Coach (Fielding): Rayon Griffith

Physiotherapist: Dr. Denis Byam

Strength and Conditioning Coach: Ronald Rogers

Massage Therapist: Fitzbert Alleyne

Analyst: Avenesh Seetaram

Media and Content Officer: Jerome Foster

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Rain put an official end to Sunrisers Hyderabad’s (SRH) IPL 2025 playoffs hopes and gave Delhi Capitals (DC) what could be a valuable point in their bid to finish in the top four.

It certainly looked like a point gained for DC rather than one lost, after Pat Cummins took three new-ball wickets to put SRH in the driver’s seat at the innings break.

Rain arrived soon after DC, sent in to bat, finished their innings at 133 for 7.

By the time the weather cleared, the outfield was too sodden for the ground staff to clear by 11.42pm, the official cut-off time for a five-over chase.

A grass-free surface at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium proved to be a tricky one, offering enough grip for balls banged into a hard length to misbehave, and Cummins is a master of banging the ball into a hard length.

The SRH captain took the new ball himself with Mohammed Shami left out, and struck first ball, getting it to straighten and find Karun Nair’s edge.

It was a sign of things to come, with the ball frequently stopping on the batter or – particularly if delivered with a wobbly seam – deviating sideways, usually just enough to find the edge.

By the time he had bowled 19 balls, Cummins had taken three wickets and Ishan Kishan – keeping for the first time this season, relieving Heinrich Klaasen of the gloves – three catches.

With Harshal Patel and Jaydev Unadkat also getting into the wickets column, DC were gasping at 29 for 5 in the eighth over.

The fullish ball Unadkat bowled to dismiss KL Rahul, from left-arm around, summed up the conditions – on nine out of ten IPL pitches, Rahul would have probably middled the drive he attempted; this was the tenth pitch, and the ball straightened to kiss his edge and make Kishan the first keeper to catch out an entire top four in an IPL innings.

Stubbs and Ashutosh steer DC towards respectability

Tristan Stubbs anchored DC’s recovery from that point, putting on 33 with Vipraj Nigam for the sixth wicket – Nigam sacrificed his wicket following a mix-up that left both batters at the same end – and 66 with Ashutosh Sharma for the seventh.

As they have done in other recent games, DC named a bowler-heavy starting XI despite batting first, and brought Ashutosh off the Impact Player bench when the need arose. And Ashutosh was primarily responsible for a late flourish that brought DC 61 runs off their last six overs, hitting three sixes in a 26-ball 41. Stubbs finished unbeaten on 41 off 36 balls.

Rain ends SRH’s hopes

Rain began soon after DC’s innings ended, leaving SRH waiting to begin a chase that eventually never took place.

With three games left to play, SRH can finish the league stage with a maximum of 13 points. Four teams already have 14 or more points. DC, with 13 from 11 games, sit just outside that group. (ESPNcricinfo) 

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