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‘I was kidnapped, robbed, shot and left for dead’ by taxi driver based at popular city hotel – Venezuelan woman Jul 13, 2024 News An x-ray showing the bullet still lodged in the woman’s body Kaieteur News – A Venezuelan woman on Wednesday recounted throwing herself into some bushes aback of Diamond, East Bank Demerara (EBD) on a rainy night after a taxi driver based at a popular city hotel allegedly kidnapped, robbed, shot and left her for dead. The woman, identified as 29-year-old Diana Danello, a mother of one said that the gruesome attempt on her life took place during the evening hours of April 10. Although three months has passed, the bullet is still lodged in the woman’s body. An x-ray seen by Kaieteur News shows that the bullet is lodged in the woman’s back in a region close to her spine. Danello was reportedly robbed of $300,000 cash and an iPhone 15 Pro Max by the taxi driver she trusted. The matter was reported at the Diamond Police Station but the suspect was never arrested and remains on the job at the city hotel. “I gave them his number, a photo of his car and even the location of his workplace and the location where I last tracked my iPhone and told them that the hotel have cameras that could show them when he picked me up from the hotel but they did nothing (translated from Spanish),” the woman said before adding that every time she asked for an update, the investigators would tell her that they are still verifying to see if the information she gave them checked out. The taxi driver’s SUV in the hotel’s parking lot “They (the detectives) were more concerned about my personal life, about what I was doing and who I was with at the hotel and even tried to blackmail me. They asked me questions that had nothing to do with the case (translated from Spanish),” the Venezuelan woman alleged. As a result, the woman said was forced to flee Guyana and return to Venezuela because she was fearful for her life and relives the trauma each day. The woman said it was best for her to leave Guyana since the suspect is free and could possibly locate her and try to kill her. However, after reading the news, that Evelyn Alves better known as Fabiana Betancourt, a Venezuelan woman was found shot dead on Sunday at Diamond, she decided to publicise her story. According to Danello, although Alves’ murderer might not be same man who tried to kill her in April, she believes staying silent could result in the loss of life for other women in vulnerable situations. Recounting the night of April 10 Asked to recount the events of April 10, Danello said that night she had planned to party so she stacked on cash and left her home. Her first stop was at the popular hotel  for dinner.  She then left the hotel in the taxi driver’s SUV. She told Kaieteur News that it was not the first time she travelled with the taxi driver because she frequents the hotel. “He was always neatly dressed and acted in a professional manner (translated from Spanish),” the woman said while relating that, she trusted the taxi base at the hotel because it was like an executive service. On April 10, however, the taxi driver reportedly turned into a monster. Instead of taking her to her destination, he locked the woman in and drove her at gunpoint to a lonely area aback of Diamond and turned off his car lights. Upon their arrival there, he reportedly held her at gunpoint and demanded that she hand over her purse and other valuables. Danello claimed that she had told him to take what he wants but spare her life. He took the purse which had her house keys, the cash, her ID card and some other documents along with her phone but according to the woman, it seemed as if he had no intention of letting her leave alive because he tried shooting her to the head. Diana Cabello in April recovering from injuries at a hospital “El trata de dispararme, para matarme verdad, o sea, el me disparo verdad como dos tres cuatro veces con la pistola pero no salio nada la pistola hizo (imitates the sound the gun made) (He tried to shoot me to kill me right … he tried shoot like two, three, four times but nothing came out, the gun made (imitates the sound that the gun made)”, she told Kaieteur News. It could be that the gun had jammed but the woman said that she believed at the time that it did not have any bullets. Instead of letting her go, the suspect tried to strangle her with a belt. “El agarro y quito la correa y me intento ahorcar y bueno dios me dio fuerza y pelee con el, le di unas patadas en las bolas (He held and took off his belt and tried to strangle me but God gave me strength and I fought with him, I give him some kicks in the balls,” she recounted. While she fought for her life, she also received some blows to her body. The most painful she said was to her breasts because a surgery was performed on them. During the fight for survival, the taxi driver reportedly lost a chain which he was wearing and for a few seconds, let go of her to look for it. She recalled that he asked her where the chain was and it was that moment that she was able to escape his grip and exited the car into the pouring rain. She recounted running a short distance away when the taxi driver told her that he was going to kill her because she knows his face and where he works. It was at this point that man reportedly drew his gun again and shot at her. This time the gun went off and she ran for her life. She claimed that at the time, she did not know she was hit but it occurred to her that she might be unable to escape him. “Yo me tire pa el monte (I threw myself in some bushes),” the Venezuelan woman said as she recalled seeing the taxi driver exiting the SUV with a torchlight and searching around the area. She reportedly remained still in the bushes until he re-entered the vehicle and left. She then got up and walked in the pouring rain until she met a man selling at a small stand along the road. There she asked for help but the man said he had no cell phone to give her a call but advised her to wait until the rain was over for him to take her to a hospital. Fearful that he too might harm her, she continued to walk in the rain. Cars passed by, she said, but she was reluctant to accept any help from the drivers. One man, however, stopped and identified himself as a policeman. “Y me llevo a la (Diamond) police station (and he carried me to the police station)”. She said that when she arrived there, she realized that the attempt on her life took place in close proximity to the police station. After seeing her condition, she was advised to go to a hospital. The policeman who picked her up took her to the closest hospital and she was admitted. The other injuries she sustained during the robbery There she learnt that a bullet entered one of her arms and was lodged in her back. Doctors were unable to remove the warhead. She had also sustained a fractured rib from the blows she received. Detectives subsequently took a statement from her. When she was well enough to be discharged, she returned to the Diamond Police Station to give an official statement.  She recalled that the police did all the preliminary investigations and had even taken her back to the scene but days passed and it seemed as if the investigators were no longer interested in the case. Tired of the run-around and fearful for her life, Danello returned to Venezuela. Kaieteur News contacted the police for an update but calls and WhatsApp messages went unanswered.  However, this publication confirmed that the suspect, as identified by Danello, was indeed still working at the city hotel but did not show up for work for two days. His co-workers said they do not know where he is. The SUV he reportedly used on the night to allegedly kidnap and rob the Venezuelan woman was seen parked in the hotel’s parking lot. Coincidently, the suspect disappeared shortly after the Venezuelan woman made a Facebook post about her story. Calls to his mobile phone were forwarded to his voicemail. Related Similar Articles

Govt. will be cautious of further action against Mohameds in absence of evidence – Minister Benn Jul 13, 2024 News Kaieteur News – Despite already taking action against Guyanese billionaire Nazar Mohamed and his son, Azruddin Mohamed based on the sanctions imposed by the United States, the Government of Guyana (GoG) is not expected to take any further action until suitable evidence is received from the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn On June 11, the OFAC imposed sanctions on the Mohameds for a series of corruption – including gold smuggling and the Permanent Secretary (PS) for the Ministry of Labour, Mae Thomas for allegedly misusing her position to offer benefits, like government contracts to the Mohameds. Recently, the government made its official request for the information in relation to the allegations. On Friday, Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn told reporters that the government will not take any further action in the absence of the evidence. He said, “We will make decisions based on information that we have…We have to be careful to make practical responses to issues. It couldn’t be, in any event, while reviews are ongoing, we don’t precipitate actions that will put people at risk.” Moreover, President Irfaan Ali was already questioned on what legal basis the government revoked the Mohameds Cambio licence some 48 hours after the sanctions were announced, especially in light of the absence of information from the US. “The Bank of Guyana is the regulatory agency in relation to the granting of Cambio licence. They act based on their regulations and what is expected of them,” Ali had said. According to the OFAC, the Mohameds allegedly evaded tax on gold exports and defrauded the Guyanese government of tax revenues by under-declaring their gold exports to Guyanese authorities.  “Between 2019 and 2023, Mohamed’s Enterprise omitted more than 10 thousand kilograms of gold from import and export declarations and avoided paying more than US$50 million in duty taxes to the Government of Guyana,” the US Treasury alleged. Government official Thomas has already been sent on leave pending the investigation. In exchange for cash payments and high-value gifts, it was stated that Thomas misused her position, while as PS for the Ministry of Home Affairs to influence the award of official contract bids and the approval processes for weapons’ permits and passports on behalf of Mohamed’s Enterprise. While the department only named and sanctioned Thomas, it was stated that other government officials are complicit for accepting bribes and giving the Mohamed’s favourable treatment. “In return, corrupt officials receive cash and gifts for incidents that are overlooked. Additionally, Mohamed’s Enterprise has paid bribes to corrupt Guyanese government officials to facilitate the award of government contracts,” the OFAC alleged. Related Similar Articles

Football coach, 9-year-old grandson die in horrific highway crash Jul 13, 2024 News, Sports Scenes from the horrific accident Kaieteur News – A former national footballer and football coach and his 9-year-old grandson were killed in a horrific Friday afternoon smash-up along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway, while others were injured. Dead: Carlyle Hunte Dead are Carlye Hunte and Malique Roberts from the mining town of Linden. The 9-year-old child that lost his life in the accident It is unclear how many persons have been injured in the accident. However, reports are that Hunte’s two other grandchildren survived the accident and were rushed to the Mackenzie Hospital in Linden. Kaieteur News understands that Hunte, at the time of the accident, was driving a dark blue car and was reportedly heading to Linden from Georgetown. He was accompanied by his three grandchildren. The car he was driving reportedly collided with a lorry that was transporting logs from Linden. Videos of the aftermath showed the car’s engine along with other debris scattered along the highway. Witnesses were heard saying that Hunte lost control of the car causing it to crash into the lorry and then flipped several times along the highway before coming to a halt. The videos showed that the car was completely destroyed while the front of the lorry was damaged. It is unclear whether the driver of the lorry was injured. At the gruesome scene, the loud wails of relatives were heard as news spread of the accident. Related Similar Articles

Natural Resources Minister denies being questioned by U.S. Federal Agents Jul 13, 2024 News Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat – was extended courtesy-Min Benn Kaieteur News – Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat on Friday denied allegations that he was questioned by the United States (US) Federal Agents, on arrival at the John F. Kennedy (JFK) International Airport. News of Minister Bharrat’s alleged detention by the U.S. authorities surfaced on social media and quickly spread. Contact was made to the minister who directed this publication to a Demerara Waves article which quoted him as denying the allegations and stating that “it was courtesies being extended to expedite clearing. I was not detained or interrogated”. Bharrat told Demerara Waves that he traveled to New York for an emergency because his father was hospitalized. In the article, he described the Facebook post made by veteran journalist Enrico Woolford as “mischievous”. The Minister did not directly respond to any of the questions posed by this newspaper. Similarly, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Gail Teixeira referred the Kaieteur News to the aforementioned article. Further, contact was made with Home Affairs Minister, Roberson Benn who told this newspaper that Minister Bharrat was not interrogated by the U.S. authorities but was extended courtesy. “The reports are not true and I spoke about it at the Police Award Ceremony this morning. My information is that it is not true alright. I have gone to the United States and I have been accompanied by protocol people and security people as Minister of Home Affairs. So I don’t know what arrangement they have in place but it has clearly been identified as not being a true characterization,” Benn said. The Home Affairs Minister who appeared agitated by the question said, “As far as I am concerned, that is the end of the matter unless there is something else that you have alright.” A few hours after Woolford’s post, Bharrat posted to his Facebook page a picture of himself outside a hospital, as well as one of himself and his mother outside the hospital and a separate picture of his day and he captioned the photos,” Best wishes to my father for a speedy recovery…you have always been a fighter and our strength. Special thanks to the US Authorities for the kind courtesies and professionalism.” Meanwhile, Minister Bharrat through his attorney, Sanjeev Datadin has written to Woolford calling on him to “issue a clear, unqualified and unconditional apology and retraction in a form, manner and terms to be agreed on or before the 14th July 2024 at 2p.m.” Further, the attorney said that having regard to “the gravity of the false allegations and the audience to which you circulated your Facebook post, my client is clearly entitled to substantial compensation and reasonable legal costs, in addition to an apology.” The letter further stated that, “Consequently, in addition to a draft of a clear and unqualified apology, I am obliged to ask you to submit your proposal as to damages and costs. Failing a satisfactory reply by the date and time stipulated above, I am instructed to issue a legal proceeding against you personally. In the meantime, my client reserves all his rights. I recommend that, it is in your best interest to seek legal advice in relation to this correspondence and to be guided by that advice.” Related Similar Articles

Oil spill law still on Govt.’s agenda before Parliamentary recess – Minister Teixeira Jul 13, 2024 News Kaieteur News – With less than a month remaining before the National Assembly goes into recess, the Government of Guyana is still aiming to pass a key piece of legislation, an Oil Spill Act, to ensure the country is protected during the transportation of crude oil. Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira in an interview with Kaieteur News earlier this week explained that the draft Bill is with the Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Anil Nandlall S.C as the objective is to present it to the House before the Parliamentary recess on August 10. She said, “We have quite a lot of Bills to try to bring before we go into recess and that is one of them that is still in draft but is not ready yet for Parliament.” Asked whether the law could still be passed before the recess, Teixeira explained, “Yeah, we have a number of Bills, we have to pass before recess. There are some that will have to layover to October and we’ll have to make judgments based on the urgency or the requirements. The oil spill one is one that has many interests and so I’m sure that once it’s ready and it has passed the Cabinet review and it fulfills what we want it to, then it will be tabled.” Moreover, she made it clear that the House can push the Bill through one Sitting if there is an urgency to do so, as the Standing Orders permit this. Government has been accused in the past of rushing through key pieces of legislation to manage the burgeoning petroleum sector. In 2021, the government moved to the National Assembly on December 16 to table the National Resources Fund (NRF) Bill to manage the country’s oil money. That Bill was later debated and passed in the House on December 29. The government ignored calls for the Bill to be sent to a special select committee to scrutinize and refine the proposed law. This led to the famous ‘Mace’ episode in the National Assembly that later triggered a Court matter on the validity of the passage of the Act. The new Oil Spill Law according to Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo will cover Guyana from “all sorts of liabilities”. He explained, “We have been working to have legislation in place, and those will come probably before the next recess to cover all sorts of liabilities. A law in place like they have in the US and some other countries that will cover also transportation because we have more crude being transported in our jurisdiction so it’s not just liabilities of the oil companies but transport companies, etcetera and that’s been in the works a long time so that we can protect this country.” The updated Petroleum Activities Act passed in the National Assembly in August last year does not address such events. Presently, Guyana is producing more than 640,000 barrels of oil per day in the prolific Stabroek Block, operated by US oil major, ExxonMobil. Related Similar Articles

Restorative Justice Units to be established throughout the country – AG Jul 13, 2024 News AG Nandlall makes a point on the second day of the Conference on Criminal Justice Reform at the Marriott Hotel in Kingston, Georgetown. Kaieteur News – Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall SC announced on Wednesday that restorative justice units will be established throughout the country. The AG was at the time addressing judges, magistrates and other judicial officers on the second day of the Conference on Criminal Justice Reform at the Marriott Hotel in Kingston, Georgetown.  During the session, AG Nandlall underscored the importance of the mechanism in conflict resolution. He noted that restorative Justice is an alternative approach that seeks to repair harm by providing opportunities for the victim and perpetrator to communicate about and address their needs in the aftermath, in a way that promotes healing, accountability, and understanding.  According to Nandlall, although restorative justice is now being introduced formally into the legal systems of the Caribbean, “forms of dispute resolution mechanism existed within our communities dating back several generations.” “[They existed] in particular, in our rural communities. In these communities, they were always community leaders, most times the elders, who would mediate disputes and attempt to reconcile differences arising between persons in the communities. For example, in the Indo-Guyanese community, there was the Panchayat system which is a mechanism for the peaceful settlement of disputes, inherited from India. A similar system existed in the Afro-Guyanese community with elders, religious leaders and community leaders presiding. The same has always obtained in the Amerindian communities with the Toshao or village captain and a council of leaders or councillors playing that role,” the AG pointed out. He noted that the Government has already taken steps to establish within the criminal justice system, units with Probation Departments located across the country. The AG explained that the Probation Departments hold a strategic place in the establishment of the restorative justice unit since, the departments fall under the Ministry of Human Services.   He explained that the Probation Departments enjoy a functional relationship with the court systems across the country, in particular, the Magistrates’ Court. “In collaboration with that Ministry, I am in the process of attaching a Restorative Justice Unit within each Probation Department situated across the length and breadth of Guyana…Each Probation Department will also offer restorative justice services. There are striking similarities between restorative justice and the services offered by probation officers. So I hope that there will be great synergy in the delivery of these services,” Nandlall announced. He continued: “Through our religious leaders and teachers, we plan to introduce forms of restorative justice into the school system… In the hinterland regions of our country, we have trained Toshaos who are the leaders in the Amerindian communities. We have also trained a cadre of trainers who are certified and qualified to continue these training programmes.” Admittedly however, the AG said there is a need for more public education and public awareness to promote the concept. “Those manning the legal system must also encourage the process,” Nandlall said. It is against this backdrop that the Legal Affairs Minister said that a number of training sessions to prepare the system in Guyana to administer and apply restorative justice have been held. The training targeted judges, magistrates, prosecutors, police officers, prison officers, probation officers and community leaders across all the Regions of Guyana. In terms of implementation, the AG asserted Guyana is a vast country with the bulk of its population living along the coast. He noted however, a significant portion of the population also reside in far flung communities in our hinterland regions. “Implementing restorative justice across the country is therefore a massive undertaking,” the AG outlined. Related Similar Articles