October 18, 2016

Archives for August 20, 2016

Eric Phillips justifies SARA’s role

… says it will hound anyone who stole State assets

State Assets Recovery Unit (SARU) member, Dr Eric Phillips, said on Friday that the State Assets Recovery Agency (SARA) is not on a witch-hunt to jail any Opposition members but will ensure that all State assets are retrieved from anyone who has stolen.

SARU member Eric Phillips

SARU member Eric Phillips

He stated that whether the assets are stolen by current Government officials or previous officials, it will be recovered, adding that SARA was not being set up to bring criminal charges against anyone but rather that would be the job of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

“We are confusing the perception that a lot of the assets were stolen by people in the last Government, but in reality, the Bill doesn’t care who stole the assets. Whether it is former, previous or current, it doesn’t matter. Once you have stolen State assets, the Bill allows for the recovery,” he stated.

The legislation envisages non-conviction based civil recoveries of property over $10 million with a 12-year restriction period and wide powers will be available to the Agency to be set up under the law to gather information.

A number of persons, including Opposition Leader Bharrat Jadgeo, had publicly registered their disgust over the fact that the Government will be spending taxpayers’ dollars on a unit specially designed for political witch-hunting. Speaking on the issue, former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, contended that it is clear the unit will be used as a weapon to “witch-hunt” the Opposition and any person who opposes the Government.

“What else can be its purpose? After all, the Police Force has these very powers. Why else create a new agency? The answer is simple,” he said, pointing out that the Agency is staffed with persons who are politically affiliated with the Government.

“This organisation does not. It is a political unit masquerading as a law enforcement agency. It is authoritarianism and constitutional tyranny. The first victims will be the PPP leadership and parliamentary Opposition. Its next victims after that will be the ordinary citizens,” Nandlall asserted.

Dr Phillips, however, argued that the Bill is a standard piece of legislation that is used around the world to recover assets belonging to the State. “It is a standard legislation around the world and all we are going after are thieves. It doesn’t matter who they are. More importantly, we are not going to charge them, we just want the assets back. We are not criminally prosecuting anybody that is for the DPP to do base on what the evidence shows” he noted.

He stated that the Bill seeks to create an autonomous agency that would not be reporting to any Minister. He stated that the employments of agents and auditors will all undergo public scrutiny, adding that the Director will be hired by a parliamentary committee that has Opposition members on it.

However, the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) has warned the Government against using its one-seat majority in the Parliament to pass the bill, fearing that without broad-based political support, ethnically polarised politics would live on.

The GHRA recommended that the legislation be broadened from only asset recovery to a substantive inclusion of the goals of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC).

However, Phillips maintained that the bill has received wide-spread approval and was reviewed by international agencies, the ABC countries, the attorneys locally and internationally, and a judge in the UK.

“It has a lot of local and international input and it is validated in terms of its powers. We are after civil recovery which means that we are not into convicting people. We want to make sure that the State recovers its assets and it’s not about charging people criminally and putting them in jail,” he said.

He added that due to its broad international scrutiny, analysis and approval in its development, civil recovery has been taken as an alternative but complementary to criminal recovery.

Assets hidden abroad

He added that SARU’s goal is to recover assets hidden outside of Guyana, and so they will be working with foreign jurisdictions “because it is their law and their processes we would have to follow… so it would be in partner with investigations with both countries”.

He stated that part of the bill talks about mutual legal assistance treaties and there are processes involved in many countries that define how this happens.

 

Embattled PS sues TV Reporter for $20M over $10B claims

Embattled Permanent Secretary (PS) of the Ministry of the Presidency, Omar Shariff, has sued Television Reporter Travis Chase, for in excess of $20 million over statements he would have made during his HGPTV Nightly News Broadcast on Monday last.Omar Chase

Shariff has also sued television station HGPTV and its proprietor Omar Farouk, also called “Terry Nelson Fraser”.

The legal proceedings were instituted on Thursday and Chase along with the television station owner have since been commanded to make an appearance in the High Court within 10 days.

Shariff in his writ is claiming in excess of $10 million for defamation, libel and slander, charging that Chase during his newscast on Monday last said, “Shariff liquid assets stands at just about 10 billion dollars and “credible sources have told Nightly News that Mr Shariff would not have obtained the billions of dollars overnight and they are suggesting that Mr Shariff is holding the money for someone or a particular group.”Omar Shariff

Shariff was sent on leave last month from the Ministry of the Presidency by Minister of State Joseph Harmon, pending an investigation into substantial amounts of cash and holdings, believed to be in excess of $10 billion by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU).

Shariff in his writ, claims the utterances made by Chase during his newscast, are not only false but malicious, slanderous and libelous.

The PS is also asking for in excess of $10 million for defamation in relation to the publication of the very newscast on social media platforms, including the Facebook page of HGPTV.

Shariff in his writ is also asking the Judge to grant an injunction, restraining Chase and the television station from further writing, printing or publishing or circulating or causing to be written, printed, published of circulated the ‘libelous statements.’

Shariff is being represented by Attorney Sanjeev Datadin.

Chase, himself no stranger to legal proceedings, was recently the subject of a request by Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) Prosecutor Kunyo Sandyford-Thompson, in relation to an ongoing drug trial involving alleged ‘drug-baron’ Barry Dataram.

The CANU Prosecutor had requested Magistrate Judy Latchman to issue a summons to have Chase appear in court to give testimony against Dataram.

Chase has since told Guyana Times that he has seen the writ and will be defending the matter vigorously in court.

According to the TV Reporter, he stands by the integrity of the news article.

The embattled Permanent Secretary last weekend broke his silence in relation to the multibillion-dollar affair, to proclaim his innocence in the insinuations that he had stole or laundered public monies for personal gain.

He had at the time also lamented that information disclosed to SOCU which was obtained through a warrant has since found its way into the public domain.

Chase during his news report had also reproduced the documents purportedly of bank accounts and their balances belonging to Shariff.

Responding the publicity of the confidential banking information that was used to generate news reports in sections of the media, Shariff said: “I wish to strongly condemn a series of vile, sensationalist, untrue, propagandistic, and, insubstantial and material respects, misleading news reports carried by sections of the electronic, broadcast and print media in Guyana following a decision by the Special Organised Crime Unit to launch an investigation into a personal matter related to tax remittance and compliance regarding my legitimate business operations over the past few years.”

He has since claimed that the matter of tax remittance and compliance has been an ongoing engagement “between my business and the tax authority from as early as 2007.”

He said the distortion of this personal income tax matter to make it appear to be theft and embezzlement of public funds is without any factual foundation and is in fact, mischief by its orchestrators.

He said the continued publication of “these have caused me and my family great concern – security, hardship and otherwise.”

 

PPP blasts Govt over discrimination against Indigenous peoples

calls for the restoration of major projects

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) on Friday blasted the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government for what it said is its blatant neglect of the Indigenous peoples of Guyana.

The People’s Progressive Party Civic members from left former Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai, PPPC Chief Whip Gail Teixeira and Former Head of the National Toshaos Councils Yvonne Pearson

The People’s Progressive Party Civic members from left former Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai, PPPC Chief Whip Gail Teixeira and Former Head of the National Toshaos Councils Yvonne Pearson

Member of Parliament (MP) and former Amerindian Affairs Minister, Pauline Sukhai, said since the new Administration took office just over 15 months ago, there has been little progress seen in the lives of Amerindians, particularly the youth. She spoke of the disbanding and cancellation of several beneficial projects for Amerindian students and questioned the reason behind Government’s move to do this.

Her comments followed inquiries from the media on whether the PPP was pleased with the way it left the communities back in 2015, and if it should be criticising the current Administration for its move to distribute shoes to Amerindian students.

But Sukhai said there cannot be a comparison between the work the previous Administration did and what is currently being done by the APNU/AFC Government.

“What is alarming is the fact that the PPP/Civic Government was in the process and had been giving minibuses and pickups, and boats and other forms of transport to assist children to access education in and out of their communities. Today there is a total turnaround,” the MP stated.

Sukhai said the only item students are receiving is a few boots and it is not even being given to every child of every community.

“In fact, they have denied Indigenous children significant investment to assist them. So how can you compare giving a few children a few boots and handpicked students a few bicycles here and there and you are not continuing these significant investments to Indigenous children. Why should they be denied those forms and mediums of transportation and be given boots,” Sukhai lamented.

Sukhai said the PPP Government had worked beyond simply distributing boots. “We worked to ensure that life was made a lot easier and that the supporting arm of the Government, with respect to the Village Council, was significant. Giving a child in the hinterlands a boot is not significant investment. Why deny that investment? Why these major commitments and investments that are necessary for Amerindians have been discontinued? Why would we want to diminish our Indigenous people?” The former Amerindian Affairs Minister said there is little that can be pointed to with regards to improving the lives of Indigenous peoples. According to her, Indigenous people did not escape the discrimination and “witch hunting” after Government took office.

“We could point to the dismantling of the land titling unit and the dismissal of the Project Coordinator, Associate, and the CDP Project Coordinator… We saw the discrimination against the youth, the dismantling of the Young Entrepreneurship Programme which was replaced with a less effective programme, HEYS.”

She said what was more disturbing is that the Minister had assured villages that the new programme would have been much better than the previous programme.

Meanwhile, fellow Member of Parliament and former Head of the National Toshaos Council, Yvonne Pearson said at this point in time, and with the upcoming Indigenous Heritage Month set for September, persons are already asking what will be there be to celebrate.

“Being out in the field and talking to the people, there is nothing new to add to the 2016 celebrations. We have encroachments of the land the former PPP Government had been making special efforts to address these issues. When we left office, we left vibrant funds to address land issues for Indigenous peoples. Today the big question is what happened to that?” Pearson questioned.

Joining in on the conversation also was the Party’s Chief Whip Gail Teixeira, who said that while the PPP Government does not boast reducing poverty to zero during its tenure, it was able to do significantly well enough to improve the lives of persons living in the hinterland region. She said when the Party left office in 2015, there was water, lights and every village had a nursery and primary school. “But the process did not end, not in Guyana, nor in the Amerindian villages.”

What happened, she said, was that Indigenous peoples were able to have greater access to opportunities offered to every Guyanese who live on the coastland. She said the PPP would be willing to fully support any venture the Government would take to improve the lives of the Amerindians.

Assessment urges USAID to push reforms in Guyana

…city’s residents impatient against slowness of changes

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is being urged to take advantage of the window of opportunity to support the reform process that is underway to strengthen Guyana’s governance, balance the power of the executive, while starting the devolution of power to local government and ensuring a more accountable and responsive government.

This was outlined in a Democracy, Human Rights and Governance Assessment for Guyana report. The assessment was done by Tetra Tech ARD, a US-based consulting firm.

The report outlined that the election of the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC), brought an opportunity to Guyana to make substantive reforms that could transform its political system and make it more effective, accountable and inclusive.

It was noted that if adopted and implemented, these democratic reforms can address the over-centralisation of power, address politicised and non-performing institutions that were found during the assessment and increase governance effectiveness and responsiveness.

However, this outcome is far from certain and while there are indications of significant change, there are also reasons for concern.

“Time is of the essence as this window may not be open for long. The assessment team estimates it will close within the next 18 to 24 months as the focus shifts to the 2019 local elections and 2020 national elections. Some believe it will close even sooner if not supported, citing rising citizen anger and impatience against the slowness of the reforms and signs of business-as-usual,” the report stated.

To this end, the assessment team recommends USAID focus on a two-tiered strategy. It explained that in the short-term, focus should be placed on the reform processes, key oversight mechanisms, information flow, and newly elected local authorities.

Whilst, in the medium- to long-term, a Democracy, Human Rights and Governance (DRG) programme should be reinstated to make a more substantive contribution towards strengthening Guyana’s democratic institutions and system. However, it does not recommend political party assistance in the near-term as the parties are internally regrouping and intending to work out their own issues and are not open to assistance at this time.

In this regard, the recommended DRG objective is a more accountable, responsive, and balanced governance in Guyana. One of the recommended programmatic priorities is Constitutional reform through support for the current reform process and the implementation of previous constitutional reforms.

“These can help balance the power of the executive, address the winner-takes-all nature of the political and electoral systems, and devolve power to local government. Near-term priorities are reform content and consultations, constitutional referendum (if held), and constitutional commission appointments. Mid- to long-term priorities are the implementation of the new constitutional reforms and strengthening the Human Rights and Integrity Commissions that provide oversight and citizen protection,” the report outlined.

Furthermore, the report recommended that USAID strengthen checks and balances through strengthening key institutions and increasing access to information and evidence-based decision making.

This, it was noted, can help increase accountability; balance the dominance of the executive; address issues of cronyism, impunity, and corruption; and ensure the rule of law is applicable to all. The report stated that near-term priorities are assessments in the key areas of rule of law, electoral system, and economic governance and consideration for a small flexible fund to support quick-impact, low-cost changes within key institutions. Mid- to long-term priorities include parliamentary oversight and outreach, it added.

Other recommendations made are to strengthen local governance through support for the devolution process; capacity building for local institutions; and increasing citizen engagement to ensure local government has the authority, resources, and capacity required to be responsive to its communities, serve their needs, and counter the top-down, overly centralised nature of government.

“Near-term priorities are the Local Government Commission, newly elected local officials, and constituency engagement. Mid- to long-term priorities include supporting the training curricula for local officials, constituency engagement, and information on and monitoring of the 2019 local elections,” the report cited.

On the other hand, the assessment team remarked that the main challenge to DRG in Guyana is its legacy of political parties organised along ethnic lines; of single party dominance; and its centralised patron-client list system that contributed to weak, unaccountable, unresponsive, and ineffective government institutions. The dysfunction in its political system has led to a feeling of hopelessness among many Guyanese, high levels of emigration, and insecurity.

 

Govt seeking billions from Int’l donors

Winston… to finance agriculture, fisheries, forestry projects

The Guyana Government has said it has several billion dollars worth of projects in the pipeline that would be funded with the help of its international donor partners, even as tax remissions to the local business community plunges significantly.

This information is contained in the recently released financial mid-year report on the national accounts. The report was presented by Finance Minister Winston Jordan to the National Assembly shortly before it went into recess.

Minister Jordan in his report that has since been made public, said Government continues to actively work with donor partners to develop and effect investment programmes in key areas: “The potential projects in the pipeline for agriculture, fisheries and forestry are valued at a total of US$40.45 million (G$8 billion).”

He also highlighted areas of trade, industry and business development, public infrastructure, and energy.

“It is anticipated that several of these projects will be presented to the executive boards of their respective donors during the second half of the year,” he said.

Among the developmental partners that Minister Jordan referred to are; India, China, Germany, the United Kingdom, the European Union, the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank and the Caribbean Development Bank.

Among the projects highlighted is the construction of the Del Conte road Parika to Goshen with the help of the Chinese.

The EU has been approached, according to Jordan, for €30 million to support the effective implementation of the new 2015 policy, including harmonising the legal framework, developing updated disaster risk management (DRM) policies and enhancing coordination of agencies as part of the promotion of disaster risk management practices through an Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) approach in line with the approved 2015 Sea and River Defence Policy and Strategy.

The report also documents that the Government of India has already approved an US$8 million grant, meant to augment an earlier US$10 million loan for the purchase of a ferry vessel to ply the Parika to Port Kaituma route.

Other projects identified for international support by donor partners includes US$14 million being sought to support the Ministry of Education with its Education Sector Improvement Project.

The Ministry of Public Health is also looking to secure US$14 million from India to assist with modernising three existing hospitals, namely Suddie, West Demerara and Bartica, “by transforming them into state-of-the-art centres of excellence.”

The Government of Guyana submitted project profiles and preliminary floor plans to the Government of India for consideration and is currently awaiting feedback from the Government of India, according to Minister Jordan.

Several other loans and grants are also actively being pursued by government in order to address areas of Governance and Public Administration, Community, Human and Social Development.

Tax remissions decline

Meanwhile, even as Government actively pursues international assistances, tax remissions afforded to the local business community have been on the decline.

The Mid-year report documents that the Guyana Government withheld from the business community almost $6 billion in tax remission for the first six months of this year; and the decline is said to be directly due to Government’s review of concessions to sectors, businesses, and individuals, in order to ensure concessions are in line with the country’s development agenda.

According to the report, tax remissions for January to June 2016 were recorded at $20.7 billion equivalent to 27.5 per cent of tax collections.

This compares to $26.4 billion representing 37.3 per cent of tax collections for the same period in 2015.

The main categories of reduction in remissions were companies/businesses at $5.5 billion; Ministries and Departments of Government, $430.6 million; and foreign projects, $197.4 million. It was noted however that remissions to diplomats increased by $329.5 million, public officials/officers by $85.1 million, hospitals by $65.9 million, and remigrants, $18.6 million.

 

Criminality on tourists unacceptable

Dear Editor,

One of the major industries in Guyana will be tourism. Many of its aspects have to do with Amazonian Trekking (trekking of the Amazon jungle), bird watching, mountainous jungle hikes, fresh water fishing, brown water beaches, natural health cures using natural salt water and our mineralised earth, etc.

Many deficiencies in Guyana as it relates to tourism are the lack of proper training schools for the tourism industry.

The constant attack on various tourists within our country coupled with dishonest taxi drivers is very depressing.

We saw recently a British soldier who had returned to Guyana after 50 years to be a part of Guyana’s Jubilee Celebrations. But a despicable and unpatriotic local citizen robbed him of important sentimental objects at the Stabroek Market Square.

Another occasion was when four Caucasian tourists were enjoying the festivities at D’Urban Park and for some reason, our own local Guyanese were annoyed with them. The Guyanese had cursed and abused these individuals and almost threw them down the bleachers.

Our people need to be trained to respect, because as it is, we are losing our reputation as a people of hospitality.

Also, on Friday, August 12, we learned of a Chinese trio robbed of millions of dollars in an unmarked vehicle somewhere on the East Coast Seawall.

Can these bandits understand what they’ve done to the psyche of these individuals? Can these bandits understand what they have done to our country?

I have travelled to Japan and moved through all kinds of societies and I was amazed at how I was treated with total dignity and respect by total strangers who bowed when we were passing and were always kind and welcoming.

What has happened to our people since we commenced our experimentation with socialism in the 70s? Is Guyana on the throes of social decay and a disorientation of mentalities? Are we becoming a beastly nation without compassion for even tourists, who are here and are actually contributing to Guyana’s economy?

Our people need to learn and be educated, to help a tourist, to display generosity! To show love. To show that we are a matured, disciplined, hospitable people.

I find it most painful in my soul and my heart for these Japanese tourists. I do believe we need serious adjustment to our laws! We need to have another set of laws for persons who commit criminal acts against these visitors.

Tourism is expected to be a backbone of our economic structure. We need to safeguard it with much jealousy as a unique natural resource.

So, in my opinion, anyone who touches a tourist without permission, 10 years imprisonment. Anyone who uses violence against a tourist for the purpose of hurting them, 25 years imprisonment.

These are the kinds of legal enactments we need. Laws with Claws! Laws with teeth that bite deep! And we must have the structure set in such a way that there will be no stone left unturned to capture the bandits who harm tourists.

Today, I, a patriotic citizen of this country who loves his country immensely, I feel ashamed of our country. I feel greatly pained that we have nothing in place to help support our tourists.

Please, Government of Guyana, please Guyana Tourism Authority! Read the contents of this piece again and again and again.

Sincerely,

Roshan Khan

RK’s Security

Service

 

Olato Sam sent packing

… as Ministry begins search for replacement

Chief Education Officer (CEO) Olato Sam, with immediate effect, will no longer be holding his position and reports are circulating that he may have been booted.

Olato Sam

Olato Sam

A source indicated that Sam’s contract had ended and the Education Ministry had chosen not to renew it and so he was sent on his “annual” leave.

“We heard that they would not renew his contract and that his removal was overdue,” the source said.

The Education Ministry released a statement confirming that he will no longer be functioning “effective immediately” as the CEO since his contracted has ended.

“Mr Sam has served the sector with distinction and zeal for the past eight years, five of which he served as CEO. The Ministry wishes to thank Mr Sam for his contributions to the education sector in Guyana and extends best wishes to him for all future endeavours,” the statement read, adding that the position for CEO is expected to be advertised shortly with the hope of finding a suitably qualified candidate by the end of September 2016.

Sam was noticeably absent from the Ministry’s press conference earlier this week, during the announcement of Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) results. The CEO would usually present the results but this year, he did not. Instead Acting Chief Education Officer (Nursery), Ingrid Trotman made the presentation.

When contacted on Friday, Sam refused on comment on the matter, only stating that he was sent on leave by the Ministry.

“I have nothing to say about this… you need to talk to the Minister. I’m officially on leave from the Ministry,” he said.

He stated that the allegation of his contract termination should be addressed to the Education Minister. However, when this publication attempted to contact Minister Rupert Roopnaraine on the matter, he was unavailable.

Nevertheless, his Public Relations Officer Suelle Williams indicated that Sam was sent on his annual vacation leave.

Sam was appointed the CEO of the Ministry in 2011 after serving five years as the Technical Advisor to the Education Minister. He also has a Masters’ Degree in International Education, and has lectured at the University of Guyana’s School of Education and Humanities, the Departments of Foundations and Education Management and Curriculum and Instruction.

He has a Bachelor’s Degree in ‘Sociology, Anthropology and Education’ from the Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania.

 

Govt to use NTC to swell its ranks at PNC congress – Teixeira

People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Chief Whip Gail Teixeira has alleged that Government has deliberately

PPP Chief Whip Gail Teixeira

PPP Chief Whip Gail Teixeira

cancelled the date for the annual National Toshao’s Council (NTC) from July to August to rein in a high presence at its bi-annual congress.
Teixeira said government had an agenda when it cancelled the National Toshao’s Council conference set for July 18 last, and rescheduled it to begin on August 22. She said by the time the conference comes to an end on August 26, it would be just in time for the commencement of the People’s National Congress’ 19th Bi-annual Conference.
According to the Chief Whip, her party was reliably informed and was even shown a letter by the NTC to the Minister, requesting that the Conference be held in July, however this was ignored.
“The change came after the PNC’s announcement that it will be having its conference on the 26th to the 28th. We also have information that the Government is paying for persons to come for the NTC and that accommodation will continue for a number of areas until next week Monday.”
She told the media Friday that the government has even decided to utilise the ferry service which runs from Georgetown to Region One (Barima/Waini) to facilitate delegates and observers for the Congress.
The NTC was established in accordance with the Amerindian Act of 2006 as an autonomous body comprising Toshaos representing 212 Amerindian villages and communities. The body’s executive is elected in sub-regional elections every three years.
The PNC Bi-annual Congress will commence on Friday, August 26, and is expected to see an attendance of some 500 persons, including representatives from each Administrative Region.
President David Granger is scheduled to address the congress, making it the first time in decades that the party’s leader would be making an address as Head of State.
Several matters are said to be high on the agenda for discussion, including anything that would arise out of the Head of State’s Address.

Duo arraigned for murder of 13-year-old

Two men were on Friday arraigned for the murder of Devanand Sanichar, 13, when they made an appearance at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court.

Kevin Sahai, 20, and Raymond Wong, 27, of Triumph, East Coast Demerara (ECD), were not required to plead to the indictment when it was read to them by Magistrate Zamilla Ali-Seepaul.

The Police stated that the two men committed the murder on August 14, 2016.

The duo was apprehended after Police received information that they were involved in the beating to death of the teen a short distance from his home.

The men, along with two other teenagers, were taken into Police custody. However, after the Police would have gathered enough evidence, they approached the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal advice.

The DPP subsequently advised that charges be laid against these two men.

Meanwhile, the post-mortem proved that Sanichar died from shock and haemorrhage to the brain, with blunt trauma to the head.

The now dead teenager of Lot 83-84 Plantain Walk West Half, Beterverwagting, ECD, was attending a wedding with his family a few houses from his home when he got into a fight with a group of men over a young lady and left the wedding house.

He returned shortly with a cutlass when another argument ensued, during which one of the men relieved him of the weapon and dealt him a chop to the head. Sanichar reportedly fell and was severely beaten with pieces of wood by several persons. He reportedly died on the spot.

 

Teenage girl charged for stealing handbag

A girl was taken before the Vreed-en-Hoop Magistrate’s Court on Friday charged with simple larceny.

Stacy Skeete, 18, pleaded not guilty to the charge when Magistrate Christel Lambert read it to her.

It is alleged that on August 16, 2016, at Hague, West Coast Demerara, she stole one Michael Kors handbag valued $13,000, property of Selena McIntosh.

According to the McIntosh, on the day in question, she went to visit a salon with the bag she had just bought.

She explained that the defendant, who was a customer at the salon, was sitting next to her when she left her bag and went to the washroom. She told the court that upon her return, she noticed that the bag was gone as well as the defendant.

The matter was reported to the Leonora Police Station and the defendant was apprehended at her home. The handbag was also recovered.

She was arrested and charged.

According to the defendant, she did not mean to take the bag and told the Magistrate that it was an accident.

She was granted $20,000 bail. The case will continue on September 9.