Guyana Observer News

This letter is a response to the Kaieteur News reporting on the areas and “facts” surrounding my dismissal from UG by the UG Council. There must be, for journalistic purposes, a distinction between the University and the University Council. KN said “University terminates.” Stabroek wrote, “University Council fires.” I hope readers see the point

The Former Presidents’ (Benefits and other Facilities) Act survived its first real test when Executive Member of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Desmond Trotman, failed to persuade the High Court to rule it unconstitutional, null and void.
Trotman, through his Attorney-at-Law Christopher Ram, failed also to have a Conservatory Order issued to preserve the status ante –the situation that existed prior to the date when the Act came into force– until the determination of the hearing.
Trotman in his Statement of Claim pointed to Article 181 (2) which provides: “A person who has held the office of President shall receive such pension or, upon the expiration of his term of office, such gratuity as may he prescribed by Parliament. Any such pension and gratuity shall be a charge of the Consolidated Fund.”

The Imam at the centre of a growing sexual molestation scandal was re-arrested yesterday after more boys came forward with allegations against him.
Kaieteur News understands that at least five more boys are claiming that they were molested by the Imam, who had worked at a Turkeyen masjid and at a private city school.
“Yes, he has been re-arrested and the investigation is ongoing,” a senior police official told Kaieteur News. It appears that police are attempting to question as many persons as possible before laying charges in the matter.
Earlier in the week, officials from the Child Protection Agency had revealed that two other boys had alleged that they were sexually molested by the Imam.
Medical examinations revealed that one of the boys was abused. Medical examinations on four other boys appear to confirm their stories.

Dear Editor,

The termination of Mr Freddie Kissoon’s contract at UG is raw political victimization. This gives credence to international rankings that question Guyana’s political freedom. The UG Board is comprised of PPP members like Prem Misir, Nirmal Rekha, Gail Teixeira, Bibi Shadick and Indra Chandarpal.  This list raises serious doubts in my mind as to whether any of them has the academic and scholarly capacity to make decisions for the nation’s only university. However, that is another matter for another day.

The Alliance For Change has secured the Chairmanship of Region Eight (Potaro/Siparuni).

Party executive Mark Crawford is the new Chairman of the Region following today’s elections at the regional democratic council office. It is the first time in its history that the AFC will hold the Chairmanship of a region. It won a plurality in the region at the recent national and regional elections but would have required support from one of the other groups to clinch the Chairmanship. It is believed that the APNU would have voted in favour of the AFC candidate.