Black Immigrant Daily News

Serious crimes in Guyana are becoming more weaponised with the proliferation of guns manufactured in Brazil and brought into Guyana through the community of Lethem.

As such, the Guyana Police Force said it is working to stem the flow of these guns across the Brazil-Guyana border.

According to Crime Chief Wendell Blahnum, for this year, the Police Force managed to take 68 illegal guns off the streets, and most of these weapons, they found are being manufactured in Brazil.

“We have taken out of circulation 68 illegal firearms. Region Four ‘A’ has the highest rate of illegal firearms seized. Revolvers accounted for the highest type of illegal firearms taken out of circulation…followed by shotguns.

“The main origin of illegal firearms is the United States of America followed by our neighbour Brazil.”

Regarding Brazil, he said the Taurus Pistol represents a significant amount of the illegal firearms coming from that country.

“The Taurus weapons are produced from Brazil. Our investigations have so far revealed that Lethem is the main transit point for these weapons which go largely towards principal destinations in Region Four ‘A’  and other distribution networks across the country.”

The issue of illegal firearms has been a longstanding concern but from all indications more and more of these weapons and ending up in the hands of criminals.

In 2014, former Crime Chief Leslie James revealed that from 2011 to 2014, the Guyana Police Force was seizing illegal weapons which are being made in neighbouring Brazil.

He stated that based on the police’s records Brazilian-type weapons are the choice of criminals.

James also pointed out that Brazilians travel to Guyana illegally for mining purposes with their weapons on them.

Those weapons he said are usually confiscated by the police during raids and other operations.

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Sandals Resorts International Executive Chairman Adam Stewart has expressed optimism in the future of the Caribbean, telling the alumni at the University of the West Indies 2022 Graduation ceremony, that it is up to them to ensure the region builds on its unique resources.

Stewart was conferred with the honorary Doctor of Laws (LLD) at the event which took place at Mona, Jamaica last weekend.

As head of one of the region’s largest and most successful private sector companies, Stewart told graduates that the most important resource the region had was sitting in the room with him.

“We are a fascinating people. We are a people rich in culture. The way we walk, the way we talk, the respect that we demand, the pride that we have, ladies and gentlemen, do not settle. Do not bet against this country and this region.”

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However Stewart cautioned the graduates that success does not come easy, “What we are looking for is the entrepreneur. What we are looking for is that individual who shows up every single day giving 110%. What we are looking for in this region is the future and everything that we can become. We have to look at life through a future lens.”

The Sandals boss encouraged the university graduates to dig deep, and find out what motivates each of them to rise to the top.

“The Man above gave each and every one of you a superpower. Some of you may not have studied in the field that is your superpower, and that’s absolutely ok. But when you get up in the morning and you are taking a shower and preparing for your day, be truthful with yourself. Find the thing inside that makes you want to get up every day, so that you can outperform anybody else in that lane. I want each and every one of you to be the generation that never settles. I want you to be the generation that reaches higher than ever before.”

Stewart said he was humbled to receive this doctorate from UWI.

“I am so proud to be recognised by the UWI for the work I am passionate about. My father, the late Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart taught me that opportunity is a gift not to be wasted. His tenacity and drive to make life better not only for himself and his family but for his employees, community and country gave me a firsthand understanding of what is possible when people are given a chance. I accept this degree with a full heart and the promise to continue to earn the confidence this illustrious body has placed in me.

SOURCE: Sandals Resorts

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Commissioner of Police, Major General Antony Anderson, has pointed to the increase in murders as the main reason that necessitated the imposition of states of emergency (SOEs) in seven parishes including the southern arc of Kingston and St Andrew, St Catherine and Clarendon and the tri-parish area of Westmoreland, Hanover and St James.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness announced the SOEs during a media briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister Tuesday morning where he too cited the increase in murders and gang activities as justification for the security measure.

Speaking at the same briefing, Anderson noted that up to Sunday, November 13 a total of 1,360 murders had been committed in Jamaica. This represents an increase of 6.8 per cent over the corresponding period last year.

The country’s top cop said that 10 of the 19 police divisions that fall in the areas where the SOEs have been declared account for 72 per cent of the murders and 75 per cent of the shootings carried out in the country this year.

“The main drivers of these violent crimes continue to be gang violence which accounts for 71 per cent of all murders and inter-personal conflicts which account for another 16 per cent of these murders,” Anderson stated.

He said the police have reaped some successes since he announced at a press conference in February that they would be targeting guns, gang and gunmen. He pointed out that year-to-date some 675 illegal firearms have been seized, a 10 per cent increase over 2021, while the police have disrupted gun runners and contract killers on their way to perpetuate crimes. Anderson said the Jamaica Constabulary Force has achieved these successes in collaboration with its partners including the Jamaica Defence Force, detailed policing and security plans.

“There is an urgency to what we do as a society and it’s on this basis that there’s no place for reticence in using every tool that is available to us collectively in order to deal with this situation. It’s how we’re going to staunch the bloodletting,” he argued.

Anderson told the media briefing that it was against this backdrop, in conjunction with Chief of Defence Staff, Rear Admiral Antonette Wemyss Gorman, that he requested the use of emergency powers under a limited state of emergency. He highlighted that during previous SOEs there was an average 40 per cent reduction in murders.

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THREE Chinese men were freed of money laundering charges by the chief magistrate on Monday.

Chief Magistrate Maria Busby Earle-Caddle discharged them after upholding a no-case submission advanced by their attorneys Wayne Sturge, Mario Merritt and Karunaa Bisramsingh.

The three – Yaun Fu Wu, Du Feng Wu and Yanbin Huang Liam – were charged in October 2015 after they were arrested at a house on Allan Street, Diego Martin, where a little over $1 million in TT, US and Venezuelan currency was found.

The State contended the money – TT$482,337, US$7,724 and 44,012 Venezuelan bolivares – was from an illegal gambling ring.

In upholding the no-case submission, Earle-Caddle agreed with the defence attorneys that the police failed to do a proper investigation to determine the exact source of the money.In their submission, the three attorneys argued the money was legitimate cash from businesses they had in Venezuela and they they intended to open and register another business in Trinidad and Tobago.

In objection, prosecutors argued the money was obtained contrary to the Proceeds of Crime Act.However, the defence contended the police failed to verify the information the men gave when they were arrested, although they told investigators their business plans.

In evidence, policesaid they went on the suspicion that the men were involved in illegal gambling and there were bar owners who told them Chinese nationals had approached them to instal roulette machines at their establishments to facilitate illegal gambling. However, no one ever identified the men.

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