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As part of efforts to make travelling from Lethem to Georgetown much easier, the government may greenlight the construction of a two-lane bridge across the Kurupukari River.

This is according to Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo who provided an update on the Linden to Lethem roadway at his recent press conference.

“We’re also looking to see a proposal, maybe a two-lane bridge across the Kurupukari River because that will then complete the whole network.

“You will be able to drive from Lethem straight to Georgetown without having to go on a pontoon to cross the river,” Jagdeo said.

The journey from Georgetown, Guyana’s capital city and commercial hub on the coast, to Lethem, a town bordering Brazil in the south, is over 400 miles and includes travelling through the rainforest.

There is a roadway that connect Lethem to Kurupukari, and then Kurupukari to Georgetown. However, vehicles must travel on top a pontoon to get across the Kurupukari River when going either side, that is to Georgetown or to Lethem.

A new bridge, Jagdeo said, would allow heavier vehicles to travel across. More goods, he believes, can be transported too.

And once that bridge is in place, it would be a single drive from Lethem to Georgetown or vice versa.

Outside of this potential venture, Jagdeo said the 45 super- highway bridges being constructed along the roadway are progressing well. The first half of the road is also being paved.

 

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Michael Thomas, 50, a businessman of Bachelor’s Adventure, East Coast Demerara was arrested on Monday night after he discharged a loaded firearm.

The incident occurred at about 20:20hrs in the vicinity of the Route 44 minibus park in Georgetown.

Police Headquarters related that ranks were on mobile patrol on Avenue of the Republic, in the vicinity of the Route 50 (Berbice) bus park, when they heard a gunshot.

The ranks proceeded to the Route 44 bus park and on arrival, the businessman was observed putting what appeared to be a firearm in his pants waist.

After a search was conducted on Thomas, a .32 Taurus pistol with two (2) magazines along with 14 rounds of ammunition, were found. One spent shell was also found.

Police said the businessman is a licensed firearm holder.

The suspect was arrested and escorted to the Brickdam Police Station where the firearm, spent shell and ammunition were placed into separate evidence bags, marked and sealed in his presence and lodged to be taken to the ballistics section for analysis.

No one was injured. Investigations are ongoing.

 

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A 58-year-old labourer from Enmore Seadam, East Coast Demerara, was arrested and charged with the brutal murder of 47-year-old carpenter Theodore Baynes.

The accused, Keith Jeffrey, known as ‘Pugga’, was charged more than a week following the death of Baynes on September 30, at Haslington North, East Coast Demerara.

Jeffrey appeared before Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court on Monday. The charge was read to him, and although he was not required to enter a plea, bail was denied.

He has been remanded to prison pending his next appearance, which is scheduled for November 06, 2024.

Baynes, a father of two, was found lifeless outside his residence at Lot 40 Haslington North.

His body bore multiple injuries, including severe facial trauma, a deep slash to his neck, and numerous cuts to his back and other parts of his body.

The circumstances surrounding his death have left family and friends in shock.

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A 30-year-old construction worker, Konata Simpson, was arrested on Monday  in the Tucberg neighbourhood of New Amsterdam, Berbice after police found nearly 700 grams of cannabis at his residence, along with a stolen police radio and military-style clothing.

The ranks were acting on information they had received, which led them to Simpson’s home.

Officers arrived at approximately 16:00 hrs and began a search of the property, where they uncovered the ganja hidden beneath a wooden table. It weighed approximately 696 grams.

When confronted, Simpson reportedly acknowledged that the drugs were his.

Despite this admission, the search continued, and police made further discoveries, including a police-issued radio and two camouflage shirts, which were confirmed to be stolen from the Guyana Police Force.

The cannabis, radio, and military-style attire were seized as evidence and transported to the Central Police Station for further investigation.

Simpson has been placed in police custody and is expected to face charges of possession of narcotics and possession of stolen property.

 

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Dennison Edwards, 46, died on Monday after he crashed into a utility pole along the West Canje, Berbice Public Road.

The News Room understands that the accident occurred at about 17:00 hrs Monday.

Edwards of Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam, Berbice, was reportedly riding his motorcycle (#CK 995) along the public road at a fast rate and lost control of it. He subsequently crashed into a utility pole and fell onto the grass parapet. The motorcycle came to a stop in a nearby trench.

The man is said to have sustained injuries to his head and other parts of his body. He was picked up in an unconscious condition by public-spirited citizens and was taken to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital, where he was seen and examined by a Doctor on duty, who pronounced him dead.

The man’s body is at the hospital’s mortuary, awaiting an autopsy.

Investigations are continuing.

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Nola Rodney and her family garnered widespread attention when they recently hosted President Dr. Irfaan Ali at their beloved Guyanese bar – Waterfall Lounge – in Brooklyn, New York.

The visit, which took place as part of the President’s community outreach tour, highlighted the growing influence of the Guyanese diaspora and marked a significant moment for the venue.

However, in a zoom interview with the News Room on Monday, the philanthropist was keen to underscore that her efforts are not driven by political motives, but rather by a deep commitment to the wellbeing of the Caribbean diaspora in New York, particularly the Guyanese community.

Rodney expressed her excitement for the upcoming launch of several community-focused initiatives, including a new mental health programme titled: ‘Chill & Chat’, set to begin on October 17.

The programme will offer an eight-week series of group sessions where participants can engage with a therapist in a relaxed, conversational setting.

“Our focus is not just on entrepreneurship or offering services, but truly giving back in ways that are needed right now,” she said.

“Mental care is at the core of what we’re doing. We want to provide a space where people can tap into their mental wellbeing, feel comfortable, and even have fun while addressing what’s going on in their minds and bodies,” she added.

The mental health initiative comes as part of Rodney’s broader Community Hub Initiative, which will also offer digital literacy workshops.

These programs are intended to help local community members navigate the challenges of an increasingly digital world while fostering personal growth and communal connection.

Roberts said she was able to share her vision with the Guyanese Head of State and has received commitment of support.

“It was an incredible experience to host President Ali and share our mental health and tech literacy initiatives with him.

“It’s vital to build these bridges between our community here and back home. His administration is eager to support these efforts, and it’s all about fostering collaboration and creating positive change,” she explained.

Rodney continued to clarify that she has no political agenda.

“We’re very proud to have presented our initiatives to him. It’s not about politics; it’s about service. Our goal is to help people, to provide them with the resources they need to thrive,” she added.

However, despite the positive momentum, Rodney acknowledged that hosting the President was not without its controversy, with some members of the diaspora expressing dissenting views. When asked about the “backlash”, she responded with a pragmatic attitude.

“Whenever there’s positivity, there’s always going to be someone who opposes it,” she said.

“That’s just part of life. What matters is that we focus on solutions and continue pushing forward. I’m not worried about negativity; I’m focused on what we’re doing and how we can help the community,” she added.

Looking ahead, Rodney’s Community Hub Initiative will continue to expand, with future plans to include workshops on financial literacy.

Rodney’s initiatives are open to all, and she reiterated her gratitude for the ongoing support from the community, both in Brooklyn and beyond.

While the programmes are free to participants, Rodney is actively seeking additional donors and resources to sustain them.

The interview also touched on the legacy of giving back within the Rodney family. Nola’s mother, Doris Rodney, has long been a fixture in the Brooklyn community, known for her generosity and commitment to uplifting others.

For those interested in supporting Rodney’s initiatives, she can be reached via email at nola@theonenolaroe.com.

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A “situation room” that is being set up will function as a “command centre” for all agricultural activities in Guyana and the wider Caribbean Community (CARICOM) region.

This was revealed by Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha on Monday as he addressed the launch of the Agriculture Information System (AIS) at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.

“We are working to build a situation room which will be a data centre not only for Guyana but the entire region where we will have real-time data generated for any place in the Caribbean,” Mustapha revealed.

Mustapha said the situation room will represent tremendous development for the sector.

“The situation room will enable us to anticipate challenges, respond to crises as they arise, and implement proactive measures to mitigate risks. As we look to future, I am filled with optimism for the continued growth of Guyana’s agriculture sector,” Mustapha said.

He reiterated the ambitious plan of reducing the region’s food import bill by 25 percent by 2025.

Through this venture, countries agreed to grow more food, trade more among each other and import less from extra-regional sources.

However, the impact of hurricane Beryl on the Caribbean earlier this year has been disastrous and some islands’ agriculture sector completely wiped out, resulting in a direct setback to this vision.

Last week, Mustapha said that Guyana’s agriculture sector is the backbone of the economy and has been trumping major challenges like climate change, population growth and evolving dietary needs.

At the launch of Agriculture Month 2024, Minister Mustapha said by 2025, the country would see a US$40 million reduction in importation, representing funds that can be used in other areas.

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A 29-year-old firefighter, Latoya Chu, faced seven cybercrime charges when she appeared before Senior Magistrate Fabayo Azore at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Monday.

The charges relate to alleged incidents that took place between February 23 and February 26, 2024.

Chu, who is a mother of three young children aged nine, eight, and one, pleaded not guilty to the accusations. Despite not having legal representation, she was granted bail totalling $350,000.

The charges allege that Chu used a computer system to circulate false and damaging information about several senior members of the Guyana Fire Service (GFS).

The individuals named in the charges include Chief Fire Officer Gregory Wickham, Deputy Chief Fire Officer Dwayne Scotland, four female firefighters, and an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT).

The Police prosecutor stated that Chu is believed to have operated a fake Facebook profile through which she posted defamatory comments aimed at the complainants.

These posts were eventually flagged, bringing the matter to the attention of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), which then initiated an investigation.

Following her arrest, Chu’s mobile phone was seized, and an analysis of the device purportedly confirmed that she had created the fake profile responsible for the posts.

When questioned by authorities, Chu reportedly chose to remain silent.

The prosecutor did not oppose bail, and Chu was granted bail at $50,000 per charge, with a total of $350,000 required.

Her next court appearance is scheduled for November 18, 2024.

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Guyanese law students Sherry Ann Hinds and Sheneza Clarke both achieved outstanding success at the Hugh Wooding Law School’s annual graduation ceremony, held last Saturday.

The Trinidad-based institution presented 213 students from across the Caribbean with the Legal Education Certificate, following two years of rigorous legal training.

Among the graduates, only three students received certificates of merit for achieving at least nine ‘A’ grades out of 11 courses offered.

Remarkably, two of these exceptional students, Hinds and Clarke, hailed from Guyana.

Sherry Ann Hinds was awarded the prestigious Guyana Government Prize for the overall best performance by a student from Guyana. In addition to this top honour, she received several other prizes for her exceptional academic achievements, including:

• The Council of Legal Education Most Outstanding Year 1 Student Prize
• The Book Specialist First-Year Student Prize
• The Mervyn Campbell Law of Remedies Prize
• The Chairman’s Prize for excellence in Evidence and Forensic Medicine, Law of Remedies, and Civil Procedure and Practice II
• The Council of Legal Education Prize for the Most Outstanding Student over the course of the two-year programme.

Sheneza Clarke, another standout student from Guyana, also received a certificate of merit for her remarkable academic performance. Clarke’s achievements include several prestigious prizes, such as:

• The Book Specialist Prize for Second Outstanding Year II Student
• The Cameron and Shepherd Prize for Best Performance in Civil Procedure and Practice I and Civil Procedure and Practice II by a Guyanese student
• The Chief Justice Ian N. Chang S.C., C.C.H. Memorial Prize for Best Performance in Civil Procedure and Practice
• The Fitzwilliams Stone, Furness-Smith & Morgan Prize for Best Performance in Civil Procedure and Practice II
• The Miles Greeves Fitzpatricks S.C. Prize for Best Performance in Legal Aid by a Guyanese graduating student.

In a statement, the Guyana Jurisdictional Committee has extended its heartfelt congratulations to both Hinds and Clarke, as well as to the entire Guyanese cohort of the Class of 2024.

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