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Two men were remanded to prison on Tuesday after they were charged with harbouring Dexter McDonald, called ‘Labba’, who was wanted by the police for a series of crimes including the attempted murder of Guyana Defence Force (GDF) rank, Azim Khan.

The accused, 58-year-old Wayne Summer and 45-year-old Shawn Baynes both of Victoria Village, East Coast Demerara appeared before Magistrate Fabayo Azore at the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court.

Both men denied the allegation and were refused bail. The matter was adjourned to June 18, 2024.

Summer and Baynes were arrested over the weekend with McDonald at Belfield, ECD.

At the time of his arrest, McDonald was a passenger of a vehicle. He was accompanied by Summer and Baynes.

On Tuesday, McDonald was remanded to prison after he was charged with the attempted murder of Khan along with two counts of burglary committed on police officer Junior Blair, whose firearm and ammunition belonging to the Guyana Police Force, along with several of his personal valuables, were stolen.

Kareem Josh Jeffrey, 29, died Tuesday night after he was struck down by a truck on the La Bonne Intention (LBI) Public Road, East Coast Demerara.

The accident occurred around 23:30 hrs. Jeffrey was the rider of the motorcycle, CL 3120.

According to a statement from Police Headquarters, the motor lorry, GAG 6017, was riding heading west along the public road at a fast rate.

Police said the driver, a 30-year-old resident of South Ruimveldt Gardens, Georgetown claimed that he felt as though the lorry drove over something after which he saw a motorcycle skidding past his vehicle.

As a result, the driver said he stopped and exited the lorry when he observed a man lying on the roadway with injuries.

The Ambulance Service was contacted, and upon arrival at the scene, Jeffrey was pronounced dead.

A breathalyser test was conducted on the driver and Police said no trace of alcohol was found.

He remains in custody as the investigation continues.

A 42-year-old man, identified by the Police as Carl Cato is currently hospitalised after he was shot and injured by a security guard attached to a private firm during a confrontation on Tuesday.

Police said the 28-year-old security guard is currently in custody. The incident occurred around 14:50hrs at Carmichael Street, Georgetown.

According to a statement from Police Headquarters, Cato, a resident of Vryheid’s Lust, East Coast Demeraral, was riding a bicycle when he was confronted by the security guard.

The security guard claimed that one of his colleague’s bicycle was stolen and Cato’s bike appeared to be it.

This led to a confrontation between Cato and the security guard which escalated into a scuffle.

During the process, it is alleged that Cato tried to disarm the security guard and his firearm went off, wounding Cato to his left foot.

The police were called and Cato was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation. His condition is regarded as stable.

The firearm was seized and one spent shell was recovered.

See below the full statement issued:

Now in its sixth year, Miss Guyana Teen Scholar Pageant “MGTSP” opens online applications on May 26  – Independence Day – for desirous candidates interested in starting their pageant journey, and a chance  to win a $500,000 scholarship among other prizes.  

The pageant for adolescent girls is an education and gender development programme, introducing girls  to modules on adolescent health and wellbeing, professionalism and life skills, social and gender  development, and stage presence and talent development. Each candidate is a beneficiary of the  programme that adds to a holistic education in preparation for tertiary education, public life, and the  workforce. MGTSP is also considered a stepping stone for young women interested in the performing  arts, pageantry, fashion, and modelling, as it enhances their interest in stage presence, and a platform. 

The competition itself assess elocution, social awareness presentations, interview skills, talent and  dance, and presentation style; The programme ends in a graduation ceremony in the style of a public  pageant at the National Cultural Centre, where every candidate is celebrated for their identities and  expression, and their showcase of their achievements. The winning candidate is crowned as Miss  Guyana Teen Scholar, and awarded a scholarship towards her academic and career goals. She also  receives a round-trip to a Caribbean Island, medical health packages, spa treatment, and band  ambassadorship including being a national role model to encourage other girls to pursue their education  and ambitions. 

The pageant manual and application link can be found on The Imperial House’s Facebook page – @TIHGuyana. Applicants must be a citizen and resident of Guyana, be able to travel to Georgetown, and  be between the ages of 13 to 19 years old.  

Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha engages residents of Number 10 village in Region Five

“We planted 206,000 acres. I am hoping that the second crop of 2024, we can increase that to almost 230,000 acres so that at the end of the year we can surpass the figure that was set in this year’s budget of 710,000 tonnes,” Minister Mustapha noted.

Highlighting the sector’s growth trajectory, Minister Mustapha explained that just four years ago, yields averaged approximately 4.5 tonnes per hectare.

The country has managed to elevate its yield to 6.5 tonnes per hectare, despite challenges such as paddy bugs.

“We have been increasing production in the traditional area,” Minister Mustapha added, noting substantial progress over the past years.

Just last year, the country produced 653,000 tonnes of rice, and 610,000 tonnes the previous year.

Moreover, the minister highlighted a significant increase in export figures, with the first quarter of this year surpassing last year’s exports by 33,000 tonnes.

In pursuit of enhancing productivity, the government is actively promoting the adoption of high-yield rice varieties, including those sourced from Brazil.

Residents of Number 10 Village in Region Five

Further, innovative initiatives such as biofortified rice, enriched with essential nutrients like zinc, is being undertaken to address public health concerns.

“Persons who suffer from diabetes and heart problems could use that. It is very nutritious…We should not have a narrow vision where we only look at rice production. Rice is important and we should increase rice production, but we have to diversify and go into other areas too that is what we [government] have been doing over the last four years,” the agriculture minister said.

The government’s multifaceted approach to agricultural development has also seen the implementation of initiatives to boost fruit and vegetable production.

Substantial investments were also made in livestock and crop diversification resulting in Region One becoming a hub for spice production and Bonasika Creek undertaking the production of sweet potato, cassava, eddoes, and dasheen crops. These efforts aim to make Guyana a key player in the regional food supply chain. [DPI]