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The two youngsters, who were shot in an execution attempt in Sparendaam, East Coast Demerara on Saturday, are currently under police protection at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).
Giovani Leitch, called ‘Jo Jo’, who received several gunshot wounds to his upper body, is a patient in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The 21-year-old’s spine, intestines and liver are damaged.
Meanwhile, 22-year-old, Devon Agard, called ‘Chucky’, who was shot in the abdomen, is recovering in the Male Surgical Ward. His condition is listed as stable.
Yesterday, when Kaieteur News visited Agard at the hospital, he was surrounded by his loved ones. Agard is responsive but is feeling weak. He is unable to speak about the ordeal.
On Saturday afternoon, Agard and Leitch were shot in an execution attempt on North Slip Street, Sparendaam. Their perpetrators, who were described as a “Rasta man and a Red guy,” ran onto West Road before heading to the Railway Embankment where their getaway car was waiting.
According to Leitch’s aunt, Jean Brown, eyewitnesses have provided the licence plate number of the getaway car. The police were informed and have since been making efforts to track down the owner of the vehicle.
Brown added that a description of the perpetrators was also given to the police.
She has refuted earlier claims that the Tucville resident was involved in a robbery. Brown noted that the person, who spoke extensively about the victim having bad blood with his attackers over a robbery, is unaware of the facts.

Police searching the scene at North Slip Street, Sparendaam

She asserted that her nephew is a mason and is currently employed and therefore has no reason to snatch anyone’s chain.
Though, Agard and Leitch were both shot, all indications are that Leitch was the target. According to eyewitnesses, the perpetrator shot Leitch, kicked him in the face and shot him again.
Brown related that relatives are baffled as to why anyone would want to hurt him.
“The boys are friends from since school days but Agard (Chucky) says he does not recognise the shooters,” she noted.
According to a source, the police are looking for a man who resides in Campbellville to assist with investigations.

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Phagwah Day murder…

-   was inmate at Salvation Army Rehab Centre

Kevin Ally, the man who fatally stabbed 41-year-old Nassair Ghani on Phagwah Day, has blamed his “mental condition” for his actions.
Ally, who was an inmate of the Salvation Army Drug Rehab Center for almost two years, said that he was “highly annoyed” when some children tried to pour water on him on Phagwah day. Ally is chained to a bed at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GHPC), where he is receiving treatment for wounds he sustained from a beating at the scene of the stabbing.
He recalled walking through Carmichael Street, when a few children tried to throw water on him.
“I was in control and I tell them ‘no, no y’all don’t throw water on me.’ They keep provoking me and start pelting me with bricks.”
The accused who admitted that he is the nephew of the late President Cheddi Jagan, told this newspaper that he has been a drug addict for 13-years.
But on Phagwah day, he “lost it” when the children started to pelt him with bricks and teased him.
He lamented that he spoke in a rude tone to the children, causing two carpenters, who were working on a nearby building, to approach.
According to Ally one of the men asked “Why you talking to the children so fah?”
Ally said while he was complaining to one of the carpenters about the children’s behavior, a child approached him with a bucket of water.
“The carpenter tek that water and throw it on me and I run up to him with my two empty hands but he pulled out a knife on me.”
The mentally challenged man said the carpenter attacked him and they had a “little hand scuffle”.
He claimed that Ghani had a knife in his possession.

Kevin Ally in hospital yesterday.

Ally claimed that he eventually managed to twist Ghani’s hand causing the knife to pierce his body.
“After that I run away but two man start fah follow me and start beating me.”
Ally was subsequently captured and handed over to the police.
Ghani eventually succumbed on his way to the hospital. Ally is expected to be placed before the court on a murder charge as soon as he is discharged from hospital.

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By Gary Eleazar

A few years ago former President Bharat Jagdeo gave me what I have since liked to call a crash course in economics 101 when it comes to external factors affecting the local economy, and had drawn reference to the Guyana/Suriname Backtrack route.
This past weekend I had a practical example of how the backtracking route really operates and it struck me as quite ridiculous calling it backtrack when perhaps the only missing item is a stamp for exit and entry into either country.
Let me start at the beginning, first, to say how I learnt of the backtrack route and, further, was compelled to use it.
I am not one to miss a return plane flight to Guyana.
Guyana is not the easiest of places in the world to live but as long as I am guaranteed a return airfare I am not one to be keen on missing it for I love my homeland.
I left Guyana by aircraft on Wednesday last to cover the 23rd CARICOM intercessional meeting in neighboring Suriname.
That flight to Suriname lasted just about 90 minutes. The conference lasted two days.
Following the completion of my assignment on Friday, I eagerly packed my belongings, had dinner, watched some television and it was off to bed in anticipation of my one and a half hours flight home.
Anybody who knows me would know that I am not a morning person but, like I said, I really am not too keen on missing a return flight home; so I hopped in a taxi from my hotel at 06:00hrs, and told the Dutch-speaking driver “Airport!”
My check-in time was 06:30hrs, so when it got to 06:45hrs and I still did not reach the airport, I asked the driver how much longer we had, and to my amazement, he replied in the few English words he knew, “half hour more.”
As much as I am not au-fait with the route to the Zorg en Hoop Airport, given that it was my first visit to the Dutch-speaking nation, I knew we couldn’t possibly be heading in the right direction because the ride from the airport to my hotel had only lasted about 20 minutes when I arrived in Suriname last Wednesday.
I hastily enquired “which airport?” and he said “Big one…I take you to the big airport.”
Now there is no possible way the airport that I had landed on when I arrived and was scheduled to return from can be considered a “big one”, so I immediately shouted “no the small one.”
Long story short, I reached the correct airport only in time for the exact Trans Guyana plane, which had taken me to Suriname, to be refueled and loaded with luggage.
By this time I was late and could not board the flight and the next available flight was on Tuesday.
I couldn’t wait until tomorrow so I headed back into town in search of a fellow journalist from Suriname who immediately told me that my only option to return home the same day was via the back track route.
He said that there is the ferry service at Nickerie but he was quite certain I wouldn’t reach in time because the final vessel destined for Guyana on Saturday last was at 13:00hrs and I was still in Paramaribo with no hope of reaching in time to get that ferry. But I desperately wanted to reach home.
Enter backtracking
So my journalist colleague arranged for a car to take me to Nickerie from Paramaribo, which at best is about, a four-hour drive.
I had no idea what backtrack involved so I had no idea what to prepare for but this was not enough to daunt me.
When I got to Nickerie I was shocked to say the least at the arrangement in place to facilitate the backtrack business; it was almost as if it was a legal point of entry and exit.

Heading to Nickerie, Suriname backtrack

At most International ports of entry and exit there is always the ‘Red Cap’ service and the Nickerie backtrack terminal was no different.
As soon as I got out of the taxi I realised that there was another version of ‘Red Cap Service’ but this one I would aptly term the ‘barefoot service.’
A gang of well-dressed young men, minus any footwear, asked in plain English if I would like to have my bags carried, and I said “no” given it was my first time at the location and was a bit apprehensive.
Another asked me if I wanted him to “carry me” and I couldn’t for the love of me understand what on earth he was talking about.
I saw no boat. I saw a seawall, which had a sprawling volleyball court and a large religious edifice. I saw a well painted and neatly built stairway to take me over the sea wall so I knew that there was a boat close by.
I saw a well established shop and there were even a few not so shabbily built waiting areas complete with sheds but the boat was not ready and I waited.
Soon enough (eight) persons had arrived with their various pieces of luggage and I proceeded over the seawall towards where the boat was, to make my way home.
I paid my fare for the service and then I understood what the young men meant by carrying me.

Approaching the pier where the Guyana ‘barefoot service’ awaits

I looked at a medium built boy, no more than 19 years, carrying a full figured woman across the mud beach and then placing her into a boat.
I had no problem walking through some mud, so I removed my sneakers and boarded the tiny 20 foot speedboat/vessel where the life jacket was optional.
I watched as the various teams of young men loaded the boat with people and boxes and large bags of “whatever” the people were “smuggling” back to Guyana, and we were off.
Guyana backtrack Customs
As we crossed the Corentyne River back into Guyana I could clearly see why this was such a dangerous ride.
I wore my life jacket but those who appeared to be seasoned travelers opted against it.
One woman used crutches and she monitored every move the young men made with her bags, while others were well-dressed and some were a little rugged.
Nonetheless across the rough murky waters of the Corentyne River we went, sometimes at a snail’s pace to accommodate the large waves.
As I saw the Guyana bank of the Corentyne River, I was elated; “a few more hours and I am home,” I thought to myself.
As we got to the pier, there was the Guyana version of the ‘barefoot service” to assist persons getting out of the boat, taking their bags and getting them into a taxi, “all of course, for a fee.”
It was at this point that I got one of the heartiest laughs I have ever had-but I had to hold it in.
As I got off the pier, I placed my small suitcase on what seemed to me like a bench and I was about to take a seat when a neatly dressed man walked up and exclaimed “Customs”, at which point he asked that the bags be opened.
All I could think of was “really!! Customs checking at the backtrack terminal to see if anything was being smuggled in?”
But it soon became clear why the Customs Officer was there.
He was supposed to be carrying out legitimate duties but to me, he was only there to take his cut and I must say that those persons smuggling items seemed only too willing to oblige.
Soon, two genuine police ranks in Police-issued Fujiwara Boots, pants and civilian shirts came to the Pier and it was understood that the next boat that arrived would be for their cut on the ‘runnings’.
I learnt that it really didn’t matter what a person wanted to smuggle in or out of Guyana, as long as the “this-is-yours-fee” was paid over to legitimate police ranks or Customs officials at the backtrack terminal.
I was hungry so I used my sense of smell to find food.
By the time I was ready to head to Georgetown another boat had arrived and the car was loaded pretty quickly.
And by loaded I mean every conceivable square inch of space that could have been utilised, and we were off.
The Policeman and his Ganja Wine
As we were making our way from the backtrack terminal, I observed one of the most curious things I have ever seen on the roadways in Guyana.
The taxi driver was doing exactly 50 kph on his speedometer and was quite skilful at maintaining the exact speed.
He later explained that it was Saturday and as such the police were out on the road in numbers patiently waiting to pounce on the many smugglers who used the route.
We were stopped several times for routine checks of the driver’s documents but there was one particularly brave trio working at an impromptu roadblock.
I will not name the ranks of the policemen, whose names were clearly displayed on their uniforms.
One of them had a speed gun in hand which he clocked the car with, while another signaled the driver to stop.
Yet another one of the ranks paid keen attention to what was transpiring from a short distance away.
After checking the documents of the driver which were all intact, the most senior of the policemen instructed that the driver open the trunk of the car.
By this time I had seen a really interesting sign on the roadway and I came out and started taking pictures of it since I knew I was not smuggling anything and wasn’t too particularly bothered by the police: after all they had to do their jobs.
One of the ranks seemed a little perturbed by me taking photographs of the surrounding area and remarked, “that is an expensive camera…you is a tourist?”
Again I laughed inside and turned my attention to the most senior of the ranks on the scene, who by this time was searching the large bag of one of the female passengers.
By the time he was satisfied that maybe there was not really a large amount of whatever he was searching for, he laughed and said to the woman, “you would be amazed at some of the things we find in some places.”
Then his true intentions finally surfaced as his eyes caught three bottles of liquor, a Campari, Pina Colada and one I didn’t recognize, but which the taxi driver called the “Ganja Wine.”
The policeman, with smirk on his face, said “look, I sure if I check all ya’ll passport it ain’t stamp, so which one you gun lef with me.”
By now he realized that I was not a tourist but a Guyanese journalist.
Holding the “Ganja Wine” in his hands, the police rank turned to me and said, “Journalist, you ain’t see nothing right.” I couldn’t help but laugh.
But as I finished my ride home, it really dawned on me the magnitude of the situation that has persisted for years.
And while there are many that will say it has nothing to do with them, or everybody got to hustle, “the Suriname/Guyana backtrack route has over the years had a significant impact on almost every sector of the economy.
This means that directly or indirectly, whatever negative impact the back-track route has on the Guyana’s economy it eventually has a ripple effect that consumes all.

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BRIDGETOWN – CMC – Trinidad and Tobago, the third largest producer of natural gas in the Americas, is to complete its first international gas pipeline – to northern neighbour Barbados, 330 kilometres (207 miles) away – within the next 18 months, Barbados Prime Minister Freundel Stuart told journalists Saturday.

Freundel Stuart

“Within another 18 months or so there should be a natural gas pipeline between Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago,” Stuart said as he briefed reporters on his return here from Suriname, where he held bilateral talks with his Trinidadian counterpart, Kamla Persaud-Bissessar, on the margins of the Caribbean Community mid-term summit.
Stuart said Persad-Bissessar told him her cabinet had already approved the plan to build the pipeline, expected to be one of the largest civil engineering works in Caribbean history.

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Minister of Sport Dr. Frank Anthony (standing 4th left) pose with the top performers and other organising committee members.

Eric Sankar (2nd), Orville Hinds (3rd) and Junior Niles closed out the top six positions on a day that saw 57-riders taking starters orders.
Speaking with the Media after the race, DeNobrega said that he is now coming back into his own following the death of his smaller brother Justine DeNobrega who died on January 27 in unfortunate circumstances.
He placed 3rd in the junior category in the Berbice race but did not place among the top six overall and given the fact that his fellow junior Jeffrey won that race, DeNobrega said that he had to step up to the plate this time around being the senior of the two.
Cramping also affected his Berbice performance but DeNobrega said that he overcame those challenges for yesterday’s contest with the results speaking for itself.
The race was a close contest on the upward journey having started outside the Wales Police Station, West Bank Demerara on a sunny and windy morning.
The turn back point was as usual, Bushy Park, East Bank Essequibo. Close to the end, Niles, Sankar, Jeffrey, Leal and DeNobrega broke away from the pack on New Road Vreed-en-Hoop and with about 300M to the line, Sankar made the jump but was closely pursued by DeNobrega who out hustled him to the line for the top spot in the senior and junior categories.
DeNobrega also noted that he is aiming to compete at the Southern Games in the Twin Island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago later this month, but is in need of a Track Bike.
Warren ‘Forty’ Mc Kay copped two of the eight prime prizes with Walter Grant-Stuart grabbing a similar amount. There was one each for Jude Bentley, Rastaff O’Selmo, Hinds and DeNobrega.

Senior & Junior winner Paul DeNobrega. (Franklin Wilson photo)

Talim Shaw was the leading veteran in a time of 1 Hour 22 Minutes 05 Seconds; Mark Spencer and Andy Rajkarran closed out the other positions in this category.
Ruling the roost among in the mountain bike division was Dexter Wilson (1 hr 41 mins 48 secs) followed by Cleveland King and Nigel Jacobs. Walter Isaacs was the top over-60 competitor.
Naiomi Singh (1 hr 31 mins 45 secs) was the leading female yet again, Hazina Barret the other female suffered a puncture on the downward journey. Apart from the seniors and junior riders, the other categories turned back at the Uitvlugt Community Centre Bridge and finished at the Demerara Harbour Bridge.
The Honourable Minister of Culture Youth and Sport Dr. Frank Anthony was on hand to deliver remarks and assist with the presentation of prizes. In his remarks Dr. Anthony noted his pleasure at the turnout of riders for the event organised by the Cheddi Jagan Memorial Committee in association with the People’s Progressive Party in memory of the Late President Cheddi Jagan (March 22, 1918 – March 6, 1997).
The gathering was informed by the Minister that there were some additions to this year’s event; the rider winning all three legs will be presented the attractive Cheddi Jagan Memorial overall trophy, while the rider to win three consecutive years will keep the trophy.
The organisers he said will also honour those riders who have participated in the race for the past ten (10) years.

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Shiv Chanderpaul drives down the ground during his unbeaten century.

The 37-year-old Chanderpaul, playing in his first match of the season following his recent return from the Bangladesh Premier League, kept a cool head, scored an undefeated 125, lifting Guyana to 441 in reply to Barbados’ first innings total of 317 on the third day of their fifth round match at Kensington Oval.
Chanderpaul survived a chance to Kenroy Williams at extra-cover off discarded West Indies left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn on seven before he added a record 115 with Brandon Bess, who made 33, in a memorable last-wicket partnership.
Left with four overs before the close, Barbados were five for one in their second innings, losing left-hander Omar Phillips, who was snapped up at forward short-leg by Leon Johnson for two playing defensively forward to off-spinner Narsingh Deonarine in the third over.
Kraigg Brathwaite will resume on three, partnered by night-watchman, debutant fast bowler Miguel Cummins.
Playing in his 278th first-class match, left-hander Chanderpaul occupied the crease for 322 minutes, faced 232 balls and struck 13 fours.   He reached his hundred in 279 minutes off 194 balls with 11 boundaries after bringing up his 50 in 168 minutes off 114 balls with seven fours.
Barbados – lifted by fast bowler Christopher Jordan’s first ever five-wicket haul in his 31st first-class match – reduced Guyana to 307 for eight.
But Chanderpaul and Ronsford Beaton managed to ease Guyana to the lead before Chanderpaul and Bess kept the bowlers at bay in their stand.  Benn, who dropped Beaton on 28 at first slip off Cummins with the score 396 for nine, ended the stand when he had Bess lbw after the Guyanese fast bowler stuck five fours and one six in his 112-ball knock.
Earlier, left-hander Deonarine, who resumed on 63, was caught at mid-wicket from a miscued pull off occasional medium-pacer Jonathan Carter for 84 following a fourth-wicket stand of 90 with Ramnaresh Sarwan. Left-hander Deonarine batted for 231 minutes, faced 163 balls and hit 11 fours and one six.
Sarwan, who scored 52 after starting the day on 19, scored freely from early before he edged to Williams at second slip, after he was squared-up by Jordan in the third over with the second new ball.
Sarwan was at the crease for 146 minutes, received 140 deliveries and struck seven fours and one six. He got to his half-century in 85 minutes off 86 balls with seven fours and one six.

Narsingh Deonarine drives Sulieman Benn. (photos Randy Brooks and WICB)

Four balls after Sarwan’s dismissal, Christopher Barnwell, hooking at a short ball, was caught and bowled by Jordan for a duck to leave the score 262 for six.
Wicketkeeper Derwin Christian was caught at second slip off veteran left-arm fast-medium bowler Pedro Collins for three and Veerasammy Permaul was comprehensively bowled middle stump by Jordan for six.
Jordan, who ended with five for 77 off 31 overs, also accounted for Beaton, who was bowled off stump for seven before Chanderpaul and Bess featured in their wonderful partnership.
Scores: Barbados 317 and 5/1; Guyana 441.
Meanwhile, in the other two matches being contested, Jamaica were dismissed for 157 batting a second time, setting Trinidad and Tobago a victory target of 304.
Trinidad wee bowled out for 143 in their first innings replying to the Jamaicans 290.  In Jamaica’s second innings Donovan Pagon made 52, Brendan Nash 30 and Dave Bernard 27, while Khan and Kanhai took four wickets apiece for T&T.
Scores: Jamaica 290 and 157; T&T 143.
And the Leewards made a remarkable comeback after being all out on the first day for 121 to win by 30 runs over the Windwards.
The Windwards had made 178 in reply to the Leewards 121, then batting a second time the Leewards hit 177. Set 120 for victory, the Windwards were dismissed for 90. Tonito Willett 4-34 and Gavin Tonge 3-33 were the main destroyers.
Scores: Leewards 121 and 177; Windwards 178 and 90.

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Prize winners of the tournament; George Bulkan (Centre), Colin Ming, Kishun Bacchus, Sookram Deosarran and Troy Cadogan pose with officials of Ansa McAl following the presentation of prizes.

Bulkan shot a net 67, to record his first win in over a year finishing ahead of Colin Ming, Kishun Bacchus and Troy Cadogan who all shot net scores of 69.
However, based on a countback Ming was declared runner up while Bacchus ended third.
Sookram Deosarran had the best gross of 78, Mohanlall Dinnanauth recorded the longest drive, while Cadogan was Nearest to the Pin.
Darshanie Yusuf, ANSA McAl Trading Public Relations Officer said that her company was excited to sponsor the tournament for a third year.
She said ANSA McAl; the local distributors of Stag Beer, look forward to working closely with officials of the Lusignan Golf Club to develop the sport.
Club President Brian Hackett was loud in praise for Stag Beer and its continued sponsorship of the tournament.
He expressed gratitude to Marketing Director of ANSA McAl, Troy Cadogan and his staff for their continued commitment to the Club.

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BOSAI MVP Mark Louis gets his award from Personnel Officer Ms Trudy Marks

In front of an expectant crowd and followers, General Services had their hands full in a game which saw both sides playing entertaining football early on.  But things were even just past the opening stanza of the first half until Services grabbed the lead which came from a cross from the left flank from Keith Gilkes. The ball was received by Dave Hopkinson who volleyed from in front the goal mouth and caught Operations goalkeeper Rawle Adams by surprise in the 38th minute.
The game continued to be entertaining, but the balance continued as the fans were being entertained. The first half came with the scores still in favour of general services 1-0.
After play resumed, Services continued to look good until the 55th minute when Operations found the equaliser which came from a ball down the left wing into the centre of the goal area and Travis Hinds converted with a header to give Operations a deserved goal from a nice build up.
But the celebrations were short-lived as Services reclaimed the edge for good in the 57th minute through a neat pass from Ryan Noel to Shawn ‘The Nigerian’ Arthur who wasted no time with a onetime blast that caught Adams again off guard and gave Services a 2-1 lead.
Operations never recovered as the scores remained unchanged to crown General Services as the new champions.
The Most Valuable Player award was won by General Services Mark Louis who scored a hat-trick in the semifinal against Plant Operations.
Before the final and the third place playoff game was won by Mines who hammered Plant Maintenance 7-1.
In between the third place playoff game, there were penalty shootout for the Female employees and Managers competitions.  Winning the female penalty shootout was Ms Hollice Joseph, while the Male Managers penalty title was copped by Wilbert Bethune.

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