Berserk man hacks two to death, injures two more

At the hands of a man assumed to be of unsound mind, 38-year-old Ann Cham-a-Koon of 60 Russell Street and 75-year-old Cedric Blackman of 57 Russell and Howes Streets are now dead.

The suspect was referred to by residents as ‘Brother Lyte’ or ‘Booy’ who according to the police is a 42-year-old, of Stevedore Squatting Area, Georgetown.

According to reports reaching this Blog, the incident started at the now deceased Cedric Blackman’s residents. The assailant was a family –friend of the Blackmans whose house he would frequent and have meal.

At around 07;00 hours yesterday, a neighbor who wished to remained anonymous indicated that he told Blackman to keep a close watch on the assailant since “He was operating odd”

He stated that shortly after he heard the assailant calling out for Blackman, “I tell this man don’t open the door and he still opened it …Mr. Blackman just sit down in the chair by de door and de next thing I heard is Mr. Blackman saying ‘Booy’ is wha happen to you”

Blackman’s relative said not long after he noticed a cutlass waving back and forth in the front door at which he then turned his attention at him, forcing him to flee the house.

After chopping two others in his pursuit, the assailant then turn his murderous passion upon Cham-a-Koon, chopping her until she fell on the streets, after walking away calmly as if nothing had happened.

The suspect is currently in police custody assisting with the investigations. Cham-a-Koon leaves to mourn two daughters Rabia Shakoor and eight-month-old Su-Lin Wallace.

New Consul General to Brazil appointed
- aims to forge greater bilateral relations with southern neighbour  

Minister of Foreign Affairs Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett has announced that Government had received the necessary agreements from the Brazil and as such, Mrs. Leila King will be appointed as the new Consul General.
            Her comments came while addressing media operatives during a press briefing in the Ministry’s boardroom.
            “On the occasion of the inauguration of the Takutu River Bridge, President Bharrat Jagdeo spoke about the upgrading of our representation in Boa Vista which for some time was served by an honorary consul. We had promise then to upgrade the embassy to a consulate general,” she said.
This, according to the Foreign Affairs Minister, is to further strengthen trade and bilateral relations with the Brazilian Government. Mrs. King is a Guyanese entrepreneur who has been a resident in Boa Vista for the last 20 years.
 The newly appointed consul general is very au fait with Brazil’s culture, and with the conduct of business; demonstrating a keen interest in developing relations between the two neighbouring countries.
King has been credited with the visits to Guyana, of several private sector representatives from Brazil, seeking to improve business relations between the two states.
The Foreign Minister pointed out that there is a partial verbal agreement with the neighbouring country, whereby some local products are allowed to enter Brazil on a preferential basis.
She explained that a request for expansion of the list has been approved from October 15.
“We have submitted to the Brazilian Government an additional list which included items such as flour, pharmaceutical and rum and I am very pleased to announce that Brazil has approved that list,” she added.
            The Minister reiterated that the initiative is definitely an expansion of trade relations with Brazil, noting that it is hoped that the private sector would make use of the opportunity that such a development will provide.
            This would now see 16 other tariff lines entering Brazil duty free.
Leila King is the Managing Director of Maikan Turismo, a tour company in Brazil.

Guyana to establish embassy in Kuwait

The Government of Guyana in an effort to strengthen greater ties and forge relations with countries in the Middle East will be establishing an embassy in the State of Kuwait, Minister of Foreign Affairs Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett told media operatives at a briefing recently at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
            Minister Rodrigues-Birkett said that the initiative stemmed from a visit by President Bharrat Jagdeo to Kuwait in January this year, during which two bilateral agreements were inked.
             The visit saw the signing of the encouragement and reciprocal protection of investment and the cultural and artistic cooperation agreements.
            “In light of all these developments and in keeping with our policy to improve trade relations with non-traditional partners I am pleased to announce that the Government has taken the decision to establish an embassy in Kuwait,” she stated.
            The necessary arrangements are currently being administered for the appointment of an ambassador and the establishment of the embassy.
            According to the Foreign Affairs Minister, Government is confident that with the establishment of the embassy, bilateral relations not only with Kuwait but, other countries in the Middle East will be further strengthened.
            The relationship between Guyana and Kuwait strengthened to the extent that Kuwait Prime Minister His Highness Sheikh Nasser Mohammed Al Ahmed Al-Jaber Al Sabah paid a visit to Guyana on July 19, 2010.
            The visit paved the way for several other agreements to be signed between the two Governments. These included a bilateral trade agreement, one for a technical and economic cooperation; another for the establishment of a joint commission for cooperation between the two Governments and an air services agreement.
The Prime Minister was accompanied by a high-level delegation including several members of the private sector in Kuwait.
               Guyana and Kuwait established diplomatic relations on August 17, 1995.

Guyana instrumental in securing Є 500M from EU negotiations
-in its capacity as chair of ACP

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett at a press conference at her Ministry’s boardroom On Monday, disclosed that preparations leading up to grand event when Guyana will be assuming chairmanship of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) on November 26, are on schedule.
            She said that the official visit of the Ecuador’s Foreign Minister, Ricardo Patino led to very successful deliberations and all arrangements are in place to have not only the summit but the foreign ministers’ meeting on November 25 and council of delegates on November 23 and 24 respectively.    
Apart from assuming the chair of UNASUR, Guyana is at present the chair of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States, which was assumed on August 01, for a period of six months.
            The ACP Group of States is a body comprising 79 developing countries from Africa, the Caribbean (CARICOM, Dominican Republic, Cuba and member states from the Pacific). This organisation was established through the Georgetown Agreement in 1975, where Guyana played a major role in its establishment.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett at the press conference at her Ministry’s boardroom

           “In our capacity as chair of the ACP, Guyana has been instrumental in the conclusion of negotiations with the European Union (EU) to secure a second tranche of  Є 500M for the 18 former sugar protocol countries and this would go from 2011 to 2013,” Minister Rodrigues-Birkett said.
            Guyana has also chaired the ACP consultative group on sugar and has initiated a study to look at the impact by loss of preferential treatment for ACP exports to Europe, on account of trade agreements that the EU has been concluding with countries in Latin and Central American countries.  
            The Foreign Minister said that, “we believe that this is necessary because we are told of the benefits of the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPA) and other markets are also opening and we need to see how it will impact on our markets.”
            Guyana will also be calling for consultations with the EU under Article 12 of the Cotonou Agreement and Article 42 of the CARIFORUM-EU Agreement to foster better economic partnerships.
            The Minister said that during Guyana’s chairmanship, focus will be placed on relations with the ACP and Brazil and China (developing south-south relationship). She explained that this is seen as a necessary step, because the ACP is not only about Guyana’s relations with the EU but rather, it is important to collaborate with other countries as well. 
To date, only the CARIFORUM member states have signed EPA with the EU, several other countries have signed only interim agreements while others have signed none at all.
Minister Rodrigues-Birkett said that this is because of the many difficulties that have been encountered by the ACP Group of States.
“Fundamental to the discussions is the request by most of the other groupings to have the five-year review, as included in the CARFORUM EPA, this was a provision that Guyana also fought for,” she said.
Another issue that will be raised by Guyana with its European counterparts is access to the European Development Fund (EDF).
She explained that many times there are bureaucratic hurdles in accessing this fund and it is hoped that by way of closer working relations, objective external assessments and the need to appreciate Guyana’s policies and realities, these difficulties will be surmounted.

Guyana receives great attention at Shanghai World EXPO

Guyana is showcased among 240 countries and organisations worldwide at the World Expo hosted in Shanghai, China this year.
            Guyana’s booth at the expo continues to attract considerable interest with its captivating display of the country’s unique offerings. The country’s participation is seen as a great opportunity to showcase its offerings to the world and to further strengthen bilateral ties between Guyana and China.

Display of replicas of important buildings around Georgetown

           According to a press release by the Caricom Secretariat, President Jagdeo said that, “China is the future and through our alliances with China we too become a part of the future: a future of scientific and technological excellence and cross-cultural dialogue which will be pivotal to our human development”.
            Guyana’s booth was crafted under the theme, “One people, One Nation, One Destiny”, by Guyanese designer John Fernandes with the guidance of the Ministry of Tourism Industry and Commerce. This was excellently portrayed with a tunnel showcasing the distinctive history of Guyana’s six races.

Visitors in the Guyana Booth

The booth was divided into three sections:  The Amazon Adventure, featuring Guyana’s rich biodiversity and landscapes; Better City, Better Life; featuring historical buildings and other hotspots in Georgetown; and Industries driving the economy such as agriculture, mining and fishing.
Replicas of Amerindian huts and canoes showcasing the lifestyle of the Indigenous people were also displayed along with products of Guyana such as Indi Garam Masala and Curry Powder, Demerara Gold, and a variety of El Dorado rums.
Much interest was generated by Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy, which had a specific wall designated to highlight President Jagdeo’s great work. It has attracted the attention of many environmentalists worldwide.
Guyana is being commended by many visitors for having the best booth and the visitors were also given the opportunity to win prizes through question and answer.  Among the items to be won were; bags, T-shirts, DVDS and lapel pins.

Visitors inside the tunnel displaying the six races

Guyana gained immense attention and popularity as China Central Television (CCTV), the Expo Daily Newspaper and the Shanghai Morning Post Newspaper all carried features of Guyana.
The purpose of the World Expo is to promote the exchange of ideas and development of the world economy, culture, science and technology but most importantly to serve as a meeting ground for countries worldwide to display their achievements and improve and foster foreign relations.
The event began on May, and will conclude on October 31.  According to the Expo Bureau, an estimated 70 million people are expected to visit.
The world expo is 150 years old and for the first time ever is held in a developing country.