Blog

– “Like he ride into his death” – sister of wash bay attendant

A businessman and a wash bay attendant were, on Wednesday evening, riddled with bullets at Vigilance South, East Coast Demerara (ECD), reportedly over an old grievance.
Dead are 22-year-old Cordel August, a wash bay attendant of Strathspey, East Coast Demerara (ECD), and 35-year-old shop owner Aeon Headley of Vigilance, South.
According to the Police, the men were among a group gathered at a shop owned by Headly at about 22:00h when two men dressed in black arrived on a motorcycle and allegedly opened fire in their direction.
Both victims sustained gunshot injuries and were rushed to the Enmore Regional Hospital by public-spirited citizens, where they were pronounced dead on arrival.
At the home of Headley on Thursday, his mother, Sharon Headley, recalled when she received the news of her son’s death, noting that she was not aware of any issues he might have had with the alleged shooters.
“I don’t really know what is the problem or he had any problems with anybody. I was at home at around after nine o’clock and I heard the gunshots, and it was after [that] somebody come and tell me that my son was shot dead. By the time I reach at the scene, he was already dead.”
The mother stated the shop where the incident took place is owned by her son, and he was there at the time with some other friends, including August. He sold cigarettes and other items at the stand.
“Based on information I receive, they were drinking out there and some body on motorcycles pulled up and start shooting,” the mother added.
Further, she added that her son was not a problem child but at the same time always fought for what was right and did not condone injustices.
“If you wrong he, would stand up for he self. He is not someone who would make problems with anyone. If you wrong he and he right, he would argue and cuss and behave like that.”
The grieving mother, nevertheless, added that up to Thursday morning, the Police had not contacted her. As such, she is requesting a thorough investigation so that the perpetrators can be brought to justice.
A short distance away, the sister of Cordel August explained that her brother might have been in the wrong place at the wrong time.
“What I was made to understand, he was at the line top at a Chinese supermarket with his friends liming then he left to go over by his sister on his bicycle and shortly after bullets were heard… apparently, he ride into the scene. He get three shots – one to his left side, one his right-side shoulder and one on his left shoulder. He was riding but collapsed a short distance away. Like he ride into his death,” she added.
She, however, contradicted the Police by stating that her now-dead brother was not at the gathering in front of the show, reiterating that he was riding his bike.
“They saying was two motorcycles pull up with two persons each and open fire on this other guy (Headley) but he ride at the same time and get caught in the cross fire.” She is however, made aware that Headley might have been the target.
She referred to her dead brother as a jovial and hard-working person.
The sister noted he worked with her other brother at his wash bay, which is a short distance from where the incident took place. She too is calling for justice for her brother’s death.
“I need justice for Cordel because is not that Cordel do any body anything that they come to take his life just like that. He ain’t even reach where he left to go and he get his dead just like that.”
Up to press time, the Police were yet to make an arrest in connection with the fatal shooting as investigations continue.

The post Drive-by shooting at Vigilance leaves 2 dead appeared first on Guyana Times.

Dear Editor,
What I find most interesting in the recent public discourse in Guyana is that some have not paid attention to – or frankly may have chosen not to notice – an irony that should not be overlooked.
Those who most forcefully accuse others of corruption without first presenting verifiable facts and evidence should themselves recognise that the principles of accountability and due process apply equally to every public official and political leader, irrespective of office or party affiliation.
A democracy cannot credibly demand one evidentiary standard for political opponents while embracing a different and lower standard for oneself.
Where a public figure has been the subject of official sanctions, investigations, or legal actions by competent authorities, whether domestic or international, those matters, like all others, should be assessed on the basis of official records, admissible evidence, and the rule of law, rather than selective political narratives.
Consistency is indispensable to the credibility of democratic leadership. One cannot insist that allegations alone should condemn a political adversary while simultaneously arguing that due process and evidentiary standards should apply in one’s own circumstances.
The rule of law is not a partisan instrument; it is a constitutional principle that must be applied uniformly.
That is precisely why every allegation against every individual must ultimately stand or fall on the strength of the facts and evidence presented before the appropriate legal institutions and not on the volume of political rhetoric or the passions of the moment.
Semper necessitas probandi incumbit ei qui agit.
The burden of proof is on the accuser; whoever makes a claim must provide sufficient evidence to support it. The defending party is presumed innocent or in the right until that burden is met.
Yours respectfully,

Jermaine Figueira
Former Member of
Parliament

The post Burden of proof is on the accuser appeared first on Guyana Times.

In their first Group Phase game of the FIBA AmeriCup 2029 Pre-Qualifiers, Turks and Caicos claimed a comfortable win over Guyana, 68-55, on July 9, 2026, at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) in Georgetown, upsetting the home side.
Guyana led after the opening quarter, but Turks and Caicos controlled the middle periods to build a double-digit cushion. Both teams scored 13 points in the final quarter, allowing Turks and Caicos to put this game to bed without drama.
The decisive moment arrived early in the second quarter with 9:44 remaining, when Ethan Taylor converted a layup in the paint to tie the score at 12-12 after Guyana had led 12-10. That basket erased the hosts’ advantage and marked the beginning of Turks and Caicos’ control.

From 1:28 left in the first quarter to 7:46 remaining in the second, Turks and Caicos outscored Guyana 6-2. Guyana failed to connect on a field goal during that stretch, missing all five of their attempts.
Dylan Morris anchored Turks and Caicos with nine points, nine rebounds, and three assists in 27:48, posting an efficiency of 12 and a team-best +10. His work on the glass and steady facilitation helped settle the team after Guyana’s early edge.
Ethan Taylor led all scorers for Turks and Caicos with 16 points, adding three rebounds, two assists, and two steals in 30:40. Travante Garland delivered the game’s sharpest burst, pouring in 11 points in a span of 2:07 from 3:55 to 1:48 of the second quarter, finishing with 13 points overall. Jessy Maximin contributed four points, eight rebounds, three steals, and three blocks, including the game’s only dunk with 4:24 left in the third quarter. Off the bench, Dwaine Simmons chipped in nine points and five rebounds in just 13:36.
On the other side, Kevin Mickle paced Guyana with 24 points, eight rebounds, two assists, and three steals in 35:12, but it was not enough to keep the hosts in contention.
Turks and Caicos produced the game’s biggest run with 10 unanswered points from late in the second quarter into the early third, stretching a 26-23 lead into a 36-23 advantage. It was a collective surge, with no single player dominating the sequence.
Guyana’s best run came in the third quarter, when they scored six straight points in just over a minute to trim the deficit from 36-23 to 36-29. Umar Rashid contributed three points during that run, knocking down one field goal.
Turks and Caicos held the largest lead of the game at 13 points, 36-23, with 8:08 remaining in the third quarter. Guyana’s biggest advantage was six points at 5-11 with 5:03 left in the opening quarter. Despite that early margin, Turks and Caicos finished with a 13-point win.
Turks and Caicos led for 28:04 in the game. Guyana spent 11:13 in front, and the score was tied for 0:43.
Turks and Caicos used a second-quarter spark and a balanced team effort to seize control and never looked back, securing a comfortable win on the road in Georgetown. (FIBA Americup)

The post Guyana falls to Turks and Caicos in AmeriCup pre-qualifier opener appeared first on Guyana Times.

The ongoing investigations into the murder of Ricardo “Paper Shorts” Fagundes, who was killed execution-style in March 2021 outside a popular Main Street, Georgetown, nightspot, took a turn on Thursday with the arrest of a former security detail of now Opposition leader Azruddin Mohamed.
A source close to the investigations confirmed that Mark Richmond, who was implicated in the murder of Fagundes, turned himself in to Police on Thursday morning in the company of his Attorney, Damion DaSilva.
“The detective went to arrest him on Thursday morning at his house and he wasn’t there, but later in the day he turned up with his lawyer,” the source stated.
According to information received, detectives handling the case have gathered new evidence regarding leading up to and on the night Fagundes was riddled with bullets. This evidence, however, was not immediately made available.
Richmond was arrested back in 2022 after he posted videos on Facebook on August 11, 12, 13, and 19 shortly after he was arrested by the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) in relation to cocaine found in a house on Norton Street, Georgetown, and later released, accusing the United States of sanctions and indicting Azruddin Mohamed and senior Police officers of a massive cover-up in the investigation into the execution of Fagundes.
During the live broadcast, Bascom named Richmond as one of the suspects in the murder and stated that, using technology, detectives were able to place him at the crime scene when the murder occurred.
Further, Bascom went a step further by implicating businessman Azruddin Mohamed, who is linked to Mohamed’s Enterprise, in the murder investigation by claiming phone records show that the suspect was in contact with him at the time of the killing.
A week after the live broadcast, the Mohameds filed a $200 million lawsuit against Bascom.
In 2025, Mohamed dropped the $200 million lawsuit against Bascom after he apologized for the live broadcast implicating the businessman.
Ricardo “Paper Shorts” Fagundes was killed execution-style in March 2021 outside a popular Main Street, Georgetown, nightspot.
Reports indicate that the man was partying with a group of friends at the bar when his phone rang and he exited the club to take the call; shortly thereafter, several gunshots were heard. Reports suggest that the now-deceased man’s friends rushed out to enquire but found Fagundes lying motionlessly in a pool of blood near his motor car.
Following the allegations made by Bascom, the Guyanese Government engaged the Regional Security System to assist in solving the murder of Fagundes.
The RSS, during its investigation, did not find any evidence of corrupt practices or an attempt to cover up the probe into the 2021 murder of Fagundes.
It stated that the bribery allegations made by Sergeant Bascom against the Guyana Police Force, namely that Detective Supt Caesar and Inspector Stephens attempted to cover up the unlawful killing/homicide of Fagundes “were hearsay having no provenance”.

The post “Paper Shorts” murder: Fresh evidence leads to arrest of Opposition leader’s former security guard appeared first on Guyana Times.

…exposes duplicitous lies, misinformation by US-sanctioned LOO

President Dr Irfaan Ali has refuted allegations levelled against him regarding his privately-owned farm on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway, declaring that the land and everything else on the property were obtained through legitimate investments.
The Head of State’s clarification comes on the heels of a misinformation campaign being peddled by the United States-sanctioned and indicted Opposition leader, Azruddin Mohamed, who had been making a series of corruption claims and questioning the source of the President’s investment in the farm.
Ali made it clear that he is “not in that category or bracket” as the Opposition leader, who is yet to make the required declarations to the Integrity Commission as a public officer and has not taken a single loan for the wealth he has accumulated.
“Everything on my farm can be accounted for through legitimate means,” the Guyanese leader stated in a video on Thursday, fresh off his attendance at the 51st CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting held in St Lucia this week.
“Let me be very clear: I have not sought any special treatment, any benefit, or any investment by the state. My farm carries a huge loan, and everything has been disclosed to the Integrity Commission in and out of Government. There is absolutely nothing to hide,” he declared.
According to Ali, the existence of his farm had been long known and is in fact public information contrary to the Opposition’s recent “discovery” of the property. In fact, he noted that the farmland was obtained through the same process and conditions that apply to any other person who has secured leased lands on the highway.
“The discoverer himself…knows about the existence of my farm. A farm that I have built and can account for every single, every single investment in that farm… You can check with all of the established entities…and you would see that the farm has been in existence,” Ali emphasised.

Mohamed lied
Moreover, he further pointed out that the size of his farm is not even half what is being claimed by the Opposition. Similarly, he rejected claims that the farm is making a huge amount of money, adding that “I wish if I can even get 20 per cent of that investment for the entire farm now.”
“Everyone around me on the highway, all the major investors, they know and every single condition that governs lease lands on the highway are the same condition governing my lands – no preferential, no differential, hundreds of farms, leases [and] larger. [This is] a man who benefited from tens of thousands of acreage of mining concessions, thousands of acreage of quarrying concessions,” Ali noted of the Opposition leader.

Deception, mischief, misrepresentation
Only last weekend, President Ali had disclosed that he was being blackmailed by the Mohameds’ family into easing pressures on them regarding the ongoing extradition proceedings. In fact, he revealed that he had received a number of communications from the Mohameds over the past weeks threatening to release certain information if amends were not made.
During Thursday’s video, the Head of State read the last text message received from the sanctioned family as recent as Friday, which read in part, “I have this recording that was sent to me. I went through during the election cycle. I refrained from releasing. But if you don’t end all this madness, I will.”
According to Ali, he is being accused of concocting the charges against the father-and-son duo when it was in fact the United States Government that first sanctioned the businessmen and charged them.
“These sanctions did not come from President Ali. It did not come from the PPP/Civic Government. It came from the United States of America… These charges and sanctions did not come from Irfaan Ali. It came from the United States. And I have a duty and responsibility… My conscience is clear. You can call me a farmer. It’s a title I hold with honour. Because I am proud of everything I have done. And my conscience is clear… I don’t need the Government to do any of the infrastructure investment in the farm. It is hard work. It is huge loans.”
“Not only is the blackmail clear, but also the lies of deception, the mischief, and the misrepresentation… I want people to see directly from me the misrepresentation and the mischief, the deception, and the lies. This people’s Progressive Party/Civic Government, this President, will continue to work relentlessly hard every single day for the people of this country. I’m not interested in the sideshows and the distraction and the videos that is sent to my phone and the recording.”

Sanctioned and indicted
Azruddin and his father, Nazar Mohamed, were indicted in October 2025 by a federal grand jury in the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida on 11 criminal charges, including wire fraud, mail fraud, tax evasion and money laundering. The charges are related to alleged irregularities in gold exports to the US through their company, Mohamed’s Enterprises.

The US has since requested the extradition of the Mohameds to face the indictments. The extradition proceedings are currently pending in the local courts.
The Mohameds are accused of conspiring to defraud the US and Guyanese Governments between 2017 and June 11, 2024. They are also accused of using a scheme to unlawfully obtain property by transmitting communications via interstate and foreign commerce, in violation of US law.
According to US prosecutors, the scheme aimed to enrich the Mohameds and defraud the Government of Guyana by evading taxes and royalties on gold exports. They allegedly reused Guyana customs declarations and official seals on multiple shipments to make it appear that taxes and royalties had been paid.
The other charge has to do with Azruddin Mohamed purchasing and importing a Lamborghini sports car to Guyana in 2020. The indictment alleges he directed someone to purchase the car for US$680,000, then falsify the invoice to state a value of US$75,300 to understate import taxes. If convicted, most charges carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and fines of up to US$250,000, while the money laundering charge carries a fine of US$500,000 or the value of the laundered property.
The US Government is seeking forfeiture of certain assets connected to the accused.
These indictments follow sanctions imposed a year earlier in June 2024 by the US Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) on the Mohameds, their businesses, and Guyanese Government Permanent Secretary (PS) Mae Thomas in relation to the same allegations. The sanctions are related to the evasion of taxes on gold exports, with OFAC noting that between 2019 and 2023, Mohamed’s Enterprise omitted more than 10,000 kg of gold from import and export declarations and avoided paying more than US$50 million in duty taxes to the Government of Guyana.
Since the imposition of the sanctions more than two years ago, the Guyanese Government has suspended the licences of the Mohameds’ various businesses, while several Government entities and local businesses, including commercial banks, have cut ties with the Mohameds.
Azruddin founded the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party in June 2025 – one year after the sanctions were imposed – and contested the September 2025 General and Regional Elections, securing a seat in Parliament as leader of the Opposition.

The post “Everything in my farm is accounted for through legitimate means” – Pres Ali appeared first on Guyana Times.

New Zealand pace bowler Jacob Duffy says adaptability will be the key to success as the Black Caps prepare to face the West Indies in the opening One-Day International (ODI) at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, on Saturday.
Speaking to members of the media after the team’s training session at the Providence venue on Thursday, Duffy acknowledged that the Guyanese conditions are expected to differ significantly from those in New Zealand but stressed that the visitors are ready to make the necessary adjustments.

“It’s tough without a ball being bowled yet, but it looks a little bit different to what New Zealand wickets look like,” Duffy said.
He noted that while some members of the squad are unfamiliar with the conditions, others have valuable experience playing in Guyana, including during last year’s Global Super League (GSL) and previous International Cricket Council (ICC) tournaments in the Caribbean.
“There are a few guys that have been here before with the Stags last year in the GSL and a few guys from the World Cup a couple of years ago. But I guess one thing we always talk about as a Black Caps group is being adaptable, reading the conditions, getting a gauge on them and going from there.”
Duffy expects the Providence surface could produce lower-scoring contests than those typically seen in New Zealand.
He shared, “It might be a little bit lower scoring than what we’re used to, but we’ll have to adapt on the fly.”
The three-match ODI series comes on the heels of New Zealand’s historic Test series triumph over England, a result that has injected confidence throughout the touring party.
Reflecting on the team’s recent success, Duffy related that the achievements in England have created a positive atmosphere within the squad.
“Watching that Test series from back home was awesome. It sort of made you proud to be a little bit of a Kiwi,” he noted.
“The guys went a little bit under the radar there, but to win a historic Test series in England doesn’t come around all that often.”
Duffy explained that several members of the Test squad enjoyed a short break before linking up with the ODI group and have arrived refreshed for the limited-overs campaign.
“They had a wee break over there, a little bit of a refresher. But like you said, you’re on to the next one, and I know they’re excited to play one-day cricket.”
He believes the momentum generated from the Test victories can provide an important boost heading into the series against the West Indies.
“They bring their confidence in from a winning standpoint. They come in with confidence and are ready to go again.”
New Zealand will be aiming to carry that winning mentality into Saturday’s opening encounter as they begin their ODI campaign against a West Indies side eager to make home advantage count at Providence.

The post Adaptability key as New Zealand prepares for West Indies series opener appeared first on Guyana Times.

The continued expansion of the “Adopt-an-Orphanage” programme offers a compelling example of how collaboration between the public and private sectors can strengthen social protection and improve the lives of vulnerable children. As the initiative enters its fifth phase, support for 11 children’s homes across Guyana shows a growing recognition that the welfare of children in institutional care must remain a priority supported by sustained partnerships.
Children’s homes perform a critical function within the country’s social protection framework, as they provide shelter, education, healthcare, guidance, and emotional support to children whose circumstances require temporary or long-term care outside of their family environment. The responsibility carried by these institutions extends well beyond providing accommodation, as their role is to create stability, security and opportunities for children during some of the most challenging periods of their lives.
That responsibility, however, comes with significant financial demands; utilities, maintenance, food, transportation, educational supplies, healthcare, and staffing represent constant expenses that can strain already limited resources. Every dollar directed towards electricity, water or communication services is a dollar unavailable for educational enrichment, counselling, recreational programmes or developmental opportunities.
The value of the Adopt-an-Orphanage Programme lies precisely in addressing this challenge. By removing part of the operational burden through corporate sponsorship of essential utilities and other recurring expenses, the initiative enables administrators to redirect scarce resources towards programmes that directly enhance the quality of care provided to children. Such an approach recognises that strengthening institutions is often the most effective way of improving outcomes for those they serve.
Equally significant is its expansion to include healthcare services, dental care, eye examinations, counselling, educational support and recreational activities, which reflects an understanding of child development. Modern child welfare cannot be measured solely by whether basic needs are met. Healthy emotional development, educational achievement, access to healthcare and opportunities for recreation are all essential components of a nurturing environment.
Children living in institutional care deserve experiences that promote confidence, belonging and personal growth. Activities that encourage learning, creativity, social interaction and recreation are not luxuries but important investments in emotional well-being and healthy development. Such opportunities help create positive childhood experiences that contribute to resilience and long-term success.
The programme also helps challenge long-standing misconceptions surrounding children living in care homes. Institutional care is often associated exclusively with orphanhood, yet the reality is considerably more complex. Many children enter residential care because families face circumstances that temporarily or permanently prevent them from providing adequate support. Poverty, illness, abuse, neglect or other social challenges may all contribute to such placements. Understanding these realities encourages greater compassion while reducing the stigma that can sometimes accompany institutional care.
Another noteworthy aspect of the initiative is the growing participation of the private sector. Corporate social responsibility is most meaningful when it moves beyond symbolic donations to sustained partnerships that address identifiable needs. Supporting operational costs may not attract widespread public attention, but it delivers measurable benefits by ensuring that essential services remain uninterrupted throughout the year.
This model of partnership also demonstrates that addressing social challenges cannot rest solely with Government agencies or charitable organisations. Businesses possess resources, expertise and organisational capacity that can complement public programmes and strengthen community institutions. When these sectors work together around clearly defined objectives, the results are often more sustainable and far-reaching than isolated interventions.
Importantly, the consistency of the initiative deserves recognition, as maintaining support across multiple phases provides children’s homes with greater certainty when planning budgets and delivering services. Long-term commitments are particularly valuable for institutions responsible for children, as continuity directly influences the stability and quality of care they can provide.
The programme’s continued growth may also encourage broader participation from additional corporate entities and philanthropic organisations. As more businesses recognise the tangible impact of targeted investments in child welfare, opportunities exist to expand support in areas such as educational technology, vocational training, mentorship, nutrition and mental health services. Such partnerships could further strengthen the developmental pathways available to children preparing for independent adulthood.
Children in institutional care is one of the country’s most vulnerable populations, but vulnerability should never determine destiny. With stable institutions, committed carers and sustained partnerships, these children can be provided with the security, opportunities and encouragement necessary to realise their full potential.
The continued commitment demonstrated through the Adopt-an-Orphanage programme illustrates how practical collaboration can produce meaningful social outcomes.

The post Corporate partnerships appeared first on Guyana Times.

The Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) on Wednesday announced that it will begin the calibration of approximately 250 tint meters and 12 sound level meters used by the Guyana Police Force (GPF) beginning July 13 as part of efforts to ensure the accuracy and reliability of traffic enforcement equipment.
The exercise will take place at GNBS Head Office in Sophia, Georgetown, and is aimed at improving the quality and reliability of services provided to members of the public by ensuring that tint meters used by the GPF’s Traffic Department are accurately calibrated to support effective traffic enforcement and successful prosecution in court.
Speaking at the event, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the GNBS, Trevor Bassoo, explained that this move will greatly assist enforcement of several road regulations.
“These services, as you’re aware, will support enforcement in regulations, which include the motor vehicles and road traffic regulations of 2026, which were recently passed and published in the Official Gazette in January of 2026, as well as the Environmental Protection Agency noise regulation.”
Bassoo explained that the initiative forms part of a wider national programme that the Government plans to roll out countrywide. He noted that the devices are designed to monitor and measure noise levels, particularly in areas where entertainment establishments operate, in support of efforts to address excessive noise pollution.

“GNBS here; we’re playing our role to ensure that that plan is realised by verifying the sound level meters,” Bassoo said.
Meanwhile, Traffic Chief and Assistant Commissioner of Police Mahendra Singh described the initiative as a success story that continues to benefit the public through the partnership between the Guyana Police Force and the GNBS.
He explained that the tint meters have been in use for several months and have already undergone calibration. Singh noted that the core services provided by the GNBS contribute significantly to the Police Force’s operational capacity, with officers receiving training on the proper use of the equipment while the devices undergo regular testing and calibration.
“This meter is in our country; it has been in use for the past several months, and it has already been subject to calibration.  All of the core services provided by the GNBS tie right into our motors and capacity building.  All people are trained by the GNBS; the equipment is tested and calibrated. Each cycle, which lasts for six months or a year, as the case may be, is duly observed.”
Singh said the continued collaboration between the GPF and the GNBS is intended to strengthen traffic enforcement while ensuring that the equipment is used correctly and that members of the public can have confidence in the results.
“We ensure that each day as we deploy this equipment, it is used for the intended purpose by forces who are authorised by the Commission of Police in keeping with the law.  And so, everything that we can tell you about the success story which is continuing, where the Bureau of Standards is partnering with us, is only to ensure that all these agencies do something that will ensure that the public benefits.”
Meanwhile, Head of Air, Noise and Radiation for technical services at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Michelle Nurse, highlighted the sound systems, noting that they will help ensure downtime is reduced.
“So, the introduction of this service will help ensure that sound level meters used by the EPA, by the Guyana Police Force, by consultants and other stakeholders and private operators are accurate and that they’re dependable.  This local service will also ensure that downtime is reduced.  That at least we can always organise to have verified equipment available for our use,” she stated.
Back in April, Attorney General Anil Nandlall had stated that the Government will be moving to strengthen enforcement of existing noise-nuisance laws with plans to expand the role of the GPF in ensuring compliance.
He had further stated that there is a comprehensive regulatory framework in the Environmental Protection Act regulations that were enacted since 2000, but the problem was the enforcement aspect.
As a result, Nandlall related, the Government intends to integrate these provisions into the broader criminal-law framework to allow for greater enforcement support.
This move, he added, does not introduce new penalties but rather reinforces existing ones already outlined in the EPA regulations. These include fines ranging from $300,000 to $750,000, as well as the possibility of imprisonment for up to one year upon conviction.

The post GNBS set to calibrate 250 tint meters, 12 sound meters to strengthen traffic law enforcement appeared first on Guyana Times.

They say “time longer than twine”, and at long last – almost six years after their horrific murders and mutilation of their bodies on September 5, 2020 – justice has been delivered for those two Henry cousins – Isaiah, 16, and Joel, 19, from West Berbice. A jury of 12, after considering the eyewitness account of Akash Singh along with the evidence supported by medical findings, Police testimony, and other witnesses, pronounced Sancharra and Gopaul, who’d been charged, guilty of the murders. They were sentenced to life imprisonment – with no possibility of parole before 35 years!!
It turns out that Sancharra and Gopaul – along with Akash – had been cultivating marijuana in the Coton Tree backlands, but one day discovered several fields had been trampled and destroyed. They encountered the Henry cousins in the vicinity and accused them of committing the vandalism!! One of them laughed, and the infuriated marijuana criminals turned on them and viciously hacked away at them with cutlasses, killing them on the spot. They then dragged the bodies away from the marijuana fields and dumped them on a dam – where they were discovered by Harish Singh, the 17-year-old grandson of the owner of the land on which Isaiah’s and Joel’s bodies had been found!!
And that’s when the local tragedy was transformed into a national one. The PNC under Granger had just lost the elections five months before, but refusing to accept the verdict of the people and the CCJ, Granger and Harmon ran down to West Berbice. The call for justice for the murdered Henry cousins was transformed to a call for “justice” against the PPP who’d “robbed” them! Granger then divined that the murders were politically motivated – which, as he well knew in Guyana, means that they were RACIALLY motivated!! He advised that the residents of the Henrys’ village should form “self-protection” units – and all hell broke loose!!
Several worked-up persons decided to take the law into their own hands and murdered Haresh Singh in the backdam. For good measure, they burnt his motorcycle, and it was the smoke from this conflagration that alerted relatives to investigate and discover his lifeless body. This was revenge, plain and simple… an eye for two eyes. And it has to be laid at the feet of Harmon and Granger!
Four persons were charged and remanded – including two relatives of the Henrys – but the matter still hasn’t gone to trial. And it is to this tragedy we must now turn our eyes – Harish Singh must also receive justice.
As for Granger and Harmon, they haven’t apologised for their incitement. However, they’ve been discarded on the wayside of history – and hopefully Opposition leaders will be less incendiary.

…vengeance
The demand that the Government renegotiate the Exxon contract for better terms, on its surface, shouldn’t be controversial, should it?? Who doesn’t want more money?? Even Musk – our first TRILLIONAIRE – keeps on pushing for more profits!! But neither of the two major parties – representing 95 per cent of our electorate – wanna renegotiate! What’s up?? Didn’t we put them there to do what’s best for us?? Could it be that keeping the status quo on the contract is “good for us”??
Your Eyewitness is reminded of a historical incident where Henry II was trenchantly criticised by his friend Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury. All Henry wanted was for priests to be under civil – not church – law. Even after he compromised, Becket refused to act under the law. Henry muttered, “Will no one rid me of this meddlesome priest?” and was overheard by some courtiers – who proceeded to kill Becket!!
The lesson?? Be careful what you ask for!! Exxon ain’t no Beckett – THEY have friends in very high places!!

…structural support
Your Eyewitness congratulates the Government for not falling for the opposition’s race-baiting by keeping on handing out those rice-subsidy cheques to rice farmers!! Our future lies in agriculture, and it is the Government’s responsibility to make it viable.

The post Delivering… Justice for Henry boys appeared first on Guyana Times.