Serial arsonist sets fire to home of ex-wife’s parents

Accused of burning down the home of his ex-wife just over two weeks ago, a serial arsonist struck again shortly before midnight on Friday and set fire to the Bath Settlement, Berbice home of the woman’s parents.

Seeta Persaud, 42, and her partner Nawaz Chaseem were asleep at her parent’s home at Bath Settlement when her ex-husband set fire to the home at about 11.40 pm on Friday. The kitchen was destroyed but they managed to douse the flames before it engulfed the home.

Seeta Persaud (right) and Pulmattie in their badly gutted kitchen

Muslim women in Berbice join domestic violence fight

A group of Muslim women in Berbice are now ready to join the fight in tackling domestic violence after completing three sessions of intense training.

The women who are members of the National Islamic Sisters’ Association (NISA) were presented with certificates at a graduation ceremony on Sunday at D’ Edward Village, West Coast Berbice, following the final session.

The two previous sessions were held in New Amsterdam and at Port Mourant, Corentyne respectively.

 

 

 

 

Black Bush robbery suspect held

Residents of Black Bush Polder (BBP), Berbice were relieved yesterday that wanted man, Vinod Gopaul, 24, who was said to have been involved in several robberies in the area was finally caught by police last evening.

A senior officer told Stabroek News that based on intelligence, his officers went on an operation and managed to arrest the suspect. Gopaul who had escaped from prison seven years ago, was said to be involved in the recent $1.7M robbery in BBP together with his brother, Krishendat ‘Apple Boy’ Seeram who was arrested and charged.

Meanwhile, the police are elated that they managed to catch two wanted men within 24 hours.

Rawle Victor of Sheet Anchor, Canje was held on Saturday.

Family had pleaded with ‘Popcorn’ to change his life

The family of Deodat ‘Popcorn’ Seecharran, 21, of Adelphi, East Canje, Berbice who was killed during a shoot-out with police had pleaded with him to change his life.

The family members who requested that their names not be used admitted that he was wrong and said they never agreed with what he did. They were sad that he met his demise before he had a chance to become a better person.

In an exclusive interview, Seecharran’s mother said the police called around 11 am on Monday and asked them to go to the mortuary to identify his body and to give statements.

Corentyne woman shot dead, sister injured

A 57-year-old woman was shot dead reportedly in execution-style at Fyrish, Corentyne, Berbice and her sister seriously injured when two men barged into their home around 10:30 pm on Friday.

Patricia Samaroo of Number 2 Road, Canje sustained a single gunshot wound to her head. Her sister, Annetta Samaroo, 45, was shot to her abdomen after she recognised one of the gunmen and shouted his name.

She was rushed to the New Amsterdam Hospital where she remains a patient. Patricia’s daughter,

Patricia Samaroo

Residents of Sandvoort, an agricultural village in West Canje, Berbice whose residents are close-knit, have been involved in self-help activities from the inception.

Reliving a part of the history, Thourald Sinclair, acting chairman of Sandvoort Village Co-op Society said “when the village was bought, residents worked together to build it.”

Recently, residents did the same to establish a library that was badly needed in the community, thanks to the help of Peace Corps volunteer, Matthew Cusimano.

A tractor parked along the roadway

Sandvoort residents’ library dream now a reality

For residents of Sandvoort, West Canje, establishing a library was always a dream which they felt would remain just that. But then that dream finally became a reality.

Feeling proud of their accomplishment, they stressed that it could not have happened without the input of Peace Corps volunteer, Matthew Cusimano.

The youth can hardly wait for the library to be officially opened by the end of this month although they still have had the opportunity to explore a few interesting books in the meantime.

Matthew Cusimano in the Sandvoort Library

Tight bandage may have resulted patient’s death after surgery

A Berbice man is claiming that a “too tight” bandage around the neck of his 27-year-old son was what caused his death after he underwent surgery for goitre at the New Amsterdam Hospital last month.

Suresh ‘Ajay’ Latchman of Canefield, East Canje, Berbice succumbed at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) where he had been transferred after he appeared to have complications following the surgery.

His father Latchman Rambarran, 54, said his son initially appeared fine when he came out of the theatre at the New Amsterdam Hospital on November 28 last. He subsequently complained that his throat was being squeezed.

Family homeless after house dismantled

A 50-year-old woman and her family are now homeless after their house at Adelphi, East Canje, Berbice was dismantled by persons who claimed that the land belonged to them.

On November 15, persons who had previously contested Farida Latiff’s ownership of the land turned up at the property with police and proceeded to dismantle her house, leaving her, along with her 15-year-old daughter Rosanna and 24-year-old son, Ameer who is visually impaired, homeless.

Farida Latiff and her daughter Rosanna stand near the materials from their dismantled home.

Professor Samad reapplies for job at UGBC

Former Director of the University of Guyana Berbice Campus (UGBC) at Tain, Professor Daizal Samad who recently tended his resignation, is ready to serve in that position again.

Dr Samad said he has reapplied for the job because he wants to continue the projects he had started. With this is mind he has postponed plans to return to Canada where he is a citizen.

Samad’s biggest dream is for the UGBC to have full autonomy and he had pushed feverishly for that. The professor said it is difficult to understand why UGBC has to be under the control of the Turkeyen campus, noting that not much can be achieved “if you’re bound hand and foot”.