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The post Motorcyclist, 18, dies in Essequibo Coast accident  appeared first on News Room Guyana.

A tragic accident claimed the life of 19-year-old Tevin Griffith on Tuesday night, as he lost control of his motorcycle while speeding on Nelson Mandela Avenue, near Pineapple Street.

The incident occurred around 8:48 hrs when Griffith, a resident of Lot 3420 Stevedore Housing Scheme, was riding with a group of motorcyclists heading west along the southern drive lane.

Preliminary investigations indicate that Griffith was lying flat on his motorcycle at a high speed, which likely contributed to his loss of control.

Witnesses report that Griffith was thrown onto the roadway upon losing control and sustained multiple injuries. Emergency Medical Technicians arrived shortly after the incident, but despite their efforts, Dr. Kellman pronounced him dead at the scene.

Authorities are continuing their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident, including the lack of safety helmets among the group of riders.

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The Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha kicked off the vibrant Diwali celebrations in Berbice, Region Six on Wednesday evening with its annual ‘Deep Jale’ event, a key part of the festivities leading up to Diwali (Deepavali) in Guyana. The event was held at the Indian Arrival Monument in Palmyra, offering a colorful display of culture and tradition.

Attendees were treated to an evening filled with both classical and contemporary Indian dances and music, showcasing the rich cultural heritage of the community.

In addition to the captivating performances, the celebration featured a variety of sweet and savory vegetarian dishes, giving everyone the chance to indulge in traditional flavors.

The event drew a large crowd from across Berbice, with Praants from Upper, West, and East Berbice Corentyne areas converging to join in the festivities. One of the highlights of the evening was the presence of Dr. Vindhya Persaud, President of the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha and Minister of Human Services & Social Security.

Dr. Vindhya Persaud, President of the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha and Minister of Human Services & Social Security.

In her address, Dr. Persaud spoke about the deeper meaning behind the festival, emphasizing that Diwali is more than just a celebration, it symbolizes the triumph of good over evil, the dispelling of darkness, and the welcoming of light.

Dr. Persaud encouraged the public to actively participate in all the events leading up to Diwali, urging them to reflect on the festival’s spiritual significance.

This year, the eagerly awaited festival of lights, Diwali, will be celebrated on October 31, 2024.

With the ‘Deep Jale’ event setting the tone, communities across Guyana are looking forward to more festivities as the nation prepares to embrace the season of light, joy, and unity.

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After months of investigation, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has advised the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) to proceed to institute more than 240 charges against Assistant Police Commissioner (ag) Calvin Brutus.

Sources told the News Room on Wednesday night that the DPP recommended the charges. It is now for SOCU to act to arrest Brutus so that they can institute the charges and place him before the court.

Police ranks, including those from the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) and the Special Weapons And Tactics (SWAT) team, gathered outside Brutus’s residence Wednesday night.

SOCU is investigating financial crimes linked to Brutus amounting to approximately $800 million. Of this total, $300 million is said to be in assets and properties, while $500 million is currently held in frozen bank accounts.

Records reveal Brutus’ salary remained untouched for several years

This development comes about a week after SOCU completed its investigation and recommended the charges which stem from money laundering and other financial crimes.

Brutus is facing 240 charges related to significant financial misconduct and Nandlall believes he will go down as the highest-ranking officer in the Guyana Police Force to be implicated in such extensive fraud.

An affidavit filed by the head of SOCU Fazil Karimbaksh, revealed that in February 2024, Brutus purchased an $85 million property in Alberttown, Georgetown.

Brutus, who receives a monthly salary of $491,487, reportedly withdrew $63 million from his salary account to pay off the balance on the property, while an initial $21 million was paid months before.

In a recent court hearing, a High Court judge denied Brutus’ request to leave the country for medical care for his pregnant wife, Adonika Aulder.

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See below the full statement issued:

Despite political mischief and various challenges during construction—such as material shortages, rising costs, and labor shortages—the Bamia School in Linden, Region 10, is now 95% complete. St8tment Inc.- the Construction Company, on Wednesday firmly debunked rumors being peddled that the project is far from completion.

Given the challenges encountered, the company was granted an extension to complete the school by late 2024, and they remain on track to meet this revised deadline, with minimum work to be completed in the areas of electrical and plumbing.

Mr. Akannie Blair, the Project’s Chief Foreman, stated, “This will be one of the region’s most modern and advanced schools and is set to be a great environment for learning.” The school is designed with state-of-the-art facilities, including a gymnasium, a main building housing 44 spacious classrooms, an auditorium with a performance stage, a sick bay equipped with showers, two smart classrooms, modern restroom facilities, a library, music room, science lab, staff room, and more.

The awarding of the contract has drawn significant criticism from some members of the Opposition and their media outlets. Contractor Mr. Rawle Ferguson pointed out the irony in this position, stating that while these critics have long advocated for government support of Black-owned businesses, they are now undermining the very projects that benefit from such support, rather than fostering growth and development. Ferguson maintained that despite speculation, the project continues as planned.

The post No Further Delays: Bamia School in Linden nears completion appeared first on News Room Guyana.

Pharmaceutical importer and distributor Optimum Health Supplies has joined a growing list of sponsors that are partnering with the Kevin Sinclair Foundation to carry out a charitable project in the Georgetown community of Sophia.

The Durey Lane, Campbellville- based Pharmaceutical company wasted no time in supporting the initiative that stands to benefit a number of underprivileged households in the community.

Optimum Health Supplies joins the likes of Big B’s Restaurant, Cricket Zone USA, Genuine Auto Sales, Trophy Stall, Markie Construction Inc. and VNet Communications, amongst others who are supporting the initiative.

In recent months the Kevin Sinclair Foundation has been very active last distributing over 300 back to school kits for children in Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam.

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Works will soon commence to transform the Linden-Soesdyke Highway and upon completion, Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill said it is likely that fewer accidents will be recorded.

“This is not a project to come. It’s already here.

“You are actually seeing the good that is happening,” Edghill said during an appearance on a radio programme on Tuesday.

The new highway, Edghill said, will see the construction of three round-about, 2,900 lights and pedestrian walkways to promote safer use of the highway.

“Roundabouts are being utilised globally to enhance traffic flow and minimise accidents,” Edghill said.

He noted that within the next month, major progress is likely to be seen on the project.

“Work has already started, lots of the surveys have already been done, there is a huge stockpiling of material and we should be seeing much, much progress within the next month as the various clearances are given,” Edghill noted.

A US$161M contract was signed in August this year to construct the new highway.

The project is a collaboration between Trinidadian firm Namalco Construction Services Limited and local partner GuyAmerica Construction Inc., with international firm Al Habishi Engineering providing oversight services for US$1.7M.

The highway is expected to be completed within two years.

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Teachers across Guyana have received their promised 10 per cent retroactive salary increases, the Ministry of Education revealed on Wednesday.

“The 10% increase and the salary adjustments have put more than $2.5 billion in the hands of our educators countrywide,” the ministry stated.

The News Room understands that teachers in all regions except Region Ten received their increases. The teachers in that region will get their increases soon with payroll set be to completed in short order.

The increase is in keeping with the recently signed memorandum of agreement between the government and the Guyana Teachers’ Union.

“This underscores our commitment to valuing the hard work and dedication of our educators. A total of 14,786 teachers have benefitted, providing much-needed support to teachers and recognizing their vital role in shaping the future of our nation. We thank our teachers for their unwavering commitment to educating our children and building a brighter future for Guyana,” the ministry said.

The agreement for salary increases was finally inked after months of intense negotiations.

The deal covers the period 2024 to 2026 with teachers expected to get a direct 27% increase in salaries over the next three years. In 2024, they will get a 10% increase; in 2025, an 8% increase and in 2026, a 9% increase.

The increases can be adjusted if any general public service salary increases are higher.

Teachers across the country who engaged in strike action for more than two months returned to schools at the end of June, as the Education Ministry and GTU agreed to negotiate a new deal.

For context, an initial five-week strike began on February 5, with teachers demanding higher salary increases and duty-free concessions, among other benefits.

After a court-mediated process in March, talks between the Education Ministry and GTU resumed. Discussions were halted when the Education Ministry indicated that there was no fiscal space to cater for increases for the period 2019 -2023. Increases for 2024 and future years were put for consideration instead.

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West Indies suffered a series-defining loss in the second One-day International (ODI) against Sri Lanka, as they again went down by five wickets in Pallekele on Wednesday.

The defeat, which resulted from another disappointing batting performance, saw Sri Lanka taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series, leaving the Caribbean side with mere hopes of salvaging pride in the final game on Saturday.

After a dismal batting collapse that saw the West Indies at a shocking 58-8 in the rain-affected contest, which was reduced to 44 overs per team, it was an historic ninth-wicket partnership between Sherfane Rutherford (80) and Gudakesh Motie (50 not out) that added a glimmer of respectability to their total.

Sherfane Rutherford made 80 off 82 balls•Oct 23, 2024•AFP/Getty Images

The pair put together 119 runs, the highest-ever ninth-wicket stand in West Indies’ ODI history, with Rutherford smashing four sixes and seven fours in his 82-ball knock, while Motie’s maiden ODI half-century came off 61 balls and included six boundaries, as they lifted the side to 189.

However, the damage had already been done by Sri Lanka’s disciplined bowling attack led by spinners Wanindu Hasaranga (4-40) and Maheesh Theekshana (3-25).

Seamer Asitha Fernando had 3-35. Their batting unit led by an unbeaten 62 from captain Charith Asalanka then surpassed their target with some degree of comfort. (SportsMax)

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