Fire gutted a home at Mahdia

-suspected arsonist on the run

Four people are now homeless after a midnight fire yesterday which completely gutted a two-story house at Seven Miles, Mahdia, Potaro.

            At the time of the fire the building was occupied by Shondell Perry who lived in the upper flat; Sharon Paul her son Jeremiah Paul and her reputed husband Wilbert Scotland, who occupied the bottom flat.

            According to sources from the area, after midnight Perry and her fiancé Gavin Doughlas of David Rose Street Bogotsville had an argument, during which Perry went into the home and refused to open the door; despite numerous attempts by Douglas.

            It was alleged that Douglas, then left the home but returned soon after and began calling for Perry to again open the door. He was then seen pouring a liquid substance believed to be (kerosene), on the building before setting it alight.

            Up to press time, the police are still trying to locate Douglas who is currently on the run.     

Agriculture Minister visits Moruca- to look at other interventions to assure food security

By Erika Haag-Tularam

Farmers of Moruca an Amerindian Village located in the North West District, Region One, were given the opportunity to interact with Agriculture Minister, Robert Persaud and Director of National Agriculture Research Institute (NARI), Dr. Oudho Homenauth, at a farmers’ meeting today.
            The interactive session which was held at the Kumaka Agriculture Extension Centre, Moruca, dealt with issues such as access to market, vaccination of broiler chicks and need for more drainage and irrigation tools; while request was also made for the planting of turmeric, rice and assistance with aquaculture.
            Minister Persaud while addressing the gathering said that the visit was to look at additional interventions and support that can be given to the community to ensure food security is sustained.
“For us hinterland food security is of primary concern and all of our programmes we are aiming to improve food security but also we are looking at how it is we can support you our farmers in becoming much more competitive, so that your farming activities can expand,” he said.


Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud addresses farmers at the Kumaka Agriculture Extension Centre, Moruca

Region One, has over the years been receiving much attention from Government, through a collaborative effort by the Ministries of Agriculture and Amerindian affairs. The sustainable livelihood programme is also another means of developing agricultural activities on a commercial basis.
Farmers have been receiving significant attention with the distribution of spray pumps, planting materials, acoushi ants bait and chemicals, and interventions such as the provision of livestock (genetic) support were also given.
Minister Persaud said that efforts are also being made to develop new crops that can withstand perishability, since the shelf life of crops have been a major issue, as it relates to transport of produce for market purposes.  
            Turmeric, ginger, nutmeg and black pepper are the targeted new crops and are currently in high demand.
            “If we can develop these in a large scale, because you can have turmeric 4-5 months and it will not damage; and because of your geographical location it would require you moving from one location, it can withstand that kind of rigour,” the Minister posited.
            Support will also be given as it relates to processing, since it can help to create another industry.
            The issue of extension services is also high on the Ministry’s agenda and according to the subject Minister it is important. Two additional extension staff will be added to complement to two others currently servicing the area.
            An All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV), boat and engine were made available to facilitate the extension officers’ visits to riverain areas.
              Minister Persaud indicated that Government has expended approximately $1.5M over the last months, to ramp up the capability of services offered to farmers. Training of farmers will also be given in this regard; since the Ministry cannot afford to have a officer stationed in each village.
            He said sound-agriculture enterprises will also be developed to deal effectively with handling and marketing of produce, noting that, “We don’t want you to forever remain as farmers, but to be agriculture entrepreneur, so that you can manage your business. We need you to work with us to do this as a partnership.”


Farmers at the Kumaka Agriculture Extension Centre, Moruca

            In developing the livestock sector in the area, a vet is currently stationed in the area to give support to farmers at it relates to proper husbandry.
             The Agriculture Minister also came in for high support from farmers as it relates to the support given by his Ministry in the livestock sector, noting that it will succeed in attaining food security, to supply the Caribbean and beyond.
            Minister Persaud also committed to deploying an excavator to the areas to assist in digging ponds for Aquaculture purposes farms while training will be conducted with farmers to effectively deal with the trade.
Cutlass, shovels, hoes, axes, chemicals and ant baits were also donated to the farmers.

Minister Persaud donates cassava mill to Wauna Women’s group
-during farmers meeting
By Erika Haag-Tularam

Residents of Mabaruma, Region One whose livelihood were affected due to the recent spring tide were today given an opportunity to interact with Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud, during a farmers’ meeting at the Agriculture Extension Centre, Mabaruma.
            He also took the opportunity to hand over a $750,000 cassava mill that will be serving satellite communities in the area; to reduce labour intensive tasks and improve their living conditions.
            The Minister was accompanied by Director of the National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI), Dr. Oudho Homenauth, Regional Chairman, Fermin Singh and Deputy Permanent Secretary (Admin), Ministry of Agriculture, George Jarvis.
              Minister Persaud while delivering remarks said that Government has been placing significant emphasis on agriculture in diversifying the base.
            As such, an excavator was handed over to the region to deal effectively with emergency drainage works in making farms more resilient.


Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud (second from left), flanked by Director of National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI), Dr. Oudho Homenauth, Regional Chairman, Fermin Singh and Deputy Permanent Secretary (Admin), Ministry of Agriculture, George Jarvis, during farmers’ meeting at the Agriculture Extension Centre, Mabaruma

            “It has been an ongoing effort by our Government; but as we make progress in this regard there will be difficulties and there will be new challenges…we have to be much more prepared for climate change.”
             “Throughout our country we will continue to deal with the erratic weather that is taking place. But we also have to look to working with farmers, look at how we can make our farming activities, climate resilient,” he said.
            To respond and deal effectively with the challenges, the Ministry of Agriculture will be looking at a three-pronged approach. This will see emphasis being placed on assistance to get farmers back to the land, lift and repair areas where spring tide caused flooding and identify areas where new farming can commence.


Attendees during farmers meeting at the Agriculture Extension Centre, Mabaruma.

             As such, Minister Persaud committed to sending an engineer and an excavator to determine the areas and commence D&I work, to have a combined approach to help restore damaged areas.  
            “There should be no preference as it relates to small or large farmers. We want to help every farmer so we have outlined three areas of assistance,” he said.
            An assessment has been conducted by the agriculture staff, identifying planting materials needed. Minister Persaud also indicated that a wider block of land will be developed in higher areas and then allocated to farmers.
Representatives of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), will also meet with farmers who desire to start planting rice.

18 year-old mother allegedly dumps baby in pit latrine


An eighteen year old Parika Facade resident is now in Police custody after the decomposed body of her 8 month daughter was retrieved from a pit latrine in the yard behind her house. The baby is suspected to have been killed sometime on Monday and then wrapped in a sheet, towel and then a hammock and placed in the latrine pit.

The woman who is originally from Lethem is named Sattie. The Police was called in after neighbors did not see the woman with the baby. When questioned as to the baby's wherabouts she gave conflicting reports. "Sattie said she gave away the baby in one instance and her sister from Lethem took the baby with her," in another instance the neighbour reported. A neighbor told Guyana Times that the baby normally cries alot. She was born without an anus and suffered from a number of ailments. The child used to excrete through a tube on the side of her stomach.

When asked, neighbours said the young mother never showed any signs of frustration and they were baffled as to why she would harm the child. At the time of the incident, the sister in law of the accused related that her brother was not the father of the child but he "took up," with the girl after they met while her daughter was in hospital. The sister-in-law related that her brother felt sorry for Sattie and took her in. However since going to the interior to work, neighbours have reported that Sattie is a regular at going out at nights and leaving the baby at home. This prompted them to check for the baby after they heard no sound from the house. 

Neighbours believed she was lying after the two conflicting reports and called in the Police. A Post Mortem examination of the baby is to be performed on the remains to determine the cause of death and an according charge will be issued if the child was killed.

Meanwhile, the Guyana Police Force has since refuted claims in some sections of the media, which claimed that the teen mother has since confessed to killing her eight-month old child.