Guyana Observer News

An attempt to escape from the Georgetown Prison yesterday left Marvin Williams, 24, nursing two gunshot wounds, one each to the left buttock and leg, while a stray bullet struck passerby Wayne Thomas, 25, of 113 John and Bent Streets, Werk-en-Rust, in the lower right leg. Both men were admitted to the Georgetown Public Hospital. According to sources, Williams was returning from the Vreed-en-Hoop court, at around 15:00hrs, after being sentenced to three years for narcotics, and it was apparent that frustration got the better of him since he had already been on remand for a lengthy period. It was disclosed that Williams made a dash from the prison van after the gateway was opened to allow the transfer of inmates into the prison. He ran north, and while turning into Bent Street, he was shot twice by police. An eyewitness disclosed that at the time Williams was not wearing any handcuffs. Another eyewitness recounted that after being shot the prisoner continued to run but did not make it far before the police caught up with him. A businessman who employs Wayne Thomas said that he had sent his workman to ‘Kampala’, an establishment near the prison, and while turning into Camp Street he was shot in his right leg.

(Editor's Note: The Mark Benschop Foundation has offered to clean up the area infront of Mr. Freddie Kissoon's house, and head of the Foundation.)

By Lincoln Lewis

Picture of demarcation in the canal in front of the house of Freddie Kissoon captures the essence of what this nation has encountered for 18 years long years. A picture tells a thousand words and  the picture of the canal in front of the house of Fredrick Kissoon being clearly demarked and left unattended to, even as the canal on either sides were cleared, tells a story of  evil, petty politics and violation of citizens rights. The pictorial message is clear for the world to see, that Freddie Kissoon whose daily KN column exposes government’s weakness and failures, is a victim of a hostile government, prepared to embrace petty politics and by any means necessary, make life as uncomfortable for him and anyone, who dares to oppose them. We remember the assault with biological hazards that was flung in his face by an unknown individual not so long ago. Now this most ridiculous act of discrimination, utilizing his tax payers’ dollars, is a clear sign that this government would not hesitate, to stoop into the cesspits, to achieve their goal of creating misery and torment for those whom they target.

A new entity, Transparency Institute Guyana Inc. has been incorporated under the Companies Act with the aim of promoting transparency and eradicating corruption. A release today said that the founding directors – Bernard Crawford, David James, Fr. Compton Meerabux, Keith Park, Gino Persaud, Nadia Sagar and Enrico Woolford – have begun the process for formal recognition of the local entity as a National Chapter of Transparency International (TI), based in Germany. The release said that the Secretary of the Guyana entity is broadcaster Enrico Woolford and the legal consultant is Christopher Ram. Membership is open to resident and non-resident Guyanese individuals and organisations that subscribe to its By-Laws and Code of Conduct which require of its members high standards of transparency, accountability and ethical conduct. TIGI has commissioned a website on which it will make available all its incorporation documents, Code of Conduct and links to international and regional publications on corruption’s impacts, the release said.

By Freddie Kissoon

In what must be one of the most embarrassing moments of President Bharrat Jagdeo’s presidency (and believe me there have been plenty), Nobel laureate Derek Walcott tore into Mr. Jagdeo during Carifesta when the poet bemoaned the lack of governmental funding to the arts. Instead of staying quiet, knowing there was an audience present, Mr. Jagdeo chose to give a rebuttal by saying there isn’t sufficient funds to go around; preference has to be given to economic projects. Mr. Jagdeo inelegantly told the poet that if there was a choice between funding the arts or building a bridge, then the money has to be spent on the latter. That got the Nobel laureate annoyed. Ignoring protocol (that he was speaking to the president of a country in which he was a guest of that very government), Professor Walcott notched up a few decibels and told the Guyanese leader that he has heard that explanation a long time ago.

An arrest warrant was issued yesterday, by acting Chief Magistrate Priya Beharry, at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court for former beauty queen Carolan Lynch, after she failed to make a court appearance for the third consecutive time. Police Prosecutor, Lionel Harvey, told the court that the police had made numerous efforts to notify Lynch; all have failed hence the woman has never attended the court. Harvey requested that the Magistrate issue an arrest warrant for her. Lynch’s attorney, Nigel Hughes, was not present at the court when the matter was called, yesterday. The Magistrate has fixed December 1 as the next court date. Lynch was charged in May 2007 for the murder of her husband, Farouk Razac, the former owner of Swiss House cambio. Razac was found dead on the floor in their Bel Air home. A post mortem confirmed that Razac had been strangled. Lynch was released in 2008, after then Magistrate Gordon Gilhuys found that a prima facia case was not established.