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Two charged with murder of Brazilian nationals
By Telesha Persaud
TWO men yesterday appeared before Magistrate Hazel Octave-Hamilton charged with the murder of two Brazilian miners at the Regent Guest House and Restaurant, Regent Street, Georgetown last Wednesday.
Ryan Clementson, a 20-year-old taxi driver (no address given) and Charles Hackette, 47, of 99 New Grove Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara, were not required to plead to the joint charges.
Particulars of the capital offence said on last April 16, at Regent Street, they murdered Severino Pequeno Alves Junio and Francisco Lima.
It is also alleged that on the same day, armed with a gun, they robbed Jose Alenor Ovidio D’Oliveira of $1,500,000 cash.
Police Corporal Shellon Daniels, prosecuting, requested a date for report on whether the armed robbery charge would be disposed of summarily.
Attorney-at-law Mr. Adrian Thompson, representing Clementson, said an identification parade was conducted last Sunday in the absence of any lawyers.
He said Police are alleging that there was a surveillance tape that captured the two accused.
He is requesting that they be tried quickly because it makes no sense for them to be remanded for an extended period.
But Prosecutor Daniels said the virtual complainant in the robbery matter and three others identified Clementson on the tape.
The Magistrate however stated that all such information would be dealt with at the appropriate time.
Clementson and Hackette will return to court on May 14.
Police, in a press statement, had reported that Alves Junio, 45, and Lima, 46, were shot and killed by two men armed with handguns.
The duo, along with Brazilian miner Jose Alenor Ovidio D’Oliveira and another Brazilian national, had earlier gone to transact business at Pure Diamonds Establishment on East Street, Georgetown, where D’Oliveira collected $1.5M, Police reported.
Police said the Brazilians later returned to the guest house where they were staying and were in the bar when one of the bandits entered and ordered a soft drink.
However, while being attended to, he pulled out a firearm and attacked D’Oliveira, hitting him in the head with the firearm, and relieving him of the bag with the money.
Police said Alves Junio went to D’Oliveira’s assistance and was shot in his head.
Meanwhile, Lima ran out of the building and tried to escape but was shot in the abdomen by the other bandit outside, Police added.
The gunmen managed to escape on a motor cycle that was parked nearby.
The Brazilians were rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where Alves Junio was pronounced dead on arrival. Lima died while being attended to.
REMEMBERING ‘SASH’ SAWH
- two years after his assassination
By Wendella Davidson
TWO years ago, today, April 22, the life of the late vibrant Agriculture Minister, Satyadeow Sawh, popularly known as ‘Sash’, along with two of his siblings - Rajpat Rai and Phulmatie Persaud aka Julie Persaud, along with security guard and father of seven, Curtis Robertson, were snuffed out at the hands of heavily-armed bandits.
Three other persons - Omprakash Sawh, another of Sawh’s brothers and a resident of Canada, and security guards Albert Mangra of Better Hope and Aga Khan of Lusignan, also on the East Coast of Demerara, were injured during the attack.
The late Minister, known for a trademark moustache and a man blessed with “the people’s touch”, was at his La Bonne Intention, East Coast Demerara residence when he and others were brutally gunned down.
He was also credited with turning around the country’s poultry production to one of self sufficiency, diversifying agriculture, boosting production of non-traditional crops, bee and swine industries, certification of fishing vessels according to international requirements which led to Guyana accessing the lucrative North American and European seafood markets, reviving the export of beef, establishment of a veterinary laboratory and abattoirs, and the revitalization of the New Guyana Marketing Corporation.
Sawh, who also made a name for himself with the staging of the popular ȁGuyana Nite” exposition, served as Guyana’s Ambassador to Venezuela, Colombia and Ecuador during the period 1993 to 1996.
For his diplomatic service, he was awarded the Order of Francisco Miranda by the Venezuelan Government and received several community awards in Venezuela and Canada.
The late Sash Sawh was also a daily face of solace to persons who suffered during the historic floods of 2004-2005.
Born on June 13, 1955 at Central Mahaicony, the late ‘Sash’ and his family migrated to Canada in the 1970s where he elevated himself by studying Economics and Business at York University.
He was the holder of a Bachelor of Arts degree and a certificate in Accounting and Business from the Ryerson Polytechnic Institute.
Between 1975 and 1992 he served as a member and President of the Association of Concerned Guyanese and the political representative of the People’s Progressive Party in Canada.
On July 14, 2006 – following his brutal slaying -the Police issued a wanted bulletin for 10 men – notorious reputed gang leader Rondell ‘Fineman’ Rawlins of Titus Street, Agricola, East Coast Demerara and Buxton; Troy Dick of Buxton; Orlando Andrews called “Biscuit” or Jeffrey of Buxton; David Zammet called David Leander or “Bullet” of Buxton; Jermaine Charles called “Skinny” of Agricola and Richard Daniels called “Chucky” of Agricola.
The others, known only by their call names were “Cash” and ȁNot Nice” both from Buxton and “Sonny” and “John Kirby” of Agricola.
A bounty of $2M each was offered by the Police for information leading to their capture.
Two of the wanted men Troy Dick who was the lone surviving escapee from the infamous Mash Day 2002 jail break at the Georgetown Prisons, and John Kirby have since been killed while Jermaine Charles also known as ‘Skinny’ and another suspect are in prison waiting to be tried.
Rawlins called ‘Fineman’ – Guyana’s most wanted -- has since been linked with the gruesome Lusignan and Bartica massacres.
In May this year, two relatives of the slain minister have filed writs claiming more than $4M in damages over his assassination.
Killer dogs victim buried
By Michel Outridge
CHARLES Roopchand, the security guard who was mauled to death by nine dogs last Wednesday morning, was buried after an emotional thanksgiving service yesterday.
A pall of gloom blanketed Roopchand’s 2 C Lusignan Public Road, East Coast Demerara, home as the coffin was wheeled onto the premises beside a huge photograph of him.
His sons could not contain their emotions as relatives began paying tribute to their dad.
COPS (Guyana) Ltd. Executive Chairman, Mr. Gregory Gaskin, fondly spoke of his “best employee” whom he described as a pleasant individual, a friend to everyone, always with an “infectious smile”.
“Roopchand’s smiles greeted you at the entrance at the University of Guyana (UG) and he was the last to bid you goodbye in the evening for many years, as most of you can remember,” he said in his tribute.
He pointed out that Roopchand was a model worker and a man of humour, and he pledged his continued support to the family.
Several other relatives made remarks and wept openly as they bade farewell to a man they sincerely loved.
Among the large crowd of mourners were Minister of Finance, Dr Ashni Singh; Minister in the Ministry of Finance, Ms Jennifer Webster; and Member of Parliament, Mr. Irfaan Ali.
Meanwhile, his only sister who flew from overseas for the funeral, was inconsolable.
Joan Roopchand said that Roopchand’s children should be compensated by the owner of the killer dogs and wishes the court will rule a fair judgment for her brother’s life.
“He was a family man and was very dedicated to his family and provided for them. It is really sad the way he met his death,” she cried.
Roopchand, the sole breadwinner of his home was on his way to work at Ogle Airstrip Access Road, East Coast Demerara, when he was attacked by a pack of vicious dogs, including pit bulls, and thrown off his feet and dragged off the road.
The man’s eldest son, Michael said his father left home about 05:00h Wednesday morning to relieve a colleague who worked the night shift and the next thing he knew he received the dreadful news of his father’s death via a telephone call from the police.
“When I saw my father’s body I was so shocked; I couldn’t believe he died such a horrible death,” he cried.
Roopchand’s wife, Lalita suffered a stroke some years ago and is bedridden; she was unable to attend her husband’s funeral yesterday.
At the time of his death, Roopchand was attached to the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) cell site at Ogle Airstrip Road on the East Coast Demerara.
Up to press time, the commercial pilot and his killer dogs, including pit bulls, German shepherd and mixed breeds, were still in police custody.
Striking sugar workers expected to go back to work today
By Tajeram Mohabir
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