U. S.- based alumni donates computers to Anna Regina Multilateral School
April 21st, 2011 Past students of the Anna Regina Multilateral School ( formerly Anna Regina High School) at Cotton Field on the Essequibo Coast on Thursday donated 22 Dell computers to help boost the institution’s information technology programme.
The donation, which coincided with the school’s 50th anniversary celebrations, was made by the Anna Regina High School Association of America.
According to founding member of the association, Indarjeet Paul, the donation is all part of efforts to boost the teaching of information technology at the school and to provide students with the necessary facilities so that they can write the subject at CSEC level.
He said that the head teacher of the school, Lalljeet Rooplall in consultations with the group revealed that the school was in need of some computers. Paul said that the head teacher mentioned the inconvenience encountered due to inadequate computers.
He said the association immediately came on board and the project was executed.
Paul noted after a discussion with the group’s executive body it was decided that 22 computers would be dispatched to the school. He said himself, along with the treasurer of the body David Singh, located the computers which were shipped by another former student Jailall Jairam.
Paul emphasised that the organisation hopes that these computers plus the ones the school already had would help to keep the flag of excel lence for which the school is known flying high.
Giving a little background on the organisation, Paul said in 1993 a small group of alumni came together to form an organisation which would promote the social, cultural and educational interests of its members as well as provide materially for their alma mater. Paul said, for a long time prior to 1993, many persons had thought of such an organisation, but like every other group it took immense planning and the meeting of minds before such an organisation could have been formed. He said as individuals, we cannot hope to achieve what a group of people can accomplish.
Forty-seven-year-old Gordon Beaton of Suddie, Essequibo, was yesterday remanded to prison when he appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson at the Georgetown Magis-trate’s Court for allegedly being found with a quantity of cannabis and cocaine in different plastic bags while being a passenger on a bus.
Beaton pleaded not guilty to the two charges of possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking. The cases were subsequently transferred to the Suddie Magistrate’s Court for November 6.
The facts are that on October 22 at Aurora, Essequibo Coast, Beaton had 469 grammes of cannabis and 16.5 grammes of cocaine in his possession for the purpose of trafficking.
Prosecutor Krishnadat Ramanah stated that on the day in question the police acting upon information received, set up a road block at Aurora Public Road, Essequibo Coast, and stopped minibus BKK 5262 in which Beaton along with several other passengers were travelling.
He stated that the police conducted a search on everyone in the bus including Beaton and then searched the bus where they discovered the cannabis in a black plastic bag, while the cocaine was in a transparent white bag, both stashed under the penultimate seat of the bus.
Ramanah noted that shortly after Beaton was arrested he admitted that he was the owner of both the cannabis and cocaine and proceeded to give the police a written statement about this.
An unrepresented Beaton, who appeared distressed, was later escorted out of the court by a policeman
Local investigators suspect that the three bullet-riddled and disembowelled bodies which were discovered in the Essequibo River last week may have a drug connection and have since sought the assistance of Interpol and friendly law enforcement agencies through the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for help in solving this crime.
Ryan Chin
Several senior police officials have indicated that all possible angles were being pursued especially since this was “no ordinary killing.” Stabroek News was told that this is the first time that investigators have been faced with this type of killing and there was information circulating that it may be drug related.
The corpses which were all in an advanced state of decomposition and bore gunshot wounds to the head with the intestines missing, are believed to be those of the crew members of the Island Princess which vanished some time last week. Relatives and the owner have since been unable to make any contact with the vessel or the crew.
The bodies which had to be buried where they were found after an on-the-spot post mortem examination will be exhumed on Tuesday and tests will be carried out to confirm their identities.
There has so far been no indication as to where the vessel may be and the fourth body has not yet been found. Police yesterday said that two of the bodies found so far belonged to the captain Titus Buckery Nascimento of Herstelling East Bank Demerara and Mahendra Singh called ‘Sunil.’ The confirmation apparently came after items found on them were identified by relatives.
The third body is yet to be identified but the relatives of Ryan Chin of Linden and Rickford Bannister believe that they have met a similar fate and were part of the crew on the missing vessel.
Titus Buckery Nascimento
Crime Chief Seelall Persaud had told Stabroek News last week that nothing was taken from the bodies for DNA testing. He explained that with advance technology, they could be exhumed at a later stage and samples taken. Police yesterday for the first time spoke of the missing vessel and revealed some information about their investigation into its disappearance and the discovery of two of the bodies.
In a release police said that an investigation had been launched into a report of a missing cargo vessel named Island Princess and its four crew members about 18:00 hours last Tuesday in the mouth of the Essequibo River and the subsequent discovery of two bodies off Hamburg and Wakenaam Islands in the Essequibo River last Tuesday and Wednesday. Enquiries have so far revealed that Titus Thomas called Titus Buckley, the captain of the vessel, and crew members, Mahendra Singh called Sunil, Ryan Chin and Rickford Bannister left Parika with the vessel on September 26 for Friendship, East Bank Demerara. They were last contacted about 18:30 hours the said day and had given their location as Essequibo River mouth, the release said. Efforts to contact them about half an hour later proved futile.
The bodies of Thomas and Singh were found in the vicinity of Wakenaam and Ham-burg Island on September 29 and 30 respectively. Their bodies bore gunshot injuries and they had been disembowelled.
The release added that the police had since sought the assistance of Interpol and other friendly law enforcement agencies through the DEA and had provided photographs of the vessel and other related information.
Rickford Bannister
The third body was found on the Queenstown, Esse-quibo foreshore last Friday afternoon, two days after the second body was discovered face down on a beach at Hamburg but the police yesterday did not make a specific connection to the missing vessel.
They described the body found at Queenstown as being that of a man about 30 years old, of medium build and around 6′ tall. He was clad in mauve underwear, was of medium build, brown in complexion and appeared to be of mixed ancestry. The body was in a state of decomposition, and like the others it had been disembowelled and had suspected gunshot injuries to the head and right leg.
This newspaper has since learnt that this body was also buried after an on-the-spot post mortem examination. Initial reports described the boat the men were on as a ‘trawler,’ but yesterday the police described it as a ‘cargo vessel.’ Relatives of at least two of the men said that they had been told that they were going to be travelling to Trinidad and Tobago on it but they could not say for what purpose.
Yesterday the relatives of Nascimento who have already accepted that one of the bodies found is indeed his on account of the height and his cellular phone which was found, are making plans to travel to Essequibo on Tuesday for the exhumation. His body was found at Black Rock, Wakenaam.
Meanwhile, the aunt of Chin, Lynette Bowry said that they had received no further word. She said that he is about 5 ft 8 ins, has ‘plait’ hair, the tattoo of a cross on his chest, a mark on one of his hands, is of medium build and of mixed race.
A senior police official has since told this newspaper that the corpse found on Friday had no hair since it had been in the water for some time. Also other marks may be unrecognizable, he said.
Last contact From all accounts, the killings occurred some time after Tuesday morning since Chin was the last known person to make contact with relatives. The man had reportedly contacted his aunt on Tuesday morning saying that he was on a trawler relaxing and had just finished cooking. Nascimento last made contact with his wife two Saturdays ago saying that he would be returning home the following morning.
Bannister’s wife heard from him around August 14 and was unable to contact him thereafter even after she called all the numbers he had left with her. However she did manage to contact the owner of the boat whom she referred to as `Jango’ last Tuesday night and he told her that he had received information that the vessel broke down and was stuck at Mahaica and he was going to check it out.
A senior police official has since told this newspaper that because of the state of the bodies, they had to have been in the water for at least a day before they were found. Yesterday when this newspaper contacted ‘Jango’ he at first was reluctant to speak, but eventually said that the vessel was not his but rather he was affiliated with it. This newspaper had contacted him twice before but on each occasion he said he would not speak. (He declined to give this newspaper his real name.)
He said that the men had gone to Parika to do maintenance work on the vessel and were on their way back to Georgetown when tragedy struck.
According to him, he last made contact with them two Saturday nights ago and had instructed them to “park the vessel” when they returned to Georgetown. He stated that he was at present cooperating with the police and was “very hurt” about the incident since he was very close to the men, especially Bannister. “I want to get to the bottom of this because the killers are still out there,” he said before going on to say that when the matter had been solved he would issue a statement. The discovery of the bodies recalled a similar occurrence in March of this year when the bullet-riddled bodies of a father and son, Romeo De Agrella and Clint De Agrella, were found at Iron Punt, North West District. The decomposing remains of the De Agrellas of Grant Strong Hope, Lower Pomeroon River, were found days after they failed to return home. Post-mortem examinations had revealed that they had died from multiple gunshot wounds.
Crime Chief Seelall Persaud had told Stabroek News that the men’s murders were believed to be drug related. Police, in a statement, had said that investigations revealed that the victims had left Venezuela and after not returning as expected they were reported as missing on March 22. The statement said their bodies were found with gunshot wounds while their boat, which also bore bullet holes, was recovered without the outboard motor engine. The boat was found overturned in the Waini River by the occupants of a passing passenger vessel. It was subsequently pulled ashore.
Two men, Lloyd Roberts, 27, a minibus driver of 3667 North Ruimveldt and Tyrone Da Silva, 27, a farmer and boat operator of Marlborough Pomeroon River were charged with the murders in June. An arrest warrant has been issued for a third man, Sean Belfield, in connection with the murders
Dear Editor, Over a thousand people packed the Shri Bhuvaneshwar Mandir in Ozone Park, Queens, Monday night to remember Shri Prakash Gossai, the spiritual leader of the temple, who passed away early Monday morning at a hospital in Miami after suffering a heart attack. His death has sent shock waves throughout the tightly-knit Guyanese community in the wider Richmond Hill/Cypress area. People from all over New York and New Jersey flocked to the mandir for a prayer service in memory of Gossai who was described by speakers as “the best of the best, a legend and an icon.”
Gossai’s body will repose ‘in state’ at the mandir on Tuesday all night. Thousands were expected to view his body. The streets around the mandir were to be closed off to facilitate the flow of mourners. A 20 foot video monitor was to be set up outside the mandir for viewers who could not get inside. There would be a wake on Wednesday afternoon and evening [today] at the Grace Funeral Chapel. On Thursday, the remains of the late Prakash Gossai will be cremated. At the mandir on Monday night, politicians, community leaders and pandits showered Gossai with glowing tributes and prayers. Many also sang solemn bhajans. NY City Councilman Eric Ulrich said: “We meet in sorrow to talk about this great man. When I heard about his death, it sucked the wind out of me. I was in this mandir recently to celebrate his birthday and present him an award from the city council. He did many wonderful things for the community. I know he is respected widely here in NY and internationally because people talked about him. Let us celebrate his legacy and his life.”
Pandit Rizvi of Mumbai described Gossai as “a great philosopher, human being, guru and teacher.” He said, “We will never forget him.” Pandit Manoj said, “He was the best amongst us,” adding, “Gossai-ji sang bhajans differently from others with a melodious voice with his own unique style.. He told the large gathering “not to despair, Prakash will return in another life. If you have faith, you will not grieve. He had a great soul. He will enter the kingdom of Lord Shiva.”
Pandit Muchan Persaud described Gossai as the most popular religious figure in the West. “He lived many lifetimes during his one life. He did so much for people. He never wasted time because he wanted to accomplish so much for others.” Arya Samaj Pandit Ramlall said Gossai was “a messenger who performed the Lord’s work.” Pt Ramlall petitioned the Lord to “bless Gossai’s soul and grant him eternal bliss.” He said Gossai enlightened so many and he asked the Lord when Gossai returns to earth, “may he continue to enlighten people as he did throughout his life.”
Pandit Maitlall said Gossai left an impression on millions with his passionate rendering of the scriptures and his singing. Radio disc jockey Robert Mohamed said Gossai was one of the best in his field. “He had his own inimitable style in anything he did. He was accomplished in music and religion. His death is a loss to Guyana and humanity. He was a beacon of Hinduism, the Tulsidas of this century. He served the Lord well. Let the Lord take him in his shining abode. His legacy will live on.”
Pandit Rajin of New Amsterdam said Gossai took his message of love and peace everywhere: “He was a gift to us from the Lord.” Albert Baldeo said, “Gossai embraced and exemplified all that is good. He was a legend. He was among the greatest of our countrymen. He inspired many. He saw God in humans and served them. He performed countless charitable activities. We celebrate a wondrous life. He left a legacy and we must continue his work. His philosophy of life, singing, satsangh exemplified the best. He represented the kind of change people wanted to see in the world. He will live on.” Pandit Harry’s words were, “God has chosen him for heavenly abode.”
There were sobbing and teary eyes among the large congregation throughout the service. Some worshippers bawled out upon seeing his children who returned to the mandir from Miami midway through the service for their father. After the service, there was an outpouring of emotion as mourners broke out into loud crying.
People talked about how they will miss him for he was “irreplaceable.” Many worry about who would perform their religious services for Gossai was for them “truly the best.”
A 53-year-old motorcyclist was killed at around 18:30 hrs on Saturday at Devonshire, Essequibo coast, after he was struck by a reversing truck. According to reports, Sugrim Seewah was attempting to ride past the truck that was in the process of dumping mud into the yard of a resident when the vehicle struck him. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the Suddie Hospital. The driver, identified as Danesh Persaud of Anna Regina, has been detained. Seewan’s wife, Mahanie told Kaieteur News that her husband was returning from Coffee Grove, Essequibo when he met his demise. She related that although he was riding with a helmet he still suffered severe head and facial injuries.
Even as the GuyanaPower and Light (GPL) revealed yesterday that it was working to ascertain the extent and type of contamination of fuel delivered to its Essequibo location, President Bharrat Jagdeo said he had had asked for a full investigation.
Contaminated fuel delivered to the Anna Regina power station had caused extensive power outages on the Essequibo Coast for four days earlier this month. The President made the comment while speaking at a press conference at the Office of the President yesterday.
From January 10 to 14, extensive power outages were experienced by all consumers on the Essequibo Coast. The GuyanaPower and Light (GPL) Inc had said in a press release at the time that the outages resulted from “a batch of fuel that was received at the Anna Regina Power Station over the weekend being contaminated.”
GPL had said that engineers at the power station discovered that some mechanical problems had developed on the two Wartsila units as a result of the contaminated fuel and it had flown in a high level technical team and spare parts to the station to effect immediate repairs to the engines. The company had said that it was working along with the shipper responsible for the movement of the fuel from Demerara to Essequibo to ascertain the circumstances surrounding its contamination.
In a statement yesterday, “to place in context the events” that had occurred at the Anna Regina power station since January 9, GPL said that 4,000 barrels of heavy fuel oil were dispatched in two equal shipments to the station, one on January 9 and the other on January 14. It said that both shipments arrived at the plant contaminated with water and “some foreign solid matter”.
The statement said samples have been dispatched to Trinidad for testing to ascertain the extent and type of contamination, asserting that testing facilities available locally are limited in their capability, as for example, they cannot determine sodium content. It noted that it had issued a press release explaining what had happened.
The power company declared that both shipments of fuel have been returned to Georgetown and are currently aboard the MT New Horizon. “We expect by tomorrow [today] to receive the results from Trinidad which will allow some understanding of what may have happened to cause the contamination and of course how the fuel can be processed to be retrieved,” the statement said.
BK International had been responsible for shipping the fuel and in a letter to the newspapers responding to a Kaieteur News article, the company accused the newspaper of seeking to convey the “false impression” that it was responsible for the contamination of fuel delivered by its vessel to GPL’s Essequibo power station.
BK’s Office Manager Egan Bazilio said in the letter that as a result of the meeting held with the GPL management last week Monday, it was agreed that a series of tests would be conducted on the fuel.
He declared that it was premature to speculate on the matters in the absence of results. “Suffice it to say that the precise amount of fuel uplifted from GPL was delivered and at all times GPL security was aboard the vessel securing the product. It is also clear that any possible contamination could have been in the fuel at the time it was uplifted because no tests were done at the time the product was uplifted,” he stated in his letter.
The letter said further that the fuel supplies were also handled by a third party in Essequibo who uplifted the fuel from the vessel for onward delivery to GPL’s plant.
Samples from the GPL tank and BK’s vessel were sent to Macorp for testing and both samples were confirmed to be the same, Bazilio said in his letter. He said the company was sending samples to the University of Guyana laboratory for further testing to confirm the percentage of water in the fuel while awaiting the results from the samples sent to Trinidad.
He said too that the company rejected allegations in the Kaieteur News article and restated its commitment to cooperate with GPL to get to the bottom of the matter. “BK is convinced that based upon the pre-loading exercises conducted by BK and GPL and the security precautions involved, in no way can it be held responsible for the so-called contamination, particularly in the absence of definitive tests and a completed investigation into all the circumstances surrounding the issues,” his letter stated.
GPL also referred to the news report yesterday noting that the Saturday headline in Kaieteur News had said that GPL had lost $40M in fuel and in an editorial the following day had questioned who was going to pay for it.
The power company said that all understood the “correlation between sensational headlines and newspaper sales and too often the absence of journalistic integrity from this equation.” It added that the Kaieteur News’s editorial of January 25 reflected the quality of journalism that had become the norm.
It said that in paragraph seven the editorial stated that 75,000 tons of fuel was in each shipment and in paragraph ten it stated that the total volume was said to be 150,000 gallons. “150,000 tons of heavy fuel oil is 975,000 barrels while 150,000 US gallons (our assumption) is 3.571 barrels. Of course, if you can’t get this right then it is possible to understand why the bold headline in Saturday’s edition ended up informing the Sunday editorial without the facts being checked by GPL,” the release declared.
Recipients of trophies presented by THE ANNA REGINA ALUMNI ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA for their outstanding academic achievements. (Left to Right) Rahul Lall, Yashoda Narine, Vickram Deonarin.
In recent times, the Anna Regina Multilateral School has been making headlines with the success it has achieved at examinations both nationally and regionally. The school’s success was again evident in the 2008 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate results. Three of its students were among the top ten of the country. Rahul Lall obtained fourteen grades ones and two grades two, while his classmate Vickram Deonarine gained thirteen ones and two grade twos. Another student, Yashoda Narine, walked away with eleven ones. This senior secondary school, situated at Cotton Field village, on the Essequibo Coast, was established in 1973. Overwhelmed with joy at another outstanding year, Head teacher, Miss Mohni Ramlackhan, showered praises on her hard working staff who she said have played an essential part in her students’ successes. MissMohni, basking with pride, strongly believes that the Anna Regina Secondary School has certainly arrived. Acting Deputy Head, Sir Shadoe said that students who wrote the examination capitalized on their lunch hours and break periods to study. During those short periods, both teachers and students spent quality time confronting the most difficult subjects. Those hours spent together, he believes, prepared students for the success which they have achieved. Senior Mistress Judy Lall said that she started her teaching career at the age of sixteen, in 1973. Choosing her words carefully, she described both Rahul and Vickram Deonarine as quiet, smart and witty. She also said that both students loved a challenge. Miss Lall taught both boys Literature and English A. She stressed that Rahul and Vickram both have a good command of the English language and also exhibited a fondness for reading. She says she is most proud when she sees her students excel as it gives her the greatest satisfaction.
Once again,THE ANNA REGINA HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA was there to acknowledge the outstanding performances displayed by these students.Each student received a trophy presented by the ARHSAA of America.From left to right.Rahul Lall, Yashoda Narine, Vickram deonarin.
Four Guyanese students were awarded for their outstanding performances at the Carib-bean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations at the opening ceremony of the 40th Meeting of the Caribbean Examinations Council last Thursday.
Yana-Marisa Edwards
According to a GINA release, Queen’s College student Yana-Marisa Edwards received the award for the most outstanding performance overall at the CSEC exams. She obtained 15 Grade ones and a Grade two. Her colleagues Aaron Haralsingh copped the award for best performance in Science, while Suraj Maraj obtained the Business Studies award. Haralsingh achieved 11 Grade ones and a Grade three, while Mattai obtained 12 Grade ones.
Rahul Lall, of Anna Regina Secondary School, won the award for best performance in Technical/ Vocational subjects. He achieved 14 grades ones and two Grade twos.
Students from St Vincent, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados were also honoured at the event.
Aaron Haralsingh
Meanwhile, at the council’s official meeting Professor Nigel Harris was re-elected as chairman for a second term after being initially elected in September 2006.
Additionally at the gathering, Barbadian Minister of Education and Human Resources Ronald Jones announced that work on the proposed new CXC Headquarters will begin in March of next year and will be finished in November of 2010.
Aurora Secondary records 100 per cent CSEC passes HEADMISTRESS of Aurora Secondary School, Mrs. Acklima Pearce has reported that students who wrote Information Technology at the 2008 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination have done well.
She said the 18 candidates recorded 100 per cent grade two and three passes. Pearce said the school, for the first time, sent students to sit Chemistry and Physics and they obtained 100 per cent passes in both subjects, as well. (R.P.)
IICA gives Capoey $300,000 benab RESIDENTS of Capoey, one of the Amerindian communities on Essequibo Coast, are the beneficiaries of a new $300,000 benab.
The Captain, Mrs. Valarie De Jonge told the Guyana Chronicle the construction was funded by Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA).
She said it will be used for meetings, training programmes, relaxation and other community purposes.
Posted 10/27/2008
One hundred and eighty youths benefit from National Training Project A GRADUATION ceremony was held last Saturday for one hundred and eighty graduands who successfully completed a six-month training under the National Training Project for Youth Empowerment in over twenty-seven areas.
Nadir-graduation.jpgNadir-graduation.jpg Minister of Labour Manzoor Nadir during his address at the graduation ceremony
The graduation ceremony was held at the Essequibo Technical Institute (ETI) in Region Two.
The Government Information Agency (GINA) said the Minister of Labour, Mr. Manzoor Nadir, during his remarks at the ceremony, noted that while many of those who graduated that day had lost the opportunity of completing school, this programme provides them with the chance of gaining a skill to equip them for life.
He said parents need to support these young people so that they can realise they have another chance in life to contribute to the development of themselves and their country.
Minister Nadir acknowledged that the sacrifices of the young people, parents and members of the private sector who were involved in the programme, should be recognised. According to him, the message should be to “continue training, education, dedication, and hard work”.
The Minister noted that about eleven months ago when the programme was launched in Region Two, for the first time in that Region, the number of graduates was approximately one third of the amount present at Saturday’s graduation. He said the programme was re-launched as a second phase and the response was better, evident in the number of youths that graduated.
Representative of the Board of Industrial Training, Coreen Connelly, in delivering the project report, said “it is the second ceremony held in Region Two with sub- regions: Moruca, Pomeroon, Supenaam, Essequibo Islands and Wakenaam, with trainees graduating in over twenty-seven areas of training.”
Nadir-Graduation-1.jpgNadir-Graduation-1.jpg Some of the graduates
Connelly said that “a travel allowance of four thousand dollars was offered to each trainee and basic tools and safety gear were provided for work and retained after training.”
Technical Coordinator, Board of Industrial Training, Roderick Nurse, congratulated the trainers and parents for their assistance in achieving a ninety-one percent retention rate.
Nurse noted that the Ministry of Labour has always tried to provide programmes to benefit people and sometimes the task of motivating young people in some Regions is greater. “I am not surprised at the high rate in Region Two since it is always easier to retain in the outer Regions”, Nurse said.
Member of Parliament (Region Two), Mr. Farouk Khan said “the graduates have been given an opportunity to be exposed to the world of work, to improve their knowledge and enhance their skills which will empower them to make valuable contributions to the development of our country.”
Khan noted that the Government is cognizant of the importance of young people to a country’s development and that this is evident in the $119B invested in the education sector this year.
The Member of Parliament encouraged the graduates to be innovative, to be entrepreneurs, and to seek jobs with the Private sector since Government alone cannot provide jobs for everyone.
“The private sector is the main engine of economic activity and growth. I wish to encourage the private sector to expand and provide employment and contribute to the development of Guyana,” Khan said.
He noted that it is the first time that the programme has attracted such a large participation from the Amerindian communities.
Representative of the Essequibo Chamber of Commerce Thakechand Ramnauth said the Chamber believes that “it is the young people of Guyana who have to take the floor in creating a vibrant economy based on selflessness. Sometimes young people get carried away by thinking that ‘I am getting the training for me’. Think of Guyana, we must do it for Guyana.”
In alluding to the theme: ‘Reducing youth unemployment’, he encouraged young people to become self employed through business and earn while giving service to others.
Ramnauth charged the private sector to take the lead since it is vital to the economy. The National Training Programme was launched in 2005 by President Bharrat Jagdeo at Banks DIH, Thirst Park in Georgetown, to equip early school-leavers with vital skills for life.
The idea of the National Training Programme for Youth Empowerment was born out of the President’s many travels across the country and his interactions with young people, who expressed willingness to be employed or further their studies, but did not possess the means.
Training for the youth empowerment programme is being conducted by the Board of Industrial Training and is undertaken at various centres throughout Guyana. The training is carried out in collaboration with both public and private sector agencies. Areas of training include building and engineering trades, industrial craft, clerical skills, home keeping, videography, heath care skills and life skills education.
Posted 10/27/2008
Essequibo Legal Aid Clinic assisting hundreds - Over 200 persons benefitted within a five month period RESIDENTS of Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam) and surrounding communities are benefitting tremendously from the services of the Essequibo Legal Aid Clinic which was officially opened on June 14, 2008. This service is being provided through a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security and the Georgetown Legal Aid Clinic.
To date, five months after the clinic commenced operations, approximately 240 persons have received assistance. This is according to Managing Attorney-at-Law of the clinic Mr. Sunil Scarce.
He explained that at the initial stages when the service was first established persons were responding slowly. However, after an extensive public awareness campaign, persons are now utilising its services.
“I am now going to court more often than before and this is good for us here at the clinic, because it means that we are assisting more persons to resolve their cases,” Scarce said.
The clinic facilitates representation for both civil and criminal cases and according to Mr. Scarce, a means assessment is conducted to determine whether the individual is qualified before he/she is given assistance.
The Essequibo Legal Aid Clinic is housed in the compound of the Regional Democratic Council of Region Two and forms part of Government’s decentralised social services network.
Persons who are in need of legal services within the region and surrounding communities and cannot afford a private Attorney are encouraged to utilise the services of the clinic.
“We are here to help people so I am urging them to come in and take advantage of the clinic,” he said. According to the Government Information Agency (GINA), Essequibo is the first county outside of Demerara where legal aid services have been made accessible to all residents.
The Government is obligated under the Constitution of Guyana as well as the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights to provide this service to its people.
The Administration has so far made this service accessible in Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven and Ten. In March 1994, the Georgetown Legal Aid Clinic (GLAC) was opened and to date has assisted in excess of 12,000 persons. In 2007, Government subvention to the Legal Aid Service (LAS) was extended to $32M which has allowed the service to expand outside of Region Four.
A 14-year-old was air-dashed to the city last night nursing serious injuries following a boating accident in the Pomeroon River yesterday.
Brad Cabose of Lower Pomeroon was on his way home from school in a speedboat in the company of other relatives when the boat collided with another one travelling in the opposite direction around 1 pm. Cabose was at the bow of the boat and reportedly bore the brunt of the collision.
He fell out of the boat and was submerged for about three minutes before he was rescued. Reports are that he was knocked unconscious upon impact. Cabose was not responding when he was pulled from the water, and he was immediately rushed to the Suddie Hospital in Essequibo.
There were no other reported injuries, and up to press time last night Cabose had been transported to the St. Joseph Mercy Hospital for a CT Scan. He suffered injuries to the neck, back and legs; the injuries to his neck were listed as serious. Stabroek News was told that he was treated at Suddie following the accident but his condition was listed as critical - arrangements were then made for him to fly to the city. Cabose was air-dashed on a Roraima Airways flight and later transported to the Georgetown Public Hospital from Ogle.
It was just before 9 pm when he turned up at the hospital in the company of relatives and a nurse from Suddie Hospital. The family was reluctant to divulge any information on the incident, but this newspaper was told that coconut husks got caught in the engine of the boat that was travelling in the opposite direction to the boat Cabose was in. The boat then swung out of control colliding with Cabose’s family boat. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Posted 10/21/2008
Freak storm hits five Essequibo Coast villages A STORM, with high winds, lightning and thunder, hit five villages on Essequibo Coast for 15 minutes last Friday morning.
The freak weather condition threatened house roofs and swayed trees between Jibb and Devonshire Castle. Heavy rainfall followed but calm prevailed after, with bright sunshine, much to the surprise of residents.
Suspected jaguar attacks in housing area PREDATORS, suspected to be jaguars, are attacking poultry at Onderneeming Sands on Essequibo Coast. One of the animals, about four feet in length, grabbed a fowl in the housing scheme area last Friday morning but dropped the bird after the woman owner shouted several times.
However, the next day, another chicken disappeared and people living in the Sand Pit vicinity reported seeing jaguars roaming the lonely road along which farming is done.
Onderneeming Sands, which leads to the hinterland, is currently being developed for housing and the population is growing but no human beings have yet been harmed by four-footed animals.
Anna Regina Multilateral School maintains excellent performance
In recent times, the Anna Regina Multilateral School has been making headlines with the success it has achieved at examinations both nationally and regionally. The school’s success was again evident in the 2008 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate results. Three of its students were among the top ten of the country. Rahul Lall obtained fourteen grades ones and two grades two, while his classmate Vickram Deonarine gained thirteen ones and two grade twos. Another student, Yashoda Narine, walked away with eleven ones. This senior secondary school, situated at Cotton Field village, on the Essequibo Coast, was established in 1973. Overwhelmed with joy at another outstanding year, Head teacher, Miss Mohni Ramlackhan, showered praises on her hard working staff who she said have played an essential part in her students’ successes. Miss Mohni, basking with pride, strongly believes that the Anna Regina Secondary School has certainly arrived. With a warm smile she shared with Kaieteur News the rich history of the school identifying some basic academic facts about the school’s top achievers over the years. According to her, the school has inherited a good system and continues to work with it. Concerning the preparation for the CSEC examinations which students wrote in May-June of this year, she said no extra lessons were offered to the fifth formers of the school. Students who, however, attended lessons did so of their free will. Acting Deputy Head, Sir Shadoe said that students who wrote the examination capitalized on their lunch hours and break periods to study. During those short periods, both teachers and students spent quality time confronting the most difficult subjects. Those hours spent together, he believes, prepared students for the success which they have achieved. Senior Mistress Judy Lall said that she started her teaching career at the age of sixteen, in 1973. Choosing her words carefully, she described both Rahul and Vickram Deonarine as quiet, smart and witty. She also said that both students loved a challenge. Miss Lall taught both boys Literature and English A. She stressed that Rahul and Vickram both have a good command of the English language and also exhibited a fondness for reading. She says she is most proud when she sees her students excel as it gives her the greatest satisfaction. The Anna Regina Multilateral School offers eight additional subjects at the fifth form level. The school is also involved in a school feeding program of which the prefect body is a part . According to Miss Lall, last year the prefect body visited the Capouey Mission on the Essequibo Coast, and made a donation of clothing, books and pencils to students in that area. The school’s student body is also involved in sports, namely cricket. Last year, the girls under-fifteen team was afforded the opportunity of participating in a friendly game against their counterpart in Barbados. Over the years, Miss Judy noted that the Anna Regina Multilateral has been participating in the J. O. F Haynes and the National Bank for Trade Industry and Commerce debates and has emerged as true champions on many occasions. “Multi,” as it is called, was awarded the Anne Blue scholarship in the year 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2007. This award is offered to only one student in Guyana but incredibly, five students from the Anna Regina Secondary were recipients. Asma Sharief, Shaneer Reid, Shaleeza Reid and Sarah Yassin were the awardees. Students also participate in the National Third Form Examinations and in 2005, three students were placed in the top three. They were Shafraz Sharief, Avinash Persaud and Gibron Rahim. Coping the top prizes in 2006 at the same examination were Rahul Lall and Vickram Deonarine. The teacher believes that it is important for children to also be involved in co-curricula activities. This, she says, will help students to be fully rounded. In 2001, the Anna Regina Multilateral School produced a top student at the Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate (CSEC) in the person of David Gooray. Gooray obtained ten grades one. In 2007, Shafraz Sharief obtained fourteen grade ones and was declared top student.
Neal and Massy Guyana Ltd has expanded its services locally with the commissioning of a new US$1M warehouse which would employ some 70 persons and provide services to residents of Essequibo.
The warehouse
The company opened its warehouse at Land of Plenty on the Essequibo Coast on Wednesday and Chief Executive Officer Deo Persaud said that the new facility is in keeping with its vision of growth and development since the conglomerate started operations in Guyana several decades ago. Neal and Massy has been in Guyana since September 16, 1968 and its service in Essequibo started in 1994. The new facility was built by Essequibo contractor Mohammed Sattur and houses several sections, including food and general products, agriculture and industrial and frozen food.
The 70 staff members at the facility include sales representatives, merchandise customer service representatives, and Money Gram representatives, among others.
The company’s services include financial, cambio, customs brokers, and automotive products, including the distribution of agriculture and chemical fertilizers.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce Manniram Prashad congratulated the management of the company for their high standards and the impressive design of the new facility. He noted that the company is in partnership with many other companies which are all involved in the economic growth of the country and in providing employment opportunities.
And Regional Chairman of Region Two Ali Baksh in his remarks thanked the group for investing in the region and for their thoughtful input in the country’s economy.
Neal and Massy’s head office is located in Trinidad with branches in other Caribbean countries and the US.
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